Luqa 'phallic' monument partly hidden with banner
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
Members of the Neo Catechumenal Movement partially hid the infamous Luqa monument with a banner as the Pope passed through Luqa on his way to Valletta this afternoon.
The large black and white banner carried the words “Cammino Neo Catecumenale” and a colour picture of the Madonna and child.
The phallic like structure in Luqa has made it to the international news in the past days after the mayor requested its removal.
The Pope was driven right around the roundabout, with the youths trying to keep up.
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Amy Falzon
Apr 20th 2010, 09:21
If you all knew before u talk is better!! all roundabouts had this banner so they weren't really covering the monument!!
Alexander Laurence
Apr 18th 2010, 20:07
@A.Agius , there are far more 'open' countries!
Go to Holland, where you can choose your sex, or get an abortion for your daughter when she turns 16, or buy legal drugs....
Let's see what you do when (if) you have kids who are teens and you are a doting parent... would you prefer they marry somebody who is a 'mixed-up' partner? Or rather you would prefer a steady guy/girl who's lived a nice quiet life with no vices?
Darren Galea
Apr 18th 2010, 20:13
Congrats for invoking so many stereotypes in one single post.
Whatever happened to tolerance?
E.Schembri
Apr 18th 2010, 19:45
The banner was never intended to hide the monument as these banners were put up at every roundabout passed by the pope.
It is a pity how obsessed some 'modern' people are with this monument and insist on shoving this phallic monument down our throats! The good thing is that majority of them are just armchair critics who probably never leave the house.
To A.Aguis, you are free to leave the country whenever you wish, may I suggest Spain or Amsterdam where abortion legal at the age of 16yrs, so are divorce and drugs, and you may very well choose your sexual orientation. Just don't forget that these countries also have the highest rates of suicide.
I thank God that Malta still embraces the old classical family ideals and morals where the sacred family of Nazareth is at the heart of most Maltese families. Who ever said that modernization and secularism is good for us???
Well done to Malta for the fantastic warm welcome given to his Holiness the pope!!!
Adrian Cortis
Apr 18th 2010, 18:22
Can the 'Neo Catechumenal Movement' show that they had a legal permit to do all this ? As far as I know, this is expression of one's opinion in public, which took place in more than one location, according to one of them who wrote here. And correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know, if I have to organise such demonstrations, I need to have a legal permit from the police. The 'Neo Catechumenal Movement' can do whatever pantomimes they want, but not IN PUBLIC. They do not have the right to do so. I don't want to be driving around and find such individuals ruining my holidays !! Where are the police ?? Where's the 'Equal Justice under Law' ?? Or just because one praises church in this country, he/she can do whatever they want ??
Emma Xerri
Apr 18th 2010, 18:20
@Chris Grillo
Not trusting brainwashed fundamentalists, whatever their religious cult, makes good sense to me.
As for the monument, it is both obscene and vulgar or it is not. But first you have to define these terms. Personally, I think if it was good enough for the Maltese, it was good enough for the Pope. Anyways, they have a larger phallic obelisk right in the centre of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, but you do not see them covering that with a sign or placard.
Chris Grillo
Apr 18th 2010, 19:01
Why are they braniwashed my friend? Although not a part of them, I have relatives and dear friends who are part of the Neo Catechuminal way of life.. I assure you they are nice guys. It is so hard to make them angry...hardly fundamentalists...
And one of the men interviewed did state that it was just a monument, and that they have one just outside the vatican. Personally, despite being a bit of a rebel (and an art fan), I do not like the style of of the monument..that is personally...
I reiterate...the monument was hardly hidden!!! If he looked that way he is sure to have seen the err.... 'top' :-)) of the naughy bit.
I will naturally accept your criticism..you are free to do so...as I am no? (Too much was made of a silly thing!)
As usual , peace to you and your family..
www.chrisgrillo.com
D Magri
Apr 18th 2010, 17:46
How completely ridiculous, and pathetic. And we wonder why the world laughs at us! Causing a storm in a teacup just becaus of a symbol which some people may interpret as obscene. What they are actually doing is giving it more importance than it deserves, and looking like fools in the process. Why don't we focus on more important stuff!
