Joseph Abela, Naxxar
Beneath the surface of the Church
What an insightful meditation topic Frank Muscat offered in his piece titled Sliding Down The Slippery Slope (June 9). One can read into it a whole bunch of truths that the official sanhedrim as he terms it, i.e. the officialdom within the Catholic Church, keeps ignoring and it is only when circumstances have come to the brink that somebody - "a holy man" or a true disciple of Christ - comes out with some deep insights for reform and Savonarola-fashion tries to steer the bark of Peter in the right way.
Oh! Yes, we just recently had a lot of flag waving at the overnight presence of the Pope in our midst. But deep down, the "official Church" in Malta, as elsewhere, has to do a lot more especially in the transparency field. I remember when in my pastoral work here and in parishes in the United States and elsewhere, how as a young naïve priest I was told to shut up when I saw clerics flouting many of the official teachings of the Catholic Church: gay priests, others with female partners, the now explosive sexual molestation of minors and a number of other things. But to me the thing that was the last straw was the insouciance with which Pope Paul VI's encyclical Humanae Vitae on birth control - which after all is magisterial teaching and binding as such - was completely "explained away" by many priests - and faithful - thus depriving same of its doctrinal value.
How many Catholics today follow Paul's magisterial teaching: the sex act among Christians must be open to procreation and nothing can in any way impede its fruition in the birth of a child! The many one- or two-children families here testify to the loyalty of the flag-waving Maltese. And we are only now beginning to unravel the extent of live-in partnerships.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
15 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joe Zammit
Jul 12th 2010, 15:58
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti, the vast majority of Maltese and Gozitans do care what St Paul has to tell us and all of us call him our Father in Faith: San Pawl Missier il-Maltin.
The most conspicuous thing in St Paul is not his persecution of Christians but his conversion and the effect of this conversion. If Christ gives you the grace he gave to St Paul, you will see how your life will change overnight, of course to the better.
There is nothing better than to deny yourself to love God with all your heart as St Paul did.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jun 25th 2010, 10:35
Who cares what St Paul has to say about sex? Is he not the one and the same person who used to persecute Christians. Another fanatic.
Joe Zammit
Jun 14th 2010, 16:03
Where there is disobedience, there is only the devil. Christ has absolutely no place in disobedience. Whoever left the Church has always taken the wrong step. The Catholic Church is and will remain for ever the Mystical Body of Christ. So, whoever departs from the Catholic Church is departing from the Mystical Body of Christ. It will always be to his detriment. Some saints were reformers as well, inspired -- sometimes spoken to directly by Christ -- but obedient. They all pointed to obedience to Church authorities, especially the Pope and bishops. In disobedience there is no humility but pride. By disobedience a priest weakens his own vocation and ends up betraying it. Judas betrayed Christ but the apostles were twelve and twelve remained because Judas' place was taken up by Matthias. So who was the loser if not Judas alone! The Catholic Church continued to grow in holiness and in number.
Joe Zammit
Jun 14th 2010, 15:50
As the 2010 FIFA World Cup is under way many organisations are getting in on the action, even the Catholic Church.
A website set up by the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), and known as Church on the ball, has been up and running for quite a while now.
Regularly updated, the site aims to provide the soccer fan with information regarding the parishes nearby the stadiums, various events offered by the Church, important spiritual not-to-be-missed sites, sport and the Church and even local accommodation and all match fixtures. Obviously more sombre topics are addressed too, such as reflections on human trafficking and HIV & AIDS and its impact.
According to the site, "This [the 2010 FIFA World Cup] is an opportunity to highlight the important role that sport plays in our African cultures. Sport requires patience, perseverance, respect ... all values which our societies, and particularly Africa, much need! All values that the Church does not cease to advocate: Charity, dialogue with other religions and cultures, love of neighbour ... "
Visit the Church on the ball website: http://www.churchontheball.com/
Joseph Calleja
Jun 14th 2010, 17:22
Joe Zammit. We are as catholic as you are, maybe not as much, but you are a fanatic, a big pain where it doesn't see sunshine. Stop pushing and condemning people. I am wondering why any of the bishops has not told you to shut up, because you are doing more harm than good and you are starting to annoy people with your saintly advice. I suggest you get a hobby. Try to save your soul and leave everybody else alone, I am sure we can take care of our own souls.
George Vella
Jun 15th 2010, 02:07
Mr. J.Calleja
I sincerely admire Mr. Joe Zammit, Mr. Gerry Cowie and some others for their contributions in the comments of the Malta Times in the defense of the lawful truth. They are great intellectuals and have taught me a lot. I am so grateful to them and they really deserve the title of 'Defender of the Catholic Church'. Yet nobody on earth is going to confer this title on them, except Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, when He will welcome them in Heaven. ...I need to say no more.
...except that self-made atheists do not even know the meaning of the word. @ William P. Flynn
Joe Zammit
Jun 15th 2010, 09:49
Thank you, George, for your encouragement. The victory of good over evil and of the followers of Christ over the followers of the devil has already been declared and guaranteed.
renald williams
Jun 14th 2010, 12:14
Churches should spread the Evangelium/Gospel/GoodNews... peace and health to all
Il-Katekizmu tal-Knisja Kattolika
Pagna-139-Paragrafu-524
Il-Knisja tinghaqad max-xewqa tieghu [ta’ Gwanni l-Battista]: jenhtieg jikber Hu [Gesu’] u nickien jien.
