Bishop hits out at 'omerta'

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has urged the faithful not to be afraid of speaking the truth, for fear that they would be criticised.

He said during the feast of St John the Baptist in Xewkija that society was in a situation where what was said through words and images did not reflect reality but the words of those who should be setting the proper course was absent.

Some, he said, were fearing to speak up because of personal interests.

This omerta' was sometimes becoming comfortable both for individuals as well as institutions.

Some parents had even become mute where their children's behaviour was concerned.

"Why have parents lost their voice when they see the indecent lifestyle which some of their children are adopting? he asked.

No sense of inferiority should cause parents not to speak up, he said.

He said that similarly, most people did not agree with the new forms of the family that were being proposed, but they did not speak up.

"Who was speaking up for the truth on the negative consequences of cohabitation?"

In the economic sphere, there had been institutions which did not say the truth in the past. That led to a deterioration and austerity measures, which hit the poor most.

"Our society needs to avoid a situation where people choose to stay silent to avoid having other people talking about them," Mgr Grech said.

He added that he hoped that the Church too would not fall silent when faced by constructive criticism.

It was the mission of the Church to promote the truth of Christ, he said.