Saturday, 21st November 2009

Feast of Christ the King

Priest urges people to display crucifix

Juan Ameen

A priest is calling on the Maltese to display the crucifix in windows and doors for this weekend's feast of Christ the King in reaction to the controversial judgment by the European Court of Human Rights.

Fr Paul Camilleri has circulated an e-mail calling on people to display crucifixes in houses, band clubs and the premises of the various associations to celebrate the feast.

The feast, the last one in the liturgical calendar before Advent, was very appropriate to manifest the "great connection with the cross", Fr Camilleri said.

He said he agreed to send the e-mail even though it was not his idea: "I was speaking to someone and he suggested it. I liked the idea and sent an e-mail."

Publicly displaying the crucifixes would compensate for the offence towards the cross sparked by the recent judgment, he explained. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that displaying crucifixes in Italian classrooms violated parents' rights to secular education for their children.

The case was raised by a Finnish-born woman who wanted to raise her two children as non-Catholics in an Italian school. After taking her case to the Strasbourg-based Court, she won €5,000 in damages as the court argued crucifixes violated religious and educational freedoms.

Fr Camilleri did not expect the e-mail to be circulated around Malta so fast: "I had no idea it was going to be so popular but it clearly shows the judgment ignited something in people's hearts."

It seemed that everyone bar Christians enjoyed freedom of expression and could do what they pleased, he said. "I think my e-mail was popular because this topic touched people's consciences; even in the case of those who are not Christians. In fact, many Maltese don't go to Mass but they were still angry over this. This must mean something."

Fr Camilleri also suggested holding a ceremony in churches and schools during which those present would kiss the crucifix, similar to the one held during Holy Week.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

A. J. Ellul (on 26/11/09)

@ Raymond Cachia. Dictionary definition – Theory - a speculative idea or plan as to how something might be done. The “Theory of Evolution” is nor scientifically proven; it is a hypothesis of fantastic speculation. Evolutionists speculate that life on earth began when lightning struck water in which amino acids – the building blocks of life – were present, and voila! – primitive life forms came into being just like that; and that these protozoa – with life spans measured in days at the most - had the awareness, intelligence, and time in their short lifespan to formulate the need to reproduce and “evolve” in the absence of any competitors. Perhaps Mr. Cachia would care to enlighten us about the origins of the water and the amino acids. Where did they come from? How did they come about? Did they just spring out of nowhere? Who made them? Until Mr. Cachia, or someone else, provides convincing proof of the validity of the “Theory of Evolution”, many prefer to hold to the belief that … “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Raymond Cachia (on 24/11/09)

@Christopher Grech

Darwin's theory of Evolution (by the way, theory in scientific terms does not mean the same as in laymen's language and therefore the "Theory of Evolution" is in actual and scientific established fact). This crucial point is conveniently overlooked by 'Creationists' who say but 'it is only a theory'.

Darwin believed right to the end in his conclusions reached through his years of research. The engine that drives the animals to evolve and create all forms life takes on this planet is 'natural selection'. Basically, it means that those organisms that can adapt and survive will leave progeny, those that don't die out. These descendants are better equipped to survive and the cycle has been repeated for billions of years to create all forms of life, including man. It is happening as we speak but because it happens over millions of years of time, humans cannot observe it happening in real time.

Who knows, sometime in the future we might have organisms and animals who can survive and thrive in the polluted atmosphere of fossil fuel residue that man is creating and can withstand a much hotter earth.

The Bible has nothing whatsoever to do with this.

Kenneth Cassar (on 24/11/09)

@ Christopher Grech:

"Darwin himself on this death bed confessed that for humans at least, there was a missing link".

Darwin did no such thing (I sometimes wonder how many people were at Darwin's death bed). And even if he did, Darwin did not have the vast supply of fossils discovered long after his time. Nor did he have any knowledge on DNA and genetics. Darwin only gave a workable theory which was later proven to be true with our ever increasing scientific knowledge and evidence.

"Imagine that we come from monkeys!"

We don't. I already explained that. You just don't understand evolution. Read the book I recommended. All your issues are answered in detail there.

"Who would add those extra brain cells/human characteristics - by time?"

Embryology answers your question. What evolution achieves in millions of years, embryology achieves in 9 mohths. From a single cell comes a fully grown baby.

"Fantastic theories make fantastic stories! I stick with the word of God in the Bible, which is a safer bet any time".

I would think the Genesis story is more fantastic, so fantastic that even Catholic theologians do not believe it is literally true.

