Kevin Papagiorcopulo, Communications officer, Archdiocese of Malta, Floriana
The 'little' done by the Church
I refer to your leader 'Feasts and fireworks' (August 2) and particularly to the paragraph which states: "Though the Church has spoken out on the issue of late, it has done little in concrete terms about the situation." For the benefit of your readers and for the sake of justice, let me list what the Church in Malta has done in this respect.
1. During the period 1981 to 2009, 20 documents were published, of which some try to educate parishioners about the real meaning of a religious feast and others were very concrete directives.
2. The year 1995 established as the benchmark for all external celebrations to put in practice what the Church authorities have been preaching about moderation.
3. Fixed six-week interval between feasts in parishes where more than one feast is celebrated (1995).
4. Ban on participation of new band clubs in parishes where there is already a band club (1999).
5. Ban on all discos and other such activities during festa week (2000).
6. Affirmation that only the ecclesiastical authorities are competent in the organisation of religious feasts, including the outdoor celebrations (2000).
7. No permits to be issued for new activities (2002).
8. Restrictions on lyrics during band marches and on CDs (2002).
9. Time limit for band marches (2002).
10. Sanctions imposed on whoever does not conform with these directives (2002).
11. The Church authorities decided to pull out of outdoor festivities on these occasions: Christ the King, Paola (1999 and 2001), San Ġwann (2000), Holy Trinity, Marsa (2001 and 2004), St Joseph and St Mary, Għaxaq and Zabbar (2005).
12. On many other occasions, warnings were issued that disciplinary measures will be taken, and those concerned opted to conform with directives.
13. During 2009 the Church participated actively with concrete proposals in a seminar organised by the Band Clubs Association and another by the parish priests.
14. An updated document is being prepared for wide consultation on the restoration of our religious feasts.
Perhaps this can prove to your readers that this is not a little in an uphill effort.
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PM Camilleri
Aug 9th 2009, 16:22
I think the Church ought to take more effective control of the situation by threatening to ban all external festivities if such noisy petards continue to be let off. The noisy petards let off during last week's Lija feast was scandalous and yes, even criminal. If such noisy petards continue to be let off then the Church must not hold such feasts at all. How about that? Perhaps they might see sense after all.
K. Zarb
Aug 9th 2009, 14:49
@Kevin Papagiorcopulo,
and how about:
1. the scantily dressed people inside the Church,
2. the swearing during the marches (since you stated that "Affirmation that only the ecclesiastical authorities are competent in the organisation of religious feasts, including the outdoor celebrations (2000)."
3. old churches used as stores (including for the storing of beer to used in the march),
4. the butchering of the Latin language where it is still used during the celebrations. Ironically, Europe is experiencing a revival when it comes to the Latin Mass whereas here in Malta, as usual we do it our way,
5. and the list goes on ad infinitum...
Except for a smiling Archbishop, there has been no tangible change by the church, and yes, Mr. Papagiorcopulo, the Church has done very little.
Lino Apap
Aug 9th 2009, 13:44
Ehm....I believe the Times leader was entitled " Feasts & FIREWORKS" - none of the 14 "measures" restrict fireworks in any way. Perhaps Mr. Papagiorcopulo should come to Mosta where we have been "entertained" by noisy petards for the past 2 weeks in glorious anticipation of the festas in Lija (at least that's over for another year) and Mosta - a pleasure that is still to come gradually enjoyed on a daily basis with petards let off at 8:00a.m. on a Sunday morning!!!
Then once that is over, we can look forward to the Naxxar festa in September where it will feel like Afghanistan all over again.
People in B'Kara have it even worse - there are two or three LOCAL feasts (St's Therea, Joseph and Helen) then there are the 2 Qormi festas, St. Venera, Zebbug, Msida etc etc. I'm sorry but the Church is doing very little to control fireworks - seeing how vociferous the Church is on other subjects - everyone KNOWS that the Church can do a lot more about this if it really wanted to; so yes the Times is right - the Church has done very little about fireworks.
B Agius
Aug 9th 2009, 12:15
It's interesting that the first dot point Mr Papagiorcopulo brings up mentions "education" . If indeed the Maltese church had ever educated its followers about anything much, then the first casualty would've been the extent that feasts are celebrated in the first place. The Church in Malta has prospered because she cultivated and participated in maintaining an uneducated population and manipulated its backward, anachronistic and folkloristic view of religion to further its own ends. The Church should earn a living by doing more good social work in education and social welfare etc - which it does well- and adopt a progressive 21st Century attitude towards a good life that is lived by its many adherents and stop involving itself in bands, fireworks and running around with statues! Of course the Church is afraid of taking real stances as if it does it loses business! So it is being led while pretending to be doing something - as Mr P's list indicates.
Pule' Carmel
Aug 9th 2009, 11:46
What framed European culture and mentality came from diverse countries and may I suggest the following .
Jerusalem gave us our morality and Christianity
Athens gave us our philosophies and ethics.
Rome gave us our legal system
London and Paris gave us some of our modern culture and language influence
Istambul Costantinople and other Arab countries gave us our agressive fighting spirit.
The average citizen in Malta ,was through the ages influenced by all the components attributed to these sources and families formed their offsprings according to the situations they found themselves in .
Most people in Malata are now forgetting the influence of Jerusalem and the Church has to face the demands of people who misinterpret Religious functions in Malta. It has a hard hilll to climb.
The citizens form their different characteristics but basically the formation results in the following nature. Wise men use reason to come to a conclusion, lesser men use experience and traditions, ignorant men use necessity and beasts use their instincts.
As I walk the busy roads in Malta's festive seasons which includes varieties from the Carnival to National and Religious functions all these traits are easily recognised by those who take part.