'You cannot serve both God and money' - bishops

Christians are being urged by the bishops to choose between serving today's culture or following Christ's teachings and becoming full members of the Church.

Citing the biblical message that "you cannot serve both God and money", the bishops said they still respected the decision of those who shunned the Church to be led by modern culture, even though it hurt them and they yearned to have people back in the fold.

However, the bishops made it clear that people had to choose - they could not avoid Jesus and their faith yet still call themselves "Christians, just because they were baptised".

The letter by Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, which will be read today during Sunday Mass to mark Advent, proposed that 2010 will be a time of grace and decision to those who still felt Christian, but did not respond to the call of Jesus to follow Him.

"When we take a commitment in our social life, usually we accept whatever our choice entails. However, we proclaim we are Christians without practising our faith." They pointed out that when people chose to join a group, such as a sports association, every member was aware of the "collective consciousness", or the philosophy and goals, behind membership.

However, there were those who felt comfortable choosing elements from their faith to accommodate their culture and they encouraged these people to "decide where to place their fundamental decisions".

Today's culture, they said, embraced different ideas that distanced people from God. The bishops said consequently the Church in Malta was at an important stage: "We have been brought up and lived in a culture full of Catholic signs. Today's reality is very different. Our culture does not reflect faith and Christ's teachings anymore."

They insisted this was a message of "urgent love" and they did not wish to scare anyone. "All is said with great love, even to those who decided to leave the Church, and those who maybe hold grudges against the Church on particular issues."