Raymond Cachia (on 24/11/09)

mario aquilina (on 23/11/09)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there someone in Malta, a few years back, who came up with the idea of putting the face of CHRIST on the euro. I'm just wondering as to whether that would have caused a stir.
I believe that the crucifixes should stay, and those who do not like it, can go back to wherever they came from. They where free to come here, and they should feel free to leave.
I do not go to mass, as I was not wanted by the church as a young boy, because of my father's political beliefs, refusing me from confessions and Holy Communion, and I cannot forgive and forget that, but I do believe in God.

John Scerri (on 23/11/09)

Mr. J Camilleri - those who voted for EU membership were not blindfolded. Those who did not vote were unsure . Those who voted against starting from you seem to have known so many negatives about EUmembership but did not bother searching for positives. Crusifix or no crucifix ?? That is the question. My Opinion ? ....I would leave the symbols of religeon where they ought to be . in churches, and homes but not in public places . Thus no one would feel out of place neither maltese non believers nor foreigners with other beliefs.

simon galea (on 23/11/09)

Let us prove ourselves true Christians and defend the right of hanging our cross! Let us grab this opportunity and show that we mean business! Let's start a crucade!
All this anatagonistic and intolerant approach makes me sick. I understand that in a society where over 90% are Roman Catholic having the cross in public places (including schools) makes sense. Having said that, it is not the cross that makes me a Christian but other much more important things.
Fr.Camilleri, if you want the Maltese to manifest their Christian beliefs than please preach love, respect (even towards people with different sexual orientation, race and religion), deploring any intolerant statements( e.g the late Imam statements), social justice, animal rights (I NEVER heared a priest in my life condeming dog fights or bullfights instead they condem irrelevant issues such as use of condoms!!!!!!), protection of our environment (global warming effecting global food supply, incidence of air and water pollution related diseases....etc), putting our principles before money and so on.
Fundamentalism caused wars and so much suffering amongst peoples of different religions.
Let us start living what we believe in and not alienate ourselves on statues, crosses, feasts..etc. Wake up Fr.Camilleri et al!

J.Camilleri (on 23/11/09)

Need no panic. Ignore all and carry on with our beliefs. This is our mother country and NO ONE and no one will ever dictate to us what we should do towards our religious beliefs. If they don't like our rules they can so freely leave in some country of their liking, no one has asked them to come to our country, We respect them and they have to respect our country.

J.Camilleri (on 23/11/09)

Nothing much to do. For all those who were blindfolded voting the big yes to join in europe they had no idea what they were entering for. Useless moan. Too late now !

Wayne Criggs (on 23/11/09)

Dear people, the whole issue goes around belief. That's why you can never agree. One believes one thing, the other one believes another. This is not a question of what the majority believes, neither it's about who is stupid, naive or ignorant. These are all personal views which should always respect eachother. I have to respect your views, you respect mine. That's why the crucifix shouldn't be hanging anywhere in public. It is just your personal belief and you cannot impose it on others. There are many Maltese who are not Catholic but still are as Maltese as the Insara Maltin. Nothing less. And they have the right to ask that their MALTESE children are not brainwashed in any way towards any religion. RESPECT... that is what Jesus taught you... OR NOT?

Charles Grixti (on 23/11/09)

@V. Cassar Mr. Gahn‘s comments are true today and will be so tomorrow. Faith is belief without proof. Just because some scientists have ‘faith’ in a personal God, reflects more on the way that they were raised and indoctrinated, since ‘faith’ is not based on empirical knowledge or reason. And priest-scientists such as the one you mentioned have a vested interest to tie in scientific knowledge and discoveries with proof that God exists and with brand of religion. But this fact remains that even for those scientists that believe in a creator or God, belief in an impersonal deity that cares little for humans or their affairs. Heaven and Earth are not humane/ They regard all things as straw dogs. Lao-tzu (c. 604 - c. 531 B.C., "The Way of Lao-tzu." Note: Straw dogs were used in sacrifices and then discarded. Getting back to the Crucifix, normally I would be against all forms of religious symbolism outside of Churches or personal homes, but in this case I see a greater danger looming ahead, so I would vote in favour of keeping the Cross as a purely political statement for those that are trying to supplant our Judeo-Christian heritage.

Christopher Grech (on 23/11/09)

@ Kenneth Cassar Darwin himself on this death bed confessed that for humans at least, there was a missing link. His own theory of evolution was insufficient to explain the origins of man. In my view, it is ONLY God that changes dots from one insect to another and not some fancy millions of years. Imagine that we come from monkeys! Who would add those extra brain cells/human characteristics - by time? Fantastic theories make fantastic stories! I stick with the word of God in the Bible, which is a safer bet any time.

