Archbishop calls for intergenerational policies

Archbishop Paul Cremona called for a human-centred approach to policies in his message to politicians on New Year's Day.

Mgr Cremona, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca and Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasquale yesterday exchanged greetings for the New Year at the Archbishop's Palace, Valletta.

Mgr Cremona acknowledged that, while the government and Parliament had the onerous task of meeting the country's present needs, the Church could reflect more on what was going on and, like any other voices in a pluralistic society, express its views and concerns.

Citing Pope Benedict XVI, who will be visiting Malta in April, the Archbishop said that when making policies and governing, politicians should always remember what the ultimate goal and centre of their endeavours was: that of serving the human being, whoever that might be.

Mgr Cremona urged politicians to look ahead and include an intergenerational aspect when making policies. They should ensure that the decisions taken today would not affect future generations adversely. He said that nowadays there was a new kind of poverty brought about by broken families who had stumbled along the way and it was the duty of both the Church and the state to assist them.

Among those who exchanged greetings with the Bishops were President George Abela, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his Cabinet, a delegation of members of Parliament led by Mr Speaker Louis Galea, Labour leader Joseph Muscat, Brigadier Carmelo Vassallo, Police Commissioner John Rizzo, Presidents Emeriti Guido de Marco, Eddie Fenech Adami and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, and members of the Judiciary.