Adrian Cortis
Apr 18th 2010, 17:39
What a bunch of fanatics !!! Fanatism, of any tiype, should be banned in every country !!! History speaks for itslef. Many civil turmoil initiated because of fanatics hitting the streets. What if fanatics 'on the other extreme' took the road' ?? Even just for a peaceful demonstration. Would they have been allowed ?? This is such a pathetic country !! I am literally feeling sick knowing that in 2010, such extremists live in our country !!! Why doesn't the catholic church condemn such paganism ?? Shame !!!
G Psaila
Apr 18th 2010, 16:32
Maybe the Pope would have liked to see it after all. They say he appreciates all forms of art.
Bernard J Schranz
Apr 18th 2010, 16:27
This simply portrays the ideaology of these same people.... unfortunately it is summed up in 'If its not right, it is wrong'. It is the same extreme mentality that basically nurtures antagonism rather than tolerance since no in-between appreciation exists !
It is why wars have erupted, why people have been torched at the stakes in the name of religion, why people have rebelled against 'faith' and why in Malta people have been buried in the Mizbla !
With such a mentality, we will never grow and develop but remain ingrained in the doldrums of yesteryear. Yes unfortunately these people exist and that very same mentality transcends our culture and is reflective in the way people think and work. It robs them of the ability to use their brains freely, analyse situations and come up with solutions.
It is degrading to see this taking place and for these people to adopt a holier than though attitude and impose their opinion on others. If anything they have created much more exposure and generated further attention towards the issue. How pathetic, sick and controlling !!!
Unfortunately such attitudes only serve to push people away from practising their faith as Christ himself desired.
claudia agius
Apr 18th 2010, 15:50
The saddest part of it all is that they don't even have the guts to say 'yes we wanted to hide the shameful monument'. At least be proud of what you did! And don't come telling me it's by chance the only empty spot they found!! Come on!! What a sad bunch!!
Karl Consiglio
Apr 18th 2010, 14:24
Ahjar bqajna taht L-inglizi
ray sacco
Apr 18th 2010, 14:22
@james degiorgio:
you're right! tens of thousands are in the street, greeting mr. ratzinger! that leaves some three hundred thousand others who do not care and stayed at home or went out somewhere on the opposite route! and you say that these are all darn angry people? about what? angry people use words like 'DARN' when thay write! just relax, calm down, go to the fosos and enjoy yourself mr. non-armchair critic. nobody is angry at you!
andreana attard
Apr 18th 2010, 13:58
Never a dull moment in this little country of ours, that's why i love it here - we Maltese are so alive and emotional and passionate about everything.
A Psaila
Apr 18th 2010, 13:43
Anne Farrugia. Whom should I trust then ? You?
Get a life.
Joe E Galea
Apr 18th 2010, 13:29
Thanks Neocatecomunals for providing such amusement!!! keep it up!!
Robert Zammit
Apr 18th 2010, 13:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYT4nYo3Ebk
c spiteri
Apr 18th 2010, 13:07
Meet The Flintstones!!!!
Idolatry and paganism at its best. Well done to the maltese culture!!
Adrian Sacco
Apr 18th 2010, 13:00
No wonder the world looks on and laughs, when CERTAIN of the Maltese persist in their po-faced prudishness.
Anne Farrugia
Apr 18th 2010, 10:56
Hypocrisy at it's best! These Neo Catechumenal Movement really need to get a life and have a look at their back yard before they do anything. No wonder I do NOT trust such people! I don't like it, but I won't have covered it for the Pope!
Chris Grillo
Apr 18th 2010, 13:06
Your comment of not trusting these people is offensive, at best. I happen to know some of the people interviewed...and I know them to be loyal parents, hard-working and quiet, with not a bad word in their vocabulary...or a wrong intention anywhere. And what they said is true...faith has nothing to do with the abuse....everyone can see that it's wrong.
And they have admitted it's wrong.
I am NOT a member of the neo-catem-whatever-they-call-it. I'd rather go to a rock night or a heavy-metal concert than go to these prayer meetings...but I still respect everyone.