Claire Busuttil (on 23/11/09)

Tiskanta kemm il malti jaf isir nisrani b`sahhtu, meta ikun hemm kwistjoni bhal din!! Kemm jaf isir moralist, etc etc, imbaghad halli fil hajja ta kuljum, minjaf kemm hawn min joffendi l isem t`Alla ghal xejn, jew minjaf kemm hawn min, jaghmel azzjonijiet li xejn ma jiriflettu t taghlim ta Gesu!!! Nighdu fuq dak u fuq liehor, bsaten fir roti lil xulxin...fuq x xoghol.....firda fil familji, hafna drabi habba affarijiet materjali...jew fuq xi kelma, li tkun intqalet snin ilu.....imma imbad meta xi hadd imisilna r religjon dlonk kulhadd lest jaghmila ta hero u ihabbat fuq sidhru, u jiftahar bit twemmin tieghu........

Christopher Grech (on 23/11/09)

For the real Friends of Christ, Thanks for the article on Christ. I wish to explain something over the cross issue, and wish to elaborate on something that you may not have noticed before. Look at it from God's (Father's) point of view, this time and not from tradition that Christ clearly speaks against. Just imagine that my son is crucified. Then I place his cross, or an image of his cross on my room, in every room, and in other places. Do you think that I honour my son that way? What do you think? Now, would God love to have his beloved Son, have as a symbol, the most atrocious way of killing a person? Forget about what you think, but what would Father and Christ think? The cross should be our self-sacrifice towards humanity, just as Christ did towards us. That is the real meaning behind the cross, to crucify yourself daily, that is your egos, and subdue it as Christ has. Should you want me to elaborate/ questions, please be my guest. Under God's loving hands, Christopher

Kenneth Cassar (on 23/11/09)

@ J Tonna:

We do not "come from monkeys". We share a common ancestor that was neither a monkey nor a human.

As for the "missing link", several have been found. Here are a few:

Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus africanus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus.

But unfortunately, creationists who are so fond of gaps, will always say "now you have two gaps" with every intermediate species fossil that is discovered.

If you truly want to learn about all the evidence for evolution, read Richard Dawkins' latest book "The Greatest Show on Earth - The evidence for evolution".

G. Curmi (on 23/11/09)

@ C. A. Magdi - It appears that you did not delve deeply enough into the Bible. Please refer to Numbers 21, specifically verses 8-9, in which God instructs Moses to make a serpent out of bronze saying, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." Unfortunately, there are too many people like you who are selective about which parts of the Bible they quote to suit their purpose. The crucifix is the symbol of our faith honouring the instrument of death that God chose as the means of our redemption. It is not idolatry to venerate the fundamental symbol of our religion – it is simply an outward sign of devotion. We do not worship the image; rather, we venerate it to honour and worship Him whom it represents. Please save your “beliefs” to yourself and let the rest of us practice our religion in peace.

Anthony Farrugia (on 23/11/09)

We should not be ashemed to wear a cross, or make the sign of the cross in public, the cross is the sign of what we beleive in, are we ashemed to show it or declar it in public? But most of all we must live the cross among ourselves by respecting and forgiving each other. Beside all I wish that the bishop will encorage priest to wear the cross on their decent tops instead of the brand name of the top. A priest represents Christ on earth and the small cross should be his pridness, that he was choosen to doing this mission amoung the people of God.

A. Cassar Pulis (on 23/11/09)

Yes Fr. Paul

Well done....the message was a success. I would like to congratulate you for the brilliant idea. Nevertheless Malta will not bend its knee to such e decision coming from foreign powers. Although Maltese people are sometimes lacking in going to church, it is still bold in them the catholic belief. Thank God and Our LAdy. Fr. keep giving us moroe of this in the future to boost our faith.

V Cassar (on 22/11/09)

Dear Mr Gan, your comments make me realize that you are neither a scientist nor a theologian. Science investigates testable truths. Darwin wrote in 1879 “It seems to me absurd to doubt that a man may be an ardent Theist and an evolutionist”. It is also true that Darwin did loose faith because of a family trauma was content to remain an Agnostic and deep down a believer. Dawkin’s writings only make sense to non-scientists and many of his works have been critically de-evaluated. Perhaps you should take a look at the works at the Faraday Institute at the University of Cambridge to get a closer look of the increasing mutual support between faith (not blind faith) and science (http://graphite.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/index.php) where top scientists are really engaged towards understanding the origins of man from both a scientific and theological perspective. I would also recommend you to read “Nothing but atoms and molecules?” by Rodney Holder, priest and astrophysicist at the University of Cambridge and “Creation or evolution” by Denis Alexander Head of the Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and Development at Cambridge. Good luck Mr Gan.
V Cassar University of London.

edward bartolo (on 22/11/09)

Like religion, maths and science have paradoxes too!

