Friday, 27th November 2009
Fr Mark Montebello disciplined for 'offending Maltese sentiment'
Fr Mark Montebello: "My allegiance is not to bishops and Popes but to Christ, as brought to me by the Church."
Fr Mark Montebello, a Dominican priest notorious for his controversial views, has been disciplined by his superior for "offending the sentiment of the Maltese" on more than three occasions.
As he was fixing the drainpipes of a family who could not afford a plumber yesterday, Fr Montebello said he was not surprised by the decision taken by the "absolute institution".
In various media appearances, Fr Montebello has said he disagreed with a paedophile register, believed Jesus was in favour of divorce and said Crucifixes did not need to be "flaunted" in public buildings.
"I am not happy but I am not angry and I accept their orders," Fr Montebello said, when asked for a reaction about his superior's orders.
In an article on The Times last Friday and on TV programme Xarabank, Fr Montebello said those who really believed in the cross should not fear its removal. "All Christians should be more content with the spread of Jesus's spirituality and values than by the consolidation of its institutionalisation, which always tends to obliterate the former."
Yesterday, he said he did not regret or take back anything but understood that to get his message across he must work within his parameters. "I am part of a Church that is much larger than this. My allegiance is not to bishops and Popes but to Christ, as brought to me by the Church."
In 2005, Fr Montebello was banned from speaking publicly because he said Pope Benedict's appointment was "a sick joke".
"Even now, we are like we were under the other Archbishop... that there is only one way of being Catholic and only one way of understanding theology. Opinions that are alternative to official opinions are not accepted, full stop."
His provincial has asked to vet all written contributions by Fr Montebello and to be informed about any television invitations.
In a press release issued by the Curia, the Dominican Province said it regretted any confusion and anger caused by Fr Montebello's views and was taking steps to ensure he "recognises and shoulders his responsibilities better".
The Province also showed its appreciation towards other initiatives taken by Fr Montebello relating to the marginalised, detained and victims of criminality.
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Comments
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
I must admit though that seeing how the Maltese catholic church 's reacts to whatever you say makes me start to wonder what would happen If Jesus had to come again and speak in the way he did 2000 years ago , would His own church recognize him or would it try to shut him up as well, call him an heretic, and apologize for the confusion he would bring about in people's minds.
I have a feeling history would repeat itself and Our Lord would be treated in the same way he was treated by the Pharisees way back. Many could not take Jesus's outspoken character.
He was not afraid of stepping on anyone's toes . For this he paid the ultimate price with his life.
Ironically, the Catholic church is not encouraging people to love Jesus Christ and His scripture. On the contrary. People who seek to do that like Father Mark attempt to have their mouths sealed.
Well done Father Mark. You don't have to be approved by the Church to follow the steps of Jesus Christ.
In any case, you don't have to be a priest either. The good you do is invaluable.
After stating my "credentials", I would like to point out that according to my Bible in the end we are judged not by our words or our intellectualizing but by our actions. By how many times we fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, gave clothes to the naked person, visited the inmates in prison, visited the sick and welcomed the stranger.
May the Lord/Allah be with Fr. Mark, the Curia and the Domenican Province.
Father Montebello must make sure that whatever he is stating in public must be driven from good thoughts. If not he should stop.
The Church like any organisation ahs a right to control what is released by the priests. The Church body , also must ensure that this control measure is driven by good intent and never as some form of punishment.
Flaunting Crucifxes in a Catholic country should be the norm.
Flaunting cricifixes in a Muslim country should not be encouraged.
What God binds together thorugh our promises is not disolved the minute a partner becomes unbearable.
Humble priests should wear suitable attire particularly when photographed.
Learn from Thachter who enjoyed a galss of bubbly but the press never had a photo of her with glass in her hand - because she represented a serious office - same applies to the Roman Catholic Soldiers representing the office of Christ our Lord and not their own opinions.
Isn’t it strange, that most of those who are supporting Mark Montebello are either declared atheists, agnostics, anticlerical or have a chip on their shoulder against the Roman Catholic Church?
You do not have to be an Einstein or a rocket scientist to discover this!
JC.
Yes to your answer 22 years, and in the modern army forces, superiors can be question with respect for their actions, if one feels one's action are wrong. There is nothing wrong with expressing ones views what ever the organization they belong to. There is nothing wrong with freedom of speech. Malta is not a police state neither is the Church. So get a life and move with the times.
The Christians in the catacombs never saw a crucifix and the cross was not their symbol.
No archaeological evidence exists of any relationship between the cross and Christianity until the 5th century.
The crucifix came hundreds of years later when Christianity became a power-death-cult and its main use was to control, invade, steal, oppress and kill.
One of the first massacres happened when the Christian Cathars refused, amongst other things, to adore the very symbol of Christ’s torture. The Cathars believed in love, order and peace whilst, by then, the church institution had already become addicted to the worldly power, wealth, and opulence the church feeds on at all costs to this day.
These comments show the church is unable to fool people any more.
" As an ex service man, where I spent most of my life in discipline ,speaking one's views is not an offence."
Were you really in the service ? Is it really normal pratise for service personnel to question their superiors ? Surly " Speaking your views " were of no use when it came to obeying orders.