Which is obviously not your style..and that makes you untrustworthy!
The banner only covered 15% of the monument (presumably erected for Mambra products?)
M.Vella
Apr 18th 2010, 10:36
I find this article intentionaly misleading! These people didnt put up the banner to hide the monument in anyway! They just found an empty spot where to gather as a group and welcomed the Pope as a group, using the banner to identify the name of the group. They gathered in different locations around Malta using similar banners. Even the interviews in the video testify that, and even expressed that they believe its just a work of art, nothing to hide! I guess the press likes creating polemics and having comments by people under it ... thats the only scope of this article!!
michael grech
Apr 18th 2010, 09:38
whoopie...we will in the international press once more!!!! This is then what President Abela meant when he said the visit will enhance turism . Turists will flock to visit the most moronic nation in the universe.
sandro pace
Apr 18th 2010, 08:42
What puzzles me is that some people think that 'erecting' a monument closely resembling something which normal people keep private, is a sign of an open-minded, modern, democratic and an advanced country. Is it that so? Had that rebellious and defying attitude at my teenage years, but left it there. This could be as infantile as those scandalising by this work of 'very basic' art.
I've seen nothing like it in any western city, or better, such monuments had a historic, technical or artistic value, rather than just a rebellious one. The reaction to this news is also hilarious. People are prepared to emigrate if this peace of stone is obstructed.
Time to grow up really. Even as a nation.
James De Giorgio
Apr 18th 2010, 08:19
for Jonathan Muscat and all the other misinformers.
Whoever spoke of competition for goodness sake. What tdo politicians have to do with this? Ara vera tliftu l-feel tal-argument!!!
The problem with you negative anti-pope bloggers is that you have foun nothing to criticise in the pope in malta, so you're down to moaning about a monument!!! If you see the video, the banner was only in front of ONE FIFTH of the monument, you call that "Covering"???
Christian Sciberras
Apr 18th 2010, 17:12
When are road improvements done in a bulk? Two events so far:
-Election
-Pope's visit
So you say there's no religion and politics are unrelated?
Oh, and for your information, I'm not a "blogger" nor "anti-pope" and nether "angry with the pope".
C Galea
Apr 18th 2010, 02:48
Sham Shame Shame , actions like this are what one can only call sad, it all sounds and makes it all look like that some people and official are not proud of decisions that were made democratically.Take a stand an d BE PROUD OF YOUR DECDISIONS.
Joe Fenech
Apr 18th 2010, 02:24
Il-Gahan Malti jibqa jirrenja!! Le m'ahniex fl-2010 imma fl-1020! TAL-MISTHIJA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jonathan Muscat
Apr 18th 2010, 02:03
igifiri issa il papaa sur de giorgio qed tuzh bhala kompetizzjoni bhal ma jamlu l politici fmalta: 'ara kemm anna niees hi' ax largument tijek totalment ma jamilx sens.. u iva alahares ma jezistu bloggers ki jaslu jikritikaw ax kieku, hu diga manniex kritika malta u itar ikolna... viva c censura u linsularita maltija!!
Albert Farrugia
Apr 18th 2010, 00:47
But hey....whoever said that monument is indeed a phallus? And have we now become a nation devided into pro-phallians and anti-phallians?
colin stanley
Apr 18th 2010, 00:10
@A. Agius and M. Brincat. When you decide to leave let us know, so we can come and wave you goodbye. most propably there will be more people seeing you leave, than there were people greeting the POPE. bon voyage, you don't have to come back, I don't think we will miss you.
M Farrugia
Apr 17th 2010, 23:47
I was there & part of the movement and NO the banner wasn't put there to hide the monument!! We put it there for his Holiness to see who we are, as he had to pass from the street opposite to where the banner was.
C.Busuttil
Apr 17th 2010, 22:14
Censorship or tac-cajt !!!!!!!!! you few bloggers have been swept aside by Catholic Malta who gave a tremendous welcome to the Pope in all localties,
Have the decency and SHUT UP, when will you realize that the more you write the more the resolve of the silent majority is strengthen. Now go and get a life especially a life that's not passing all your time on a website.