Consider the set of positive even numbers and the set of positive whole numbers. Both are infinite, and yet, the set of positive integers, is TWICE AS BIG as the set of positive even numbers!

Who is the wizard to explain this to me? Both are infinite or not?! Infinite means, that there is no limit, or not?!

Michael Neville Cassar (on 22/11/09)

Jesus Christ merits his place for all to see by showing the cross you who believe in him give us a reminder how to live with respect and love .It is a reminder that death is not the end of life but the beginning. The laws of men will pass away with time and we were told not to put our hopes on men. I am one who believes that the human race in this plant was subjected by experiments by aliens with so many differences of skin eyes structure and deformities that the human body has. But the great sprit took pity on us and sent his son to show us that there is life after death.

salvino p zammit (on 22/11/09)

Nies bhalek ghanda bzonn Malta Dun Pawl- nghixu dak li nemnu fih l-hin kollu-Is-salib huwa
is-sinja tan-nisrani- wiehed ghandu jaqra dak li kiteb l-mibki Mons Mikiel Azzopardi- 'Meta inqum inrodd is-Salib, qabel nibda ix-xoghol inrodd is-salib,fit-tminja nrodd is-salib,fuq il-Bus nrodd is-salib,qabel nibda nilghab xi loghba tal-football(ghara players kbar) iroodd
is-salib,qabel norqod inrodd is-salib- intant nuru li fejn hemm l-ghaqda hemm is-sahha-
mela kull wiehed u wahda minna ghandna nghozzu Is-SINJAL TAS-SALIB. PROSIT Dun Pawl
talli ghamiltna konxji tat-Tezor li ahna nhadnu.

Ommi dejjem ghalmitni-Il-Bniedem tarfu 'meta jrodd is-Salib.

Jesu Kristu miet ghalina fuq is-Salib biex jghaqad u mhux biex jifred.

victor pulis (on 22/11/09)

@Miguel Micallef
Yes, I bet most children would be traumatized by the sight of jesus hanging on the cross! In between sessions of video gaming where they chop, shoot, behead and blow up people on screen amid pools of blood and splattering gore they may find the sight of Jesus disturbing!
Would you accept an empty cross with no 'corpse on it? something tells me that your answer is no. As for the question of feasts I am not really a big fan and I don't know or care what the document says. I look at the cross not so much as a religious symbol ( I practise no religion) as a point where western culture had its foundations. You may name the atrocities commited in the name of Jesus but that is beside the point. The protests are not against a picture of the pope. It is against the displaying of a figure of a man who died for his beliefs which were love, compassion mercy forgiveness.admirable and attractive to anyone of any faith including atheists.

john mangion (on 22/11/09)

IT-TALBA TAGHNA LLUM;

Luke chapter 12 line 8

Matthew chapter 10 line 38

THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD

Joe Portelli (on 22/11/09)

re Missing Link

Mr Gahn is the living proof of the missing link and between him and V Pulis they solve the mysteries of the universe.

I nearly wrote in for the Cruxifics, but after reading what has been written by Pulis and co., its recalled the time when our Lord became angry at the Temple and scolded the traders doing business inside holy grounds for their personal gain and gratification. SO similar to some of the letters (both for & against).

One last thing, it is not Scientist or Religion that try to destroy Good (God's Continual Existance) it is man. Man can hide behind religions or scientists but ultimately man is accountable for what they produce. It is true that many so called religions were afraind of knowledge, but again it is man.

We delegate responsibilities to writers such as Dawkins to express what we want to hear but we are accountable for our thoughts and beliefs. Each to his own - when the knock on the door occurs we choose to eather hear it or not, no one else.

Ramon Casha (on 22/11/09)

@Henriette Mifsud:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4).

See that? No likeness of anything on earth or in heaven. It doesn't say "unless it's an image of me nailed to a cross".

