Klaus Vella Bardon, Balzan
A closed mind and an enlightened one (2)
Saying that the interview Mgr Charles Vella gave to The Sunday Times (August 16) is confusing would be an understatement.
At the beginning of the interview he praises the late Archbishop Michael Gonzi for his vision and stand in defending the principles of Maltese Christianity (as if there are different brands) and the values of the Maltese family during the 1960s.
One wonders whether family values, or any other fundamental values for that matter, change from week to week or from country to country. Loyalty, honesty, honouring one's vows, etc. are timeless values that should always be promoted and defended.
Mgr Vella goes on to make the remarkable statement that he is not scared of divorce, whatever that means, and adds that in Italy, marriages did not disintegrate following divorce legislation and that divorce figures, after an initial rise, levelled out.
A later contradictory statement explains why: "In Milan nowadays, there are more civil marriages than religious marriages and more cohabiting couples than families. While the institution of marriage is facing a crisis, the Maltese family is not."
So if divorce, along with other insidious factors such as the trivialisation of human relationships, promiscuity, pornography, disloyalty, anti-family legislation, etc., led to fewer people giving any value to marriage, is it surprising that marriage in Milan and elsewhere in Europe is in crisis?
It should not escape Mgr Vella that once there are fewer and fewer marriages to break up, the need for divorce drops proportionately. No wonder divorce rates level out. Is this a positive development for society? He also insinuates that the government should not heed the counsel of the Church. Presumably, according to him, a government should jettison the upholding of marriage vows freely given, whether civilly or not, to prove its independence from the Church or the advice of any public spirited person or grouping.
Mgr Vella's inference that our hierarchy lacks leadership is disloyal and unworthy of a Catholic, let alone a Catholic priest.
He seems to have a grudge against the archbishop's advisers and arrogantly declares that they should either be silent or change their views to coincide with his own.
Perhaps, the rarified circle of Milanese high society has clouded Mgr Vella's judgment.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Franco Farrugia
Aug 24th 2009, 07:24
@ Klaus Vella Bardon - Something tells me that you would have sung a different tune about Mgr Vella, had he taken a different stand, one which would have found your agreement. But no, let us shoot the singer out of the sky, because he dares say things with which we don't agree.
Paul Zarb
Aug 23rd 2009, 19:49
There can be no dissenting opinions in the church. Any position no matter how outdated or precarious must be defended even when one begs to differ. If anyone has a different opinion based on a lifetime of experiences and dares express it, he must be labled disloyal, arrogant and unworthy. Furthermore his opinions must be labled confusing (although to many they make perfect sense). Finally in perfect passive aggressive refer to the milanese high society code to demonise his clouded judgement.....pathetic.
With respect this letter smacks of 'molto fumo ma poco arrosto'. However it also helps emphasise how enlightened Mgr Vella is.
I humbly suggest the author of this letter and Ms Galea to read Martin Scicluna's letter also under the same heading because after that they may find Mgr Vella less confusing.
Christine Galea
Aug 23rd 2009, 10:58
If you think the interview was confusing, try reading Msgr Vella's book "Minn Malta ghal Milan" in which he expresses some very different views to the ones he expounded last Sunday.
To say that Msgr Vella is "disloyal" and "arrogant" is indeed an understatement. For those of us who are very much involved with promoting family values, Msgr Vella's responses to Herman Grech were a slap in the face.
Let's just hope that this is merely a case of "clouded" judgement on his part. Last Sunday, it was certainly not the Msgr Vella (who for many years,was synonymous with the promotion the values of the Maltese family) speaking to Herman Grech.
Joe Xuereb
Aug 23rd 2009, 10:51
Maybe the Monseigneur is merely admitting and going along with the rule of thumb in Nature, that is the very nature of Nature. Namely, that that which does not change, dies. This realisation had to happen - Malta is always behind the times - and once it starts happening, it gains momentum. It is unstoppable. It is called progress. But it is hard work. Not unlike an alocholic who first needs to admit s/he has a problem. Once the alcoholic admits this, it is his responsibility to do something about it. The same goes for any information newly gained. It needs to be processed. Accepted or rejected depending on one's maturity level. Rejection must be based on very sound reasons. Or else. One remains stuck. And that is against the nature of things (as I said earlier). We have to deal with developments. Whether chosen by us or imposed. Seeking information is the key. Thence, informed decisions. Not forgetting that nothing stands still.