PS - Ara kemm ghandkom paroli ma tmorrux tghidu dak kollu li tghidu f'wicc il-Hal Luqin, forsi ghax dawk ma tantx jghoddu lura u malajr tmurilkom l-arja kollha li tinhebba wara keyboard.
Mark Bishop
Apr 17th 2010, 22:11
Please, please how can I disassociate myself from these folk? I cannot be part of this!
Christopher Attard
Apr 17th 2010, 21:49
The title implies that the youths did it on purpose which is not the case as you can see from the video. There were other people with flags and banners. I am not going to discuss the monument's artistic merits.... however does this reflects the Luqa's people, culture and traditions?
Johnny Xerri
Apr 17th 2010, 21:35
So the monument was seen as a 'phallic' symbol, what will the banner be seen as?
I will just leave it to the imagination, but sure the banner was not bought from a dispensing machine at uni
J. J. Borg
Apr 17th 2010, 21:13
Now everyone is hopefully happy. The monument stays and the pope did not see it.
James De Giorgio
Apr 17th 2010, 20:40
The problem with these bloggers is that they are armchair critics who haven't bothered to go round the island today...
I've seen HUNDREDS of those banners all over the place, not just in Luqa! Therefore, the monument was not covered on purpose, but happened to be covered from THE ANGLE which the camera was placed.
The problem with these bloggers on the times, who must number around twenty, are darn angry that TENS OF THOUSANDS are in the streets, contradicting what you're saying!
Just watch out for the crowds on the Fosos tomorrow ;o)
Clive Gerada
Apr 17th 2010, 20:36
This is an act of censorship!
Paul Felice
Apr 17th 2010, 20:32
I am part of the Neocathecumenal Way in Balzan... I think that almost EVERYONE in the world heard about and saw the picture of this work of art. I think that art should be interpreted by the viewer. Unfortunately there are many ignorant people who associate every coloumn with genital parts. I think the Pope would have loved to see this work of art. I think that the intention was not to cover the work of art because by puting up the banner they drove the Pope's attention on that thing sticking out from behind it, it makes no sense. I think the media has a subjective view and portrays what it wants to.
M.Feltz
Apr 17th 2010, 20:01
Sorry folks, i don't want to sound rude or anything, but somehow i don't really believe that all Maltese are god fearing people. We noticed alot of things since we've been living on your beautiful island, some are actually two faced, and its a fact, but then again we have the same back home, but in Malta its more noticable cause its a small island, and Gozo is even more or on the level as Malta, i thought they are all christains, but some don't even greet or speak to their neighbours or even their own families due so i hear money or property is the normal case, so why be the great pretenders just because the Pope is in malta who are some of you trying to kid. Martin Feltz Canada/ and Temp.in Malta
Rita Borg
Apr 17th 2010, 21:58
i fully agree with you and btw i m maltese...most of the people here are just 2 faced ...better be good towards the others rather than make huge celebrations for the pope !
ray sacco
Apr 18th 2010, 13:09
@m.feltz:
families and neighbours who do not talk because of money or property are found in every country! but what you DO find only in this inimitable country are families and neighbours who do not talk because they belong to rival band clubs which organize feasts of some catholic saint in the same village! but all is well as long as they go to mass every day and hand over some cash for their festa to be better than their rivals! the most important thing is that we call these unique islands catholic, even in our constitution!
Michael Vella
Apr 17th 2010, 19:53
What a backward country!!!!!!!!!! It seems we will never learn to stop being the laughing stock of Europe - if not the world.
Victor Fiorini
Apr 17th 2010, 19:43
Hilarious!!
You gotta love these guys!
R.Spteri
Apr 17th 2010, 19:42
i dont see nothing radiculious in the statue. its all peoples minds, believes...
Neo Catecumenale movement did nothing wrong by staying there! they just went there to greet the pope, because they knew that everyone will be in the square and very few people will be waiting there. im sure that they werent there for the banner to reduce the attention on the statue or to see the pope going round that roundabout!
its all peoples mind!