Carmel Serracino-Inglott (on 21/11/09)

@ca magdi

I am afraid you got it ALL wrong. All images you mentioned DO NOT represent GOD of Abraham but other gods , so they are wrong. Can't you see the point here. The Cross ( theChristian cross) whether with the body of Christ, the Son of the Living |God or not is represnting God, Jesus Christ who sacrificed Himself for our sins. This the crux of it all. We are liberated from eternal evil . We adore the Cross ( good Friday service) because it is the suffering of Christ that we are adoring and thanking God for redeeming us not a piece of something in the form of a cross. Can't you see this please. If you are an infidel i.e. non believer then be it and be rest assured that we pray for you just the same. If you believe, really believe, then be proud to have a cross in every room . Rejoice because the Cross is Love ( Devine Love) towards us sinners ( because we being human continue to offend Him He who forgives us a 1000 X 1000 times. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO SUFFER INJUSTICE BECAUSE OF ME. CROSSES IN SCHOOLS YES

J.Tonna (on 21/11/09)

Mr Gahan - I am going to reply to only one point you raised because of lack of time. You said: "What about Darwin? He who said we come from monkeys? The fossil record proves him right time and time again" Now my question HAS THE MISSING LINK BEEN FOUND? If in the affirmative where and when?

P Muscat (on 21/11/09)

The proper time to show off the crucifix is during Lent and Good Friday, not during the Feast of Christ the King and the beginning of Christmas preparations!

Shall we be seeing the effigy of a tortured corpse tortured by some ghastly Christmas decorations?

What does he think the European Court of Human Rights is, some kind of ludicruous ecclesiastical court deciding on the direction a statue should face during some festa? The ECHR is a great manifestation of our present (and hopefully future) civilised way of life, a proof that we've come a long way from the Inquisition of the Dark Ages. But maybe Paul Camilleri, as many other people in Malta, is not only getting his calendar wrong but also the century.

Franco Farrugia (on 21/11/09)

@ Victor Caruana - As a teacher of about 25 years' experience, the gaze from that Cross always helped me, and hence my students, to struggle through our problems which were both academic and otherwise. Its presence was always one that brought peace and security for all. In this respect, Reading your lasat comment, I cannot refrain from noting that it appears that you ignored the Cross staring down at you for several years, when you were at school. It shows, you know.

C.A.Magdi (on 21/11/09)

@Henriette Mifsud "the pictures help them to rivive their memories. It is the same with religious symbols. It has nothing to do with idolatary. When one kisses the cross or any sacred image, it is only an external expression of faith, love, etc. towards the image represented. "

It is not me who is saying images and statues are forbidden, I took verses of the Bible or are you insinuating that the Bible is wrong now, to follow what a commoner called a priest is saying? If you have faith you should have gone and searched in the bible and found the verse and start studying the Bible and not in what the church is turning Christianity into. The Church just manipulates people and turns the words in the Bible to what suits the church best. Are you going to follow what God said or what a priest is saying and doing?

victor caruana (on 21/11/09)

It was nice that hypocrites did not choose any of the two options.

A comment for the couple of poor souls who offered the third option to beat round the bush. Why not a fourth option: having the cross, an effective teacher and being a millionaire.

You see my point. What do you treasure most - the sign of the cross on the wall or an effective education. And do not say the cross make education more effective.

Franco Farrugia (on 21/11/09)

@ D Mangion: 'Issa nwarrbu l-Gesu mill-iskejjel taghna.....u l-edukazzjoni tmut. (jekk mhux diga mietet !)'

No ... you are wrong on both counts. Education will not 'die' with the removal of the Crucifix and no, again, education is not 'already dead'. Other things may be dead, but not education.

NB I am against the removal of Crucifixes from anywhere, but a Crucifix is not the alpha and omega of everything! I am not as callous as some doctor thinks I am!

Vincent Galea (on 21/11/09)

Whether it is a crucifix in a classroom, in some board room, in hospitals, in public entities, the courts, or wherever it stands as a reminder that for us Maltese people:
In God we trust.

Eric Gan (on 21/11/09)

Part 3 of 3

This hypocritical attitude and fear is not based only in Catholicism. ALL religions (possibly with the exception of Buddhism) promote themselves over all others and have a history of using their so called holy texts to justify murder, slavery and a ton of other crimes against humanity. Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf says “I am convinced that I am acting as the agent of our Creator. By fighting off the Jews. I am doing the Lord's work”.

I urge others here to read Christopher Hutchinson and Richard Dawkins works. Religion will die. Not today. Not tomorrow. But as scientific knowledge grows it will. And this brings us to another point: religions always hated knowledge, the independence of a man’s free thought. And above all else they fear science for it brings proof to their dogmatic fairy tales. Orwell’s ‘Ignorance is Strength’ is high on their lists.

Eric Gahn (on 21/11/09)

Part 1 of 3

When are people going to learn that all religions are just fables invented in ages past to help (a) people get a sense of something they did not then understand and later (b) (esp where Roman Catholicism comes in) a way to control the poor, ignorant masses. Religion is in decline because it does not make sense.

