The Apostle of Common Sense

In his reaction to Roamer's criticism, Martin Scicluna (The Sunday Times, May 24) tries to pre-empt any future analysis of the recent report presented by the think tank Today Public Policy Institute.

No doubt, this will contribute to more acres of space in the media as the ongoing debate on the institute of marriage intensifies.

Hopefully, facts are sacred and opinion is free. However, Mr Scicluna haughtily disqualifies Roamer from having anything meaningful to say, implying that he has an agenda.

Is it considered an agenda to argue for what one believes to be in the interest of the common good?

Malta is in the enviable position of being able to learn from the social consequences of divorce legislation in other countries.

Presumably, according to Mr Scicluna, any person with Catholic credentials is automatically deemed incapable of participating in any meaningful debate on social issues and should restrict themselves to the sacristy.

Malta has been there before. There is nothing novel about this.

Mr Scicluna goes on to add that if Roamer invokes Chesterton in his arguments, "...then I, for one, will ignore his comments and so will others".

Unlike Mr Scicluna (who seems to feel that he can only 'debate' with those who agree with him), Chesterton thrived on debate and gave his critics space in his paper, whose arguments he contested with wit, vigour and wisdom.

Finally, Mr Scicluna's comment that "...Chesterton chose to suppress both his sensibilities and his intellectual honesty in the cause of Roman Catholic propaganda" betrays a strong element of prejudice. Facts prove otherwise.

If anything, it is a pity that not more people, Catholic or otherwise, do not bother to re-examine the wealth of writing of this giant of a journalist who dedicated himself heart and soul to writing in defence of the family and a social economic order that underpins it.

Contrary to what Mr Scicluna thinks, Chesterton is undergoing a renaissance overseas and his writings and opinions seem as relevant as ever.

Unfortunately, Roamer seems to be the only local columnist familiar with Chesterton's writing, the writing of a man dubbed, most appropriately, 'The Apostle of Common Sense'.