Call on the Archbishop to set up interfaith group

Charles Grixti

Sep 13th 2009, 00:16

Featured prominently in your photo with this Article is of course the Koran. I am glad that the Archbishop thinks that this cult is worth studying - maybe this way we will get the truth about Islam, providing it is not the abridged version printed especially for infidel westerners.

What is next, studying the Mein Keimpf too.

Raymond Sammut

Sep 12th 2009, 04:42

I wish to take issue with Dr Gellel for pointing out that "Catholic religious education [is] enshrined in ... [Malta's] Constitution". He fails to mention the historical fact that the 1974 Constitution was not endorsed by a referendum but was decided for the Maltese people by those who were in charge at the time. Catholicism in contemporary Malta, therefore, is a fait accompli rather than necessarily the "core" faith. The simple historic travesty in 1974 was that the Maltese government was obliged to consult with the Maltese people and not with the Holy See.

Equally important is the fact that Dr Gellel cannot have it both ways. His statement "the beauty found in other faith traditions" is clearly meaningless if not a subterfuge. For example, the State is required to teach the Qur'an in exactly the same way it teaches the New Testament, or it may just as well teach only the New Testament and ban the Qur'an altogether. We cannot have a situation whereby students learn only selected pages from the Qur'an merely for aesthetics and traditions. This would be totally unacceptable.

Dr Gellel may succeed easily in fooling someone in Nevada, but not the Maltese people.

Paul Galea

Sep 12th 2009, 02:24

inter-faith dialogue is one thing, and teaching all religions to children is another matter. One should consider the effects on the children by introducing them to comparative religions, before teaching them their own religion.

It is a positive idea to permit students of other faiths to learn their own religion at school. Surely everyone should have the facility of learning his own religion. But the idea of having catholic children being taught the religion of other faiths is very dangerous, to say the least. If this idea will be implemented, it will be the greatest disservice to the catholic faith in Malta. Inkunu qed indahhlu l-lifgha fil-komma.

Everyone knows that the children's religious knowledge of their own faith is very scarce. So one can imagine the confusion created in the minds of these poor children if they are thought comparative religions, "including the viewpoint of non-believers", as suggested by Mr. Zed. Do non-believers have a religion?

Perhaps, the idea contained in the archbishop's statement has been misinterpreted. Surely it needs to be clarified further.

martin saliba

Sep 11th 2009, 21:35

Why only traditions and not beliefs ? Stupid question so i'l expect a stupid answer.

Steve Calascione

Sep 11th 2009, 17:05

These here remarks are for the benefit of our social scientists, not our Hindu friends (whom I welcome most warmly, should they wish to visit or even settle in Malta).

Point #1.

It would be extremely short-sighted to think that the Catholic Church retained an effective “dominating majority in Malta” after the politically divisive events of the mid-20th Century.

The entrenched political divide, though it has softened somewhat in recent years, is still arguably Malta’s default "faith" position. At the village level, rivalries associated with traditional saints and band club affiliations, so blur the lines between the exercise of temporal and spiritual powers, so as to make any further discussion on the subject rather moot.

Point # 2.

There is a growing sense of dissatisfaction among the so-called intellectual elite (not me, fortunately) with the status quo in such contentious and divisive issues as divorce, MEPA, the environment, water-boarding (just kidding), and the like.

On the plus side, almost everyone agrees that abortion should not be politicized. Almost everybody, anyway.

Joe Tabone-Adami

Sep 11th 2009, 15:52

I am under the impression that, as regards so many other things - besides Religious education - pertaining to the Catholic religion in Malta, the suggestions and specific instructions reach the Archbishop directly from Rome, not from Nevada. I am also under the impression that the declaration "Dominus Jesus" issued through the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in September 2000 refers also to the relations between the Catholic faith and other denominations - without in any way equating the tenets of such denominations with Catholic dogma. It is with this in mind that matters could be very well looked at.

Reuben Seychell

Sep 11th 2009, 13:19

Thumbs up for the church on this one! Well done Dr. Gellel!

C.L. Spiteri

Sep 11th 2009, 12:06

Can Mr.Zed inform us what his organization is doing to promote teaching about other faiths in countries like Saudi Arabia, other Gulf States, etc. and to form inter-religious groups in those countries?

victor pulis

Sep 11th 2009, 10:43

I agree that students and indeed the general public should be educatedabout other religions as this could help tolerance. But the sword cuts from both sides. They say it takes two to tango and if just one religion proves to be intolerant the idea will fail. Another problem rises when a religion is also the major political force in the land. Religion and state should remain separate. When the holy book of a religion is also the constitution of the country on which lawsare enacted then I see a threat.