What happened to the belief that the Earth is the Centre of The Universe? The Church wanted to burn Galileo for taking us off this of so special place. Unfortunately Giordano Bruno was not so lucky. He was silenced at the Stake for heresy. What of Einstein? He was accused that he wanted to kill god with Relativity. Einstein was right – his work (among many other things) allows us to calculate Mercury’s orbit correctly. What about Darwin? He who said we come from monkeys? The fossil record proves him right time and time again.

Eric Gahn (on 21/11/09)

Galea. L (on 21/11/09)

judith
The Crucifix has been hanging there for ages and that's where it shall stay.
No foreign court is going to dictate to us what we do in our own country.
Let them try to enforce their judgment.

Henriette Mifsud (on 21/11/09)

@ C.A. Magdi: Many people carry and kiss pictures of parents or dear ones who are gone forever. Even their loved ones are in their hearts, the pictures help them to rivive their memories. It is the same with religious symbols. It has nothing to do with idolatary. When one kisses the cross or any sacred image, it is only an external expression of faith, love, etc. towards the image represented.
As to another few listed below, who feel they are an authority when it comes to insulting their fellow citizens as blasphmers, hypocrites, etc. maybe they should express these opinions in front of a mirror. A thief never trusts anybody because he believes that very likely all the rest of the world is made up of thieves like himself.
Well done Fr. Camilleri, your initiative is very much approved and I am sure the response will be great.

G.Schembri (on 21/11/09)

Is it the crucifix that shows our identity? I believe being a good Christian, means loving thy neighbour like you love thyself and thy God more than anything. If we really loved our neighbour we would not mind removing the crucifix from the classroom and replacing it with good will towards others. We daily see children hurt by their peers or teachers because they are diverse, and all we do is punish them for this. We see what we call Catholic schools with a crucifix in each class descriminating between children, even by the way students are admitted (chosen) to said schools. We see classrooms with a crucifix where there is so much competion among students that they don't even help each other. We also see people wearing huge crosses blapheming. Why don't these priests really teach us what being a Christian is all about. I purposly used the word Christian and not Catholic because sometimes I wonder how Christians some so called Catholics are.

Robert Callus (on 21/11/09)

Though I'm agnostic the Crucifix never bothered me. Actually I have one in my room, which I keep as a sentimenal value for the person who had donated it to me. I also admire Jesus the person who fought hypocricy and injustice and was tortured and murdered for doing so.

However I view stunts like this as utterly ridiculous. The death of Jesus, any way you see it has been reduced as just a symbolic thing. And about crucifixes symblising our culture, in my opinion one is putting it's value on the same basis of 'pastizzi' or 'ghana'.

If I was Jesus I would probably feel offended

Miguel Micallef (on 21/11/09)

@Victor Pulis

I admire the man too, but that's not a reason to keep an image of his corpse in front of children who might not admire him like we do. I admire a lot of people, but I can't impost pictures of these corpses on other people. So your argument doesn't really hold on to this one.

The darker reasons I mention are very similar to the feasts scenario. I am afraid most people are staunchly against removing the crucifix to show others 'AHNA NSARA U NAMLU LI RRIDU U INTOM ITILQU MIN PAJJIZNA'. It's for this reason that many ppl are rallying in favour of the crucifix, which is really a big pity and shame, however you get to look at it.

That's the darker reason I mentioned earlier.

GiovDeMartino (on 21/11/09)

La ahna ghandna lil Gesu f'qalbna imissna naghlqu l-knejjes u nkissru l-istatwi u l-kurcifissi kollha li ghandna. Basta jkun f'qalbna.

James Galea (on 21/11/09)

Did you know that schooling as we know it to day started by Roman Catholic Church? Imagine ordering the Catholic Church schools in Malta (where every body wants his children to go) to remove the cross from the walls. Remember that not all religions have the same amount of tolerance that we To-day have. Some even believe that they are suffering because we are the sinners of the world. If we remove our targets we will soon be overridden because they still believe that it is their duty to force convert us to their religion and some fundamentalist think that we do not have the right to live.

victor pulis (on 21/11/09)

@Miguel Micallef
I don't go to church but I don't agree with the judgement. Of course it means something. In my case it means that I respect the man (so, I don't believe he is god) who is crucified on the cross because when he was alive he preached love, forgiveness and compassion and I find nothing offensive in that. he died for what he believed in like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King to name just two others. What darker secrets did you have in mind?
@ Victor Caruana
You gave us two choices. may I add another please?
(a) The cross in the class plus a hopeless teacher?
(b) No cross but an effective teacher for your children?
(c)The cross in the class plus an effective teacher?
Would you choose the third option?
No beating about the bush please!
Finally why was the woman awarded 5,000 euros compensation? If the cross had fallen on her child's head I would have understood but how can a piece of wood hanging on the wall cause harm? All he needed do is ignore it or treat it as just another decoration like millions of people decorate their homes with statues of Buddha

