There have been mixed feelings about the news that, according to a policy document to be discussed by the Diocesan Assembly of the Maltese Archdiocese in October, religion taught in schools may introduce students to other faiths, apart from Catholic teachings.

What is being proposed is that, without renouncing to the centrality of the Catholic faith, students are introduced to the beauty found in other faith traditions.

It would appear that this move by the Church in Malta is in line with the fresh opening desired by Pope Benedict XVI from the very beginning of his Pontificate. In his first message at the end of the Eucharist Concelebration with the Cardinal Electors in the Sistine Chapel, on April 20, 2005, directing himself towards everyone, including followers of other religions or those seeking an answer to the fundamental questions of life and have not yet found it, the Holy Father said: "I address all with simplicity and affection, to assure them that the Church wants to continue to weave an open and sincere dialogue with them, in the search for the true good of the human being and of society. I ask God for unity and peace for the human family and declare the willingness of all Catholics to cooperate for an authentic social development, respectful of the dignity of every human being. I will make every conscientious effort to continue the promising dialogue initiated by my venerable predecessors with the different civilisations, so that mutual understanding may create the conditions for a better future for all."

It would be beneficial to all humanity if religions succeed in building and ensuring effective progress in their mutual understanding and, perhaps, unite in promoting values such as forgiveness and reconciliation against violence, racism, totalitarianism and extremism.

Therefore, the proposed move by the Church in Malta could be seen as reflecting the signs of the times.

At the same time, however, one needs to keep in mind that, as the Catholic Church herself recognises, the right to religious freedom requires not only the assurance of the presence of religious education in schools but also the guarantee that such education be in accordance with parents' convictions, aims and expectations.

Education today is a complex task. Its specific mission should therefore remain the integral formation of the human person. Children and young people must be guaranteed the possibility of developing harmoniously their own physical, moral, intellectual and spiritual gifts and they must also be helped to develop their sense of responsibility and learn the correct use of freedom, including religious freedom. So parents should be more than happy to see religious teaching contributing to the students' integral development and to learning better how to live with others in mutual respect.

Yet, precisely in the context of globalisation and the changing mosaic of peoples and cultures, many parents might feel that the Church should first concentrate better on ensuring that religious teaching keeps its authentic evangelical dimension of the transmission and witness of faith.

Accordingly, the Church in Malta would do well to ensure the widest consultation possible with parents on the proposal. Parents would expect to be fully informed on how students will be assisted to gradually open to other faith traditions, to the new religious movements and to the secularist and atheistic philosophies that form part of the world today.