Scerri S
Apr 17th 2010, 19:40
I hope this is just a misunderstanding and they didn't really try to hide it. Otherwise it's an embarrassment to the whole nation. How close minded can people get? Even if the sculpture purposely depicted a phallus, what's wrong with celebrating nature? Vera tal-misthija dan-nies.
rob debono
Apr 17th 2010, 19:39
il papa gie u l poplu ta risposta ax it toroq mifquwajn bin nies !
t.farrugia
Apr 17th 2010, 19:39
This cannot get any more hilarious!!! their show attracted more attention to the monument. Brilliant!
David Bugeja
Apr 17th 2010, 19:36
Is this all happening in Malta and all because of the Pope? If the monument is a shame for the Pope who came to visit the Maltese island for few hours, then it has been a shame for all of us maltese citizens because it's been there for about 5 years now. It's only an artistic monument. Let the Pope see all the beauty we have here in Malta.
Kenneth Cassar
Apr 17th 2010, 19:35
The pope must have thought they were some fertility cult.
b.busuttil
Apr 17th 2010, 19:18
hawn hafna nies milli jidher hawn irriduwa tad dojjoq u taparsi moderni... qeghdin titkazzaw ghax ghamlu banner grupp ta nies... li kellom kull dritt.
X Bonanno
Apr 17th 2010, 19:17
Il-poplu Malti takom risposta ghax hareg bl-eluf jilqa l-Papa.
Lanqas haqq kemm hlejtu hin tiktbu kontrieh.... Ghax il-poplu iktar hareg bi hgaru!
prosit lil poplu Malti.... u grazzi.
Merhba Missier
A Agius
Apr 17th 2010, 19:14
Think it's time to start thinking about leaving this island for good. I can't live in this ignorance and close-minded brain washing any longer.
J Cremona
Apr 17th 2010, 19:12
Oh come on! There were just a bunch of people with a banner, of which Im sure they had many in several checkpoints around Malta from what one could notice. I wonder how 'forward' minded are those people who are disgusted with such an incident...who knows how many other have been 'partly hidden' due to the same reason or others...this is just a media topic which draws attention and the 'forward' minded people are the first to adopt the 'backward' mentality and just criticize and show their non-acceptance attidude towards people who have different opinions, and make big deals from small issues.
Stefan Kottmann
Apr 17th 2010, 19:10
I have a different theory - that this movement felt at one with this monument and celebrated it by gathering around it to greet the pope. I am happy to see such conservative people opening up and celebrating different forms of expression. A step forward for this movement!
D.Buhagiar
Apr 17th 2010, 19:09
O-M-G! Unbelievable!
Joe Cassar
Apr 17th 2010, 19:05
If these youths are like this when they are young, what will they be like when they grow up? I shudder to think ....
T.gauci
Apr 17th 2010, 19:23
What's wrong with them ?
N.Frendo
Apr 17th 2010, 19:05
There is far more detailed nudity and body parts in the Vatican then anywhere else in the world. And these "oh i'm smart" people cover a colorful monument with a banner.
As someone else said..... get a life!
Deborah costa
Apr 17th 2010, 19:03
Tad-dahk!
I don't know where some people actually get the ideas! No wonder our priorities are not set right! Ara fiex qed nahlu l-hin u l-energija!
R. Bajada
Apr 17th 2010, 19:01
Don't they realize that the banner put more attention on the statue?
Paul Caruana
Apr 17th 2010, 18:59
Some will do anything for their 15 mins of fame!
A Vella
Apr 17th 2010, 18:55
This is getting beyond stupid...... are we in 2010 or 1910......
Rosalind Dougall
Apr 17th 2010, 18:54
What makes me wonder is the obelisk in Piazza San Pietro. All Obelisks are considered to be phallic symbols.
what difference does it make whether the phallic monument is blue and made in Malta, or else full of Egyptian heiroglyphics imported from Egypt in the Roman Empire Era?
it's still a phallic symbol. if one doesn't offend the Vatican and the Pope, why should we be so megalomaniac as to think that our considerably smaller home-made phallic monument will indeed offend the aforementioned?
Godwin Cassar
Apr 17th 2010, 18:53
Monument lil John Bundy imissna naghmlu ta' dik il-kapulavur ta' diska li kien hareg!!!!