James Grech (on 21/11/09)

Maltese ppl are more concerned with religious symbols rather then what they actually stand for. This is a repetition of the feasts' issue. It does not matter that during the feast celebrations there are ppl that swear at each other, just because they belong to a different faction. While I personally see nothing wrong with having a crucifix in the classroom, since this is symbolising what Jesus went through to absolve our sins, removing it should not imply that our religion is somewhat being undermined.
In my opinion, the church should not be tied to religious symbols, it should stand firmly on solid ground and be able to feel the pains of the people, by not detecting itself from the realities that surround us. It is these issues that are at times missing, and that detract people from attending mass.The superficiality that certain arguments are dealt with by priests and religious community at large, miss the whole point completely. While believing in the Christ, I can't say the same for certain intertwined arguments that the church professes.

Kevin Zammit (on 21/11/09)

This whole thing is pathetic since it is an EU citizen who started this whole thing anyway. I think Dr. Andrew Borg Cardona explained the legal and ethical bases well enough in his assesment about this whole issue.

@victor caruana

Sorry to be answering your question with another and I'm not beating round the bush here but is there any reason why you have setup questions 1 and 2 as being mutually exclusive?

C.A.Magdi (on 21/11/09)

"Fr Camilleri also suggested holding a ceremony in churches and schools during which those present would kiss the crucifix, similar to the one held during Holy Week."

Sorry but did he read the Bible PROPERLY? Pls go to Exodus 20: 4,5 where it states that
" You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above......" & " ...you shall not bow down to them nor serve them"

In Psalm 97: 7 there is "Let all be put to shame who serve carved images"

Fighting for the right to have the symbol(the cross) protected is one thing, idolatry is against God's word, nobody should kiss a statue or a symbol.

In the bible as well Matthew 23: 3-9 says " ...Do not call anyone on Earth your father; for One is your Father. He who is in Heaven."
So I guess priests are not supposed to be called fathers.
I hope noone will insult me now, coz I went on purpose through the Bible to find the quotes & give you the proper index for you to see with your own eyes.

D.MANGION (on 21/11/09)

Nehhu s-salib minn mal-hajt u ghozzuh fi qlubkom.
Remove the crucifix from the wall and treasure it in your heart.

L-insara tal-bidu kienu jingharfu minn ghemilhom u mill-ispirtu komunitarju taghhom.
L-insara ta tmiem id-Dinja se jergghu jingharfu minn ghemilhom u mill-ispirtu ta' ghaqda taghhom.

Diga warrabna l-Gesu' mill- Milied....u l-Milied miet.
Issa nwarrbu l-Gesu mill-iskejjel taghna.....u l-edukazzjoni tmut. (jekk mhux diga mietet !)

judith (on 21/11/09)

i was born and raised to the age of 14 in the uk my parents raised me as a roman catholic , i attended a state school and i learnt about ALL different religions which i can say that i really enjoyed .On a Sunday i attended Mass and a Sunday school in which i learnt about our religion. It was therefore eventually MY CHOICE to whether i stayed in the religion my parents raised me has or change. My point that i am trying to make is that WHY are people so against changes. I have raised my 2 children has roman catholics too and explain to them the different religions but at the end of the day it is their choice who they decide to follow. It will make NO difference if the cross is hanging on the wall in the class or the hall !!! As long as the cross is in your HEARTS, where the love of Jesus is to those who believe.

Joseph Mizzi (on 21/11/09)

I find nothing wrong in the Church encouraging people to display the cross.

but, will those who choose not to display it be marked as non-believers? Will there be neighbourhood watches reporting to the local kappillan on Ġanna and Peppa whose windows are going to be devoid of this religious symbol?

If this is not giving way to a return to the state of affairs prevailing in the 60's, I don't know what is. As a commentator wrote some days ago, I believe it was Dominic Fenech, we are today renouncing to the freedom from religious shackles Mintoff worked so hard to achieve in the 70's.

Dr. John Damai (on 21/11/09)

g.c.Forte. Well said and I concur. As evident, most of the negative comments against our Christian culture are nothing but foreign influences. Earlier this week I read an article about a barbaric Muslim cleric expressing his support for amputation as a punishment. Only a minority were taken aback. Yet if we try to show our Maltese identity, which is Christian, we just let foreign opinion take the stage. What we turn our back on today will be hard to fight for in the future.

