Bishop criticises failure to speak out on family

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has questioned who was telling the "whole truth" about the negative effects of cohabitation and urged the faithful not to remain "mute" for fear of being criticised.

In his homily on Sunday, Mgr Grech felt there was a void for voices that gave clear direction and sought the common good, condemning the "attitude of omertà" that was becoming a comfortable one to take for institutions and individuals alike.

The homily was delivered on the same day Archbishop Paul Cremona told The Sunday Times in an interview that the Church would not favour a law regularising the relationship of a cohabiting couple, but would one that protected the individual rights of the people in that relationship.

"So long as any law protects the rights of individuals, especially the vulnerable spouse, the state should go ahead and legislate," Mgr Cremona had said.

During the feast of St John the Baptist in Xewkija, Mgr Grech said strong personal interests and fear of looking bad in the eyes of others kept people's lips sealed.

Society was currently in a situation where what was said through words and images did not reflect reality and the words of those who should be setting the proper course were absent, he continued.

Although society was proposing other family structures, many believed these proposals were not better and incorrect but they failed to speak out, Mgr Grech said.

He went on to encourage parents not to remain silent where their children's behaviour was concerned, saying a sense of inferiority should not hinder parents from speaking out on "indecent styles of living" which were being adopted by certain children.

He said this challenge had to be addressed with a great deal of responsibility, and any attempts to tackle this should not be thrust aside.