G. Cappitta
Apr 17th 2010, 19:49
Sewwa qed tghid sieheb
jo bartolo
Apr 17th 2010, 18:51
... ummm the 'tip' is still showing .... xej sew dot com ! lol
C Galea
Apr 17th 2010, 18:51
This was funny. I mean the top half of it still shows - Way to attract even more attention to the monument. From the pope's angle it looks like a phallus is emerging from behind the banner!
Mark Grima
Apr 17th 2010, 18:51
Has anyone got a photo from the other side? Let's see the Colonna Mediterranean rise triumphantly!
paul mizzi
Apr 17th 2010, 18:50
Hail to the Neo Catechumenal Movement!
The ignorance (to ignore) of the maltese in these aspects is state of the art!
Good to know the pope would have appreciated such sculpture: http://cantate-domino.blogspot.com/2006/09/photos-benedict-column.html
Albert Zammit
Apr 17th 2010, 18:49
nixtieq inkun naf , jekk il pitturi li hemm fil kappella sistina u fi knejjes ohra , illibsuhomx il hwejjeg ta taht? mentalita tat tigieg
Ludwig Flask
Apr 17th 2010, 19:22
Rightly said!
jennifer mifsud
Apr 17th 2010, 18:47
did it occur to anyone that these people might have gone there simply because it's a good spot to see the Pope go by without being crushed by a crowd? don't you think that the banner isn't high enough to cover the monument? it's true that there are religious fanatics on this island, but not all are simple and stupid, either.
Ludwig Flask
Apr 17th 2010, 18:44
...and 2 days ago the police confirmed they had received no applications for a protest permit... isn't this a protest? Will the police take action against the Neo Catechumenal Movement? No respect to that artist!
Michael Mercieca
Apr 17th 2010, 18:44
What a farse!!! As if the Pope would be bothered... I bet he would not have even noticed IT.
S. Calleja
Apr 18th 2010, 08:49
Sewwa taghmel. Jien hekk ghamilt u ma nergax lura.
M.Friggieri
Apr 17th 2010, 18:42
Oh my god!!!!!
T.gauci
Apr 17th 2010, 18:42
lol u leeeeee jahasra.
David Micallef
Apr 17th 2010, 18:42
They had better covered the ‘Mother and Child’ statue up the road from the monument as the little child has his pre-pubescent version of the ‘monument’ visible too...
R Curmi
Apr 17th 2010, 18:42
The banner only covered a small part of the monument. The Top part of it was still showing. But apart for the fact that the pope only took him a few seconds to go past the roundabout, through the photos I took he never once was looking at the monument. He was more interested waving at the people. So much for the fuss the anti monument have created
Stella Calleja
Apr 17th 2010, 18:41
this is beyond sad. Beyond ridiculous and immature.
Joe Vella
Apr 17th 2010, 18:41
Breaking News............The Capella Sistina is going to be white washed to cover the nude figuers in the paintings!!!!!!!!!!!!
M.Brincat
Apr 17th 2010, 18:40
M'hemmx li nitlaq minn dan il-pajjiz injorant. Il-Papa ghandu elf anglu arwien fil-Vatikan. Qum fuq tieghek Gahan Malti!!
tony camilleri
Apr 17th 2010, 18:38
How idiotic and self centred this Neo Catechumenal Movement be...... Will they come and cover it up when I drive past the monument with my family!!
Raymond Camilleri
Apr 17th 2010, 18:38
K Abela: Get a life!
Rocco Cauchi
Apr 17th 2010, 18:37
Well done to the Neo-Catechumenal Way.
They have started coming in from the cold and making a valid contribution to Maltese catholicism. They certainly have to keep their feet on solid ground and break out of the shell they have built around themselves.
They indeed have a mission to convert Malta rather than being self-centred and continue only converting themselves.
Stella Calleja
Apr 17th 2010, 18:36
this is beyond sad. Beyond ridiculous and immature. Its...I don't know what adjective to use, except for a few X-rated ones!!