J.Tonna (on 21/11/09)

Some (down here) do not believe in the Power of the Cross: so

THOSE WHO BELIEVE SHOULD SHOW IT BY PUTTING A CRUCIFIX IN A WINDOW OR BALCONY BETWEEN TODAY AND TOMORROW.

@ Cerry Cowe - You asked Franco on which side of the fence he is. I have been following his writings for some time now and have come to the conclusion that he is on the 'opposit' side i.e. on the opposit of the majority. He just likes to oppose. Habits are hard to crack!!

Jeremy J Camilleri (on 21/11/09)

Hilarious,,,Seeing that must priests have ditched the crucifix from their habit a long long time ago.

So Gerry Cowie...your first argument is with the multitude of priests who relegated the crucifix way before this issue even made it to the papers.....(thats what makes it so childish really)

Lino Camilleri (on 21/11/09)

@ Victor Caruana

How about option 3:
A cross in class and an effective Christian teacher, proud of his/ her religious traditions!!!!!

Gerrry Cowie (on 21/11/09)

Victor Caruana - just what is the meaning of your point below?
You cannot know if the teacher is any good whether or not the cross is present!
It is not about whether the teacher is a believer but surely whether or not the cross is present.
It is true that if we had no religious objects to help us in our religious life we should still be able to live it without them, but the fact is that we do have these things to help us.

Franco Farrugia - which side of the fence are you on? Why do you denigrate the importance of the crucifix as being visible? Yes, it should be in one's heart, but we are provided with such things to help us in our devotions. Should you not be supporting this priest?

Peter Camilleri - Your point is what, exactly? What is childish about a priest urging people to respect and display the cross?

Michael Grech (on 21/11/09)

Pathetic! (and this comes from a Catholic who has a 1.5 feet crucifix hanging over his bed)

Nicholas Gatt Coleiro (on 21/11/09)

Oh please Fr. Paul, give us a break !

g.c.Forte (on 21/11/09)

Although I am a Catholic, I am not a good follower to my religion,but when it comes to my values I do any thing to preserve what my ancestors believes. When our Religion started, those who really believes, had to pass from lot of sacrifices, following deaths by torture,and down in the arenas, to be eaten by lions. The emblem( password ) to show their faith was the CROSS ( crucifix ). To day, we are not going to pass the same route,but if this thing is going to be an E.U. directive, I see a big problem. If I remember well, before the Referendum to enter the E.U. the church took a very quite stand,and somebody said, that our Religion is not going to be touched.in any way. So. I urge our Bishops to go to our government, and tell him, that nobody is going to touch our values, and if necessary another Referendum will be held. I hope that we are not going to surrender any, or part our Roman Catholic believes,just for the devils money.

laurence schembri (on 21/11/09)

Come next Monday, I`ll bet that if the crucifix was taken away from school classes and hospital wards, hardly anyone will notice.

victor caruana (on 21/11/09)

If our religion is nothing more than effigies, than God save our souls!!!

A pondering question to be answered only by sincere people (i.e. not hypocrites):

If you have a stark choice to make between the following options:

(a) The cross in the class plus a hopeless teacher? or
(b) No cross but an effective teacher for your children?

Just answer and do not beat round the bush!!!!!

Franco Farrugia (on 21/11/09)

This is nothing but rhetoric. This is nothing but appealing to the emotions of the people. Nothing else. Father, you should know more than anyone else that the Cross primarily should reside in the heart and should be seen not in windows but in our actions!
'Offence towards the Cross'? Are you real, Father? Are you Maltese? We, Maltese, are well-known, even internationally, for the way we offend the Cross through our frequent blasphemy, blasphemy of the type which is not heard of in any other language other than ours, Father. Please, why don't you be real? Why hide behind the emotions of the people? Why try to make hay while the sun shines, even in such matters?
'Kissing the crucifix? Again, just emotions. Just outside appearances and nothing tangible, nothing real.
You would have been real if, for instance, you had suggested that people should try and do a good deed every day towards their fellow human-beings and towards animals. Now THAT would have been inspiring.

Miguel Micallef (on 21/11/09)

"In fact, many Maltese don't go to Mass but they were still angry over this. This must mean something.""

Exactly, it means a lot. It means ppl want to see crucifixes not becuase it means anything to them (becasue if it means, they would go to church), but becasue of other, darker reasons....

Peter Camilleri (on 21/11/09)

How childish. Really.

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Priest urges people to display crucifix

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