About the Imam, the crucifix and the friar

Some opinion writers and even a political institution felt outraged by what Imam Mohammed El Saadi said about the Sharia law which is a part of the Koran and practised by some Islamic countries.

I do not wish to go into details, but Mr Saadi is an Imam of the Islamic religion. Nobody expects that in such a position, the Imam would not show that he agrees with the norms as practised within the religion he upholds and of which he is an official. To his credit he also expressed himself against the order of the removal of the crucifix by the European Court. And he was honest enough to speak against wrong activities that tend to disrupt our natural way of doing things.

What people who are Catholic, like the undersigned, and proud of it, do not expect are comments harming our religious sentiments that came from a friar of our own religion, expressed with such vehemence on television programmes and in newspapers. Such remarks as expressed in public to all and sundry do more harm than good. I am not against criticism of the Curia's administrative methods or regulation when it is done in a proper manner but to philosophise on the actual values of the religion itself is very dangerous when it is done in such media as television and newspapers. There are other places and other methods where high-brow people such as this friar can discuss such matters. Indeed scholars of the Church are always coming together to discuss the Church's doctrine so as to keep the Church up to date.

And talking of expectations, one would have expected more fervour in condemning the European Court's edict regarding the removal of the crucifix. One of course can never condone acts of violence even when one feels that one's religion is being insulted as happened in other instances and other countries. But we should show more energy in defending our religious beliefs.

Being tolerant to other people's opinions and religious beliefs does not mean that you embrace them. It also does not mean that you have to apologise for expressing your opinion, of what you believe in and of what you are against. We Maltese profess to be a Catholic community. It is high time that we Catholics stand up for our values and our rights... before it is too late.