Pagna-179-Paragrafu-687
Dawk li jemmnu fi Kristu jaghrfuh [lil Alla] ghax jghammar fihom.
Pagna-194-Paragrafu-754
Kristu wahdu hu l-bieb li wiehed jista’ jidhol minnu.
Pagna-420-Paragrafu-1709
Min jemmen fi Kristu jsir iben Alla.
Pagna-421-Paragrafu-1715
Min jemmen fi Kristu ghandu l-hajja gdida fl-Ispirtu s-Santu.
Pagna-475-Paragrafu-2005
Il-grazzja, ghax hi ta’ l-ordni sopranaturali, la jista’ jkollna esperjenza taghha, lanqas nistghu naghrfuha jekk mhux bil-fidi. Mela ma ghandniex nafdaw fuq is-sentimenti taghna jew fuq il-hidmiet taghna biex naslu nghidu li ahna gustifikati u salvati.
L-Evangelju skond il-qawwa ta’ Alla; Li salvana, u sejhilna b’sejha qaddisa, mhux skond l-opri taghna, izda skond il-ghan tieghu, u l-grazzja tieghu, li kienet moghtija lilna fi Kristu Gesu’. 2 Timotju 1:8-9.
Salvati… mhux minkom infuskom… Mhux mill-opri, biex hadd ma jiftahar. Ghax ahna xoghol tieghu, mahluqin fi Kristu Gesu’ ghall-opri tajba, li Alla hejja minn qabel biex nimxu fihom. Efesin 2:8-10.
Mhux bl-opri tajba li konna ghamilna, izda skond il-hniena tieghu salvana… biex dawk li jemmnu f’Alla jiehdu hsieb li jaghtu ruhhom ghall-opri gusti. Titus 3:5, 8.
Isellu għalikom il-knejjes ta’ Kristu. Rumani 16:16.
William P Flynn
Jun 14th 2010, 11:55
@Joe Zammit
With god's grace and Article 2 you mean. Why doesn't the Curia relinquish Article 2 if it has god's grace? Will hell prevail against it without Article 2? How do other Catholic countries cope?
The Maltese people don't want the church to have this power over them. Any poll or vote will show that fact.
The church must do the right thing and surrender Article 2 on our Constitution; or suffer greater humiliation and defeat. Even the Holy See was against Article 2 in 1964, believe it or not. (this fact is in the public domain).
It was a bad idea then and a much worse idea now. In all humility and for its own good, the church should act to bring itself in line with the 21st century and take its place as a believer in freedom and democracy. Article 2 is undemocratic and against people's freedom.
Our Constitution belongs to all of us.
Gerry Cowie
Jun 14th 2010, 20:15
A certain David Flynn's poll - presumably on your behalf - is not going to change things in Malta, Mr William P Flynn! Do you have a legal right to vote in any referendum? Can you make a difference? "The right thing" is what the people of Malta want and not what you want to happen from your own country of Australia. Since you reject the religion of your birth, what right do you have to enter into a debate involving the Church, except that you cannot stand it! You always tell us to "butt out of this argument which does not concern you!" So take your own advice and please stop instructing other people what to do! The people of Malta reject your opinions loud and clear, and your "brick-wall" approach to things will not stop you remaining firmly in the minority on this issue and many others! "Our constitution" - again, are you registered to vote in Maltese elections etc? Why not concern yourself with the constitution which governs the country of which you are a citizen - Australia?
George Vella
Jun 15th 2010, 02:34
Mr. Cowie please do not care about the opinion poll re Articles 1 & 2 of the Maltese constitution set up from distant Australia. First of all if this is taken seriously to Maltese/Australians they would for sure vote that these two articles should remain in our constitution, which with Flynn’s adverts had become unique in the world!
May I please add that from a serious study and a statistical point of view, lately these internet opinion polls proved that they are very misleading.
An old sage living in the Maltese Islands lately said “I pity a fly that cannot fly back home’
Tony Gatt
Jun 14th 2010, 11:42
When the priests start dishing me all the money needed to having more children, give them education and everything else they will need then I may oblige, but until then no one is going to tell me how many children I should have.
victor rodenas
Jun 14th 2010, 11:34
Sur.Zammit,I hope what you said will happen.....But look at Europe. Europe is not Christian any more.People do not practice religion .Most Churches are empty,they have become museums,tourists pay,just to have a look around...Only one Mass is said on Sundays and days of obligation..................I know,I know.......Jesus will be with his Church till the end of time. ...For me the end of time is when I die ,for the Church the end of time will be when the Church (building) will be empty of people,....soon I regret.
Joe Zammit
Jun 14th 2010, 15:09
Victor, don't you know that the Catholic Church has been set up by Christ and has been with us for 2000 years? If you read her history you find her ups and downs. There were times when she had many sinners and there were times when conversions occurred in great numbers. Remember that the whole history of the Catholic Church until the end of time is all present before Christ. He permits also evil because in his providence he is capable to derive good out of evil.
Joe Zammit
Jun 14th 2010, 11:00
Joseph Abela, by God's grace all of us can follow the Commandments of God as taught to us by his one holy Catholic Church. Alone it is impossible. But Christ will give us the grace and by his grace, I can assure you, not even the whole of hell can do anything against us.
The Catholic Church, notwithstanding the difficulties she encounters, grows daily in holiness and in number.
In the world she has over 400,000 priests who are hard working, exemplary and faithful to her and to Christ. The Catholic Church is the Mystical Body of Christ indeed!