Fr Joseph Rapa, Nadur
Carnival dishonour
The Bishops' statement deploring the Nadur carnival was clear enough, especially for those who are in charge of public order and public decency. Every year the police are approached beforehand and asked to keep an eye to any obscene behaviour. In the past few years letters appeared in the local press deploring the immoral behaviour and the ridicule to which our faith and religious practices were being subjected to. But this seems to have been disregarded by those responsible.
Certainly we have laws governing public decency and respect of our religion.
Unfortunately, our small town has become widely and un-favourably known for its indecent carnival. Let no one think that our community is happy about that. For God's sake, let us not give free rein to those who are systematically planning to see a secular Malta in the not long distant future.
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Joe Zammit
Mar 16th 2009, 21:56
The great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are Catholics and by God's grace, we shall remain so. The great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are Catholics and each one has a vote. All of us have a right to speak out. As Catholics we are dynamic, full of energy for the love of God, his Catholic Church and all people. Our love urges us to do what we have to do, as Fr Joseph Rapa has rightly done. The devil will try in vain to push some to eliminate religion from our public life. The effect is counterproductive. We are more urged to have the social teaching of the Catholic Church in Parliament and in our daily lives.
Joe Zammit
Mar 16th 2009, 21:54
The devil can make use of carnival to attain his purpose. Let us keep both eyes open and call good what is good and evil what is evil. Ridiculing religion or Christ for that matter is evil and cannot be permitted under no excuse. Carnival is not excuse. In carnival morality has to be observed as well by one and all.
John Meli
Mar 16th 2009, 16:32
@William P. Flynn: How dare you say: "the power-hungry Church which is anti-secularist" when we have a right to disapprove such actions. The Constitution Clause 2 Section (2) gives our church (us) "right&duty to teach which principles are right and which are wrong, " So the church (we) have a right to speak up and stand against anything that it's immoral.
Those who had acted or done an indecent act should face action. As catholics, yes we do forgive, the Bishops done this often, but the authorities cannot have this facility, because if one had broke the law, must face criminal justice&sentenced.
The main point will remain that according to official Police Reports and that of the Ministry of Justice & Home Affairs, the photographs published in the media (internet) and supplied to the authorities demonstrated the bad behaviour presented "not simply a case of people dressing up as Christ or that of saints" but much more, so it's a matter of "a question of public indecency and offending religious sentiment, some by showing or exhibition of Jesus Phallus" Do you or anyone approves such costumes, by making fun of Jesus body ???
John Meli
Mar 16th 2009, 12:25
The Maltese Bishops as Catholics have a right to approve or disapprove such actions. Our Constitution in Clause 2 Section (2) our church "have the duty and right to teach which principles are right and which are wrong, " So the church does have a right to speak up and stand against anything that it's immoral.
We all agree that those who had acted or done any indecent acts should be prosecuted and sentenced. As catholics we do forgive, the Bishops done this, but the authorities cannot have this facility, because if one had broke the law, they must face criminal justice&sentenced.
The main point will always remain that according to official Police Reports and of the Ministry of Justice & Home Affairs stated the photographs published in media (internet) and supplied to the authorities demonstrated that bad behaviour was present "not simply a case of people dressing up as Christ or that of saints" but much more, so it's a matter of "a question of public indecency and offending religious sentiment, some by showing or exhibition of Jesus Phallus"
Does any one of you approve such a things, making fun of Jesus?
Darren Cassar
Mar 15th 2009, 13:29
And there you have it from the horse's mouth. The Church is against a secular State. Back to the future.
William P Flynn
Mar 15th 2009, 11:11
Hello? Isn't Malta supposed to be secular already? Would Malta be part of the EU if it were a Catholic Fundamentalist state? Who is forewarning/briefing the police prior to a carnival event?
Put another way, who's running the country? Does this contributor believe in the principle of the separation of powers?
David Wain
Mar 15th 2009, 11:02
On one hand we have the Archbishop speaking about demacracy and the Church's right to make its position clear (with which I agree). On the other hand we have the true face of the power-hungry Church which is anti-secularist and wants a direct say in state matters in spite of not being democratically elected. Fr. Rapa's letter is a direct affront to democracy!!
A truly secular state for all Maltese not just orthodox fervent Catholics is not such a shameful ideal Fr. Rapa!
John Gauci
Mar 15th 2009, 10:50
And why should there not be a 'secular Malta'? Well, this priest will be forgiven for making me think that he is living in a time-warp.
I think he should take a serious look around him and really understand what should be meant by the adage: People in glasshouses should not be throwing stones.