G Zammit
Apr 17th 2010, 18:36
Good on them. Not only cause they covered it cause of the pope, in all honesty its an ugly monument. GET RID OF IT. It so does not look like its in place. Seems to me they just wanted to find something to put on a roundabout, and that filled the position. It has no meaning what so ever..... No body in their right mind would say thats a good spot for that sort of monument. silly fools!
A.Camilleri
Apr 17th 2010, 18:34
This Pope lived through the second world war and given his age I'm sure he's seen more shocking stuff than this sculpture - yet small minded individuals remain intent on protecting him - from what? How pathetic! In my opinion those needing protection are these individuals themselves - they give me the impression that they have lived their life behind a wall.
Mark Busuttil
Apr 18th 2010, 08:15
A Camilleri - I want to buy you a beer!
Pierre Gatt
Apr 17th 2010, 18:34
Oh my God.........I just cannot believe this.....please tell me you're joking !!!!
P Agius
Apr 17th 2010, 18:29
Malta is still living in the middle ages.....fanatics
K Abela
Apr 17th 2010, 18:27
@Raymond Camilleri
i have no connection whatsoever with the Neo Catechumenal Movement! But, frankly the puerile empty and idiotic is anyone as proud and happy as exposing phallic symbols! especially on this occasion! come on lets be mature and put away such hamallati puri!!
Joseph Casha
Apr 17th 2010, 18:51
Could you please explain to me, in your expert opinion, what differs from this being a phallic piece of art and a painting of a woman cupping her naked breast in the zurrieq parish church?
And please don't say that it's religion related cause other countries have no problem erecting fertility monuments with being so hypocritical!
Mark Attard
Apr 17th 2010, 18:27
Ha ha..it stood tall and proud all the same.. why don't these people get a life?.
MIKE FARRUGIA
Apr 17th 2010, 18:26
Good sense prevailed. If the artist is offended he may well put it in his front garden
Renald Galea
Apr 17th 2010, 18:24
Must the Pope be 'shielded' from what common mortals are subjected to?
The Neo Chatechumenal Movement must be so taken up with the idea of adopting a holier-than-thou attitude, and imposing censor on what irks it, that it has actually taken it on itself to judge what the Pope can see and what he must be kept away from.
If the powers-that-be have deemed it appropriate that what is parading as art is appropriate for the locals, than we have no other choice.
Although I fail to find anything pleasant about the Luqa monument, I would certainly prefer it to another 'colour picture [of a yet another] Madonna and child.
Adr Borg
Apr 17th 2010, 18:23
u le xejn sew !!!!!!!!!!
clive borg
Apr 17th 2010, 18:20
personalment rajta att sabieh li ghattew mhux il-monument innifsu, imma l-ahbarijiet u l-ghajdut li kien hawn fuqu , u pogeww l-attenzjoni fuq il-papa u fuq l-objettiv tal-migja tijghu hawn malta..
Prosit Neo Catechumenal Movement ...
John Bonello
Apr 17th 2010, 18:19
Oh my god! How low can this country go?
G. Caruana
Apr 17th 2010, 18:19
Ghiduli li cajta...
Stefan De Battista
Apr 17th 2010, 18:19
It's not the best sculpture I've seen, but for sure this Country will never learn!
Some people want to throw this Country back to the Middle Ages.
Another threat to the Local Artists!
M. Dalli
Apr 17th 2010, 18:18
I am to start beleiving that the Mayor's plea was correct indeed!!!!! If it is a shame to the pope why should us residents "stick" it into our eyes!!!
Karina Fiorini
Apr 17th 2010, 18:18
This is bull, that's art in whatever form and shape, which belongs to all the state and not to a prude movement's decision... what about all the nude figures at the Cappella Sistina
wally vella-zarb
Apr 17th 2010, 18:14
By deciding what their pope can or cannot view, are they implying that they are 'Holier than the Pope'? I wouldn't be surprised!
L.Caruana
Apr 17th 2010, 18:12
Tac-cajt, meta issa misshom jabhbuh al dejjem mhux ghal Papa biss :)
Godfrey Grima
Apr 17th 2010, 18:05
Please someone say this did not actually happen.......
D. Aloisio
Apr 17th 2010, 18:02
U le!!!! tal-ghageb