There is nothing Medival about rthe church in Malta. Just as you had to obey orders when in the service , so must Fr Mark obey the orders of his superiors.
" I, Franco Farrugia, am Maltese and was not offended."
You forgot to add that maybe you are against the teaching of the Catholic church. Could that be the true reason why you were not offended ? Could it be that in Fr Mark you see somebody who is going against the church and that is why you agree with him ?
If you answered in the affirmative to any of the above questions you will know why it was right for him to be dicciplined.
On the other hand we have Fr Montebello who says that displaying the cross is not a big deal, he says "All Christians should be more content with the spread of Jesus's spirituality and values than by the consolidation of its institutionalisation....." Fr Mark spoke to the Times's journalist while fixing drainpipes for a family that couldn't afford a plumber. Tell me who appears to you to be following Christ's teachings. I first met Fr Mark many years ago in Bromla covering in white dust as he was chasing a wall to help install electricty at a house aptly called Dar it-Tama; a home that once converted would be used to assist people who also couldn't afford help. Fr Mark asked nothing for himself, only for others; in my opinion his actions are truely Christian.
" I am part of a church that is much larger than this. My allegiance is not to bishops and Popes but to Christ.
If Fr Mark were in the army he would have been court martialled on the spot. Who does Fr Mark think he is ? He certainly thinks BIG not a trace of humbleness in his words.
If Fr Mark thinks that he is helping Catholics with his remarks , he is very much mistaken. All he is doing is casting doubts about our catholic religion, the very opposite of what he should do.
Why is it that people who are against the Catholic church or who have a chip on their shoulders are the only ones to applaud his views ? If he thinks that he knows better than his superiors and that he cannot follow the teaching of the church anymore it would do everybody, but more so him, a world of good if he were to leave the priesthood.
Is he maybe planing to form a sect away from the Catholic Church ? You just cannot be a priest and say openly that the orders of bishops and Popes mean nothing to you.
Apart from that I know priests and nuns who silently agree with Fr Mark but admit they do not have the courage to come out. I don't blame them, but would like to encourage them no to be afraid to talk about what they honestly believe in
Please don' t loose faith and keep up the good work. You are to be encouraged not scoldered or treatened. I hope that our man made "G"od finds your GOD.
“There are no dogmas in temporal affairs. To try and set up absolute rules in matters where the individual has to try to see things from his own point of view, in terms of his own interest, his cultural preference and his own experience, this insults the dignity of man. But in matters of faith and morals (which includes the sanctity and indissolubility of the great sacrament of marriage, between one man and one woman, as God Himself established from the beginning) there is only an indisputable standard, which is the only truth: that found in the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ as taught by the Magisterum of our Mother the Church, of which Christ Himself is the Head and Founder.” - Saint Josemaría Escrivá De Balaguer
Three words to say about that ... "Amen, Amen, Amen"
About time divorce should of course be introduced. I believe that familly unity is what keeps the Church Co Ltd. well financed and they will loose 'business'as family unity begins to 'disintegrate' so this is of course a big threat to them
Re the cross, I totally agree. After all their are people of different religions ...so as we may not want to have to look at their icons, why should they have to look at ours, whether in Malta or wherever.
If the archbishop believes that the banning of crucifixes is reprehensible because it is a form of censorship, what may I ask is the disciplining of someone who honestly speaks his mind and the vetting of everything he says with the hope of silencing him?
What about the humiliating treatment meted out by the church to Fr Joe Abela, the church's own film classification board chairman and his removal from the board? By the way, that is because he gave evidence in court expressing a view (under oath) that contrasted with the Church's view that Stitching should be censored.
I feel that of all institutions in this country, the Curia is the least entitled of all to step onto a pedestal (pulpit?) and preach about censorship!!
1) "I am part of a Church that is much larger than this. My allegiance is not to bishops and Popes but to Christ, as brought to me by the Church."
The above quotation as attributed to Fr. Mark Montebello is very disturbing as it shows that this “monk” has no respect to his superiors.
Didn’t Mark Montebello on becoming a “monk” with the Dominican Order take the oath of OBEDIENCE?
2) "Even now, we are like we were under the other Archbishop... that there is only one way of being Catholic and only one way of understanding theology. Opinions that are alternative to official opinions are not accepted, full stop."
Doesn’t this kind of statement show disrespect to his superiors, even considering that Archbishop Paul Cremona also belongs to the same Order as that of Fr. Mark Montebello?
When considering the above, one tends to conclude that this “monk” is just another attention-seeker and relishes in being in the limelight; or is he perhaps in the wrong “vocation”!
One of the greatest virtues is HUMILITY!
JC.
“There are severe signs of decomposition, for the smoke of Satan has made its way into the Church of God.” – Pope Paul VI
If he feels that it is not necessary to flaunt the crucifix in public places, why did he feel the need to flaunt it publicly on Xarabank? I would expect more respect from his for the Church and for the Order to which he belongs.
Is Fr Mark Montebello Malta’s Galileo?
Is keeping mum and think illogical what the Church want? veru tal misthija!
Welcome to the inquisition! Say the truth and you either end up on a stake or get a punishment. The countdown of the Church by minute.
Int titkellem b'intelligenza u sens, avolja ma naqbilx mieghek fuq ir-religjon.
Did the church make a survey to find this out?