Archbishop Paul Cremona
Returning to the roots
For any institution, the founding years are the most inspiring. The founding years of the Catholic Church were recorded particularly in the gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.
The gospels are an account of the life of its founder, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the way that he prepared the first apostles and disciples to form the backbone of the Church. The Acts of the Apostles narrate the way that the first Church comunicated its message to the society in which the disciples lived.
The community of believers of these islands is called to live out this mission in the spirit of these words of St Peter: "Simply proclaim the Lord Christ in your hearts, and always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience."
I will mention some consi-derations which, I feel, should characterise the following of the Lord Jesus Christ (I had already mentioned these reflections in my address to Pope Benedict XVI on the Granaries in Floriana on April 18).
The first consideration regarding the Church goes beyond the Church itself. It begins from the great love that God the Father has for every human being, created in his own image and likeness.
The believer goes beyond what he immediately sees of the person - nationality, creed, colour of skin, moral and social condition or opinions - to see in that person this image of God. He loved Abraham, and His People so that through them he could love all others. "I will bless you... All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you." Unfortunately sometimes, Israel forgot the second blessing!
God confirmed this through the Revelation by Our Lord Jesus Christ. The specific nature of this revelation of God, which distinguishes it from other religions, is, that in Christ, man is at the centre of God.
He is not a God who remains aloof, but a God who, through his Son, comes close to us, enters personally into our humanity. All that Jesus did and taught was meant to show us not who Christ is, but who God the Father is.
Jesus announced his mission at a synagogue in Nazareth: "The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord's year of favour." His mission is centred around human beings.
It is in the light of these two assertions that the Catholic Church accepts its mission to be the mediator of this love everywhere and in all times, in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Being a member of the Church means participating in this mission. Just as it was at the beginning of the Church, and even today, being a member of the Church is not merely a right but it means taking on a mission in the name of Jesus.
This means experiencing Jesus personally through prayer, knowing what Jesus taught, and living one's faith within the community of the Church. Obviously this is not easy for the Church, and its members, because at all ages this has resulted in conflict with the current culture. But this is the price which it has to pay in order to be a witness to the Lord, while at the same time remaining open to love and respect even towards those who are not in agreement with her.
For this to happen, every Christian is called to become 'the Glory of the Lord', rather than just 'giving glory' to the Lord. Our Lord expressed it in this way: "It is not those who say to me, 'Lord, Lord', who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in Heaven".
The external adherence to the community celebrations of one's religion has to be accompanied by an inner disposition to let Christ change him or her. Being a member of the Church cannot be divided from this inner struggle to follow the Lord's teachings.
In this way, the Christian, even though he knows that he has to pass through the humiliation of his failings and sins and limitations, becomes a gift to those around him: family, friends, his immediate environment.
It is in the light of these considerations that Pope Benedict, before leaving our country gave us this mission: "Look with hope towards the future, with great respect for God's creation, with reverence towards human life, and with great esteem towards marriage and the integrity of the family". May there be many, among the believers, who accept this mission.
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Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 27th 2010, 03:53
@FrancoFarrugia
I will not contest your decision to continue to comment “in any way you saw fit” even though you create the wrong impression that you hate our Bishops and their methods. You criticize Archbishop Cremona for sitting ecumenically at the same table as Muslim leaders listening to their “rantings” against “gays and women”. I was not there – neither were you – so we do not know anything about the ranting imagined by you.
With respect it is not I that need to climb down from any “high-and-mighty chair”.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 27th 2010, 09:20
The 'impression' I create is in your mind - that mind which dismisses anyone who criticises the Church and its leader, anyone who somehow does not agree with your way of thinking! I criticised Cremona and I even condemned him in a powerful manner for allowing himself to attend a 'trabokk' of a conference. I was not there, but the news-reports were made public for all to see.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 27th 2010, 09:25
'With respect it is not I that need to climb down from any “high-and-mighty chair”.
Kompli tghajjar, kompli ... kompli itghajjar ...halli naraw ahjar kemm inti rapprezentant xieraq tal-Knisja u tal-Fidi li tghid li thaddan. X'tahseb li jien? Xi wiehed li qieghed fil-qiegh ta' xi mkien?!
Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 27th 2010, 14:09
@FrancoFarrugia
You scream "Kompli tghajjar, kompli ... kompli itghajjar ...halli naraw ahjar kemm inti rapprezentant xieraq tal-Knisja u tal-Fidi li tghid li thaddan". Your ouburst does not prove that I had truly insulted anybody. Please prove your allegation otherwise it will be dismissed out of hand as a lie. A much bigger lie is the ridiculous accusation that it is a tenet of my Faith and the practice of the Church's authorities to exchange insults. Please pause long enough to restrain your rage and instead, please compose arguments that would impress your readers more than any amount of uncontrolled invective.
Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 26th 2010, 18:27
@ Franco Farrugia. “I do not presume to be able to tell them (the Bishops) how to lead their flocks”, (FrancoFarrugia) “ …..yes, I was presuming to tell the Archbishop how to lead the flock” (the same Franco Farrugia a few hours later) Dear Franco, Would you please, PLEASE, make up your mind and try to be consistent at least over a period of just eighteen hours! Which of your contradictory version are we to believe? On second thoughts, don't tell us!
Franco Farrugia
Jul 26th 2010, 19:27
@ Francis Saliba - You don't need to understand anything. You only understand yourself, as many comments of yours show. Continue that way. And out of our way, too, please!
Franco Farrugia
Jul 26th 2010, 19:30
'Which of your contradictory version are we to believe? On second thoughts, don't tell us! ' There: I am not the only one changing my mind. And you, within seconds!
Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 26th 2010, 21:29
@FrancoFarrugia
I did not make any contradictory statements. I tried to spare you the embarrassment of a futile attempt to reconcile your two mutually exclusive statements.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 27th 2010, 09:18
Embarrassment? Hardly! I don't need to be embarrassed with anything I have done in my life, so help me God.
Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 27th 2010, 14:14
@Franco Farrugia
I say "Amen" to your prayer to God for his help!
Joe Zammit
Jul 26th 2010, 16:54
Let us remember Christ words to all of us. He said to his Apostles and their successors, the Bishops: 'Whoever hears you, hears me; whoever despises you, despises me".
Let us follow our Bishops and be enlightened by their teaching for our own good!
Let us be faithful to our dear Mother Catholic Church as the only one holy and Apostolic Church of Christ!
Let us pray for vocations and have more priests to teach us and administer to us the SEVEN SACRAMENTS of Christ!
Sabrina Borda
Jul 26th 2010, 18:01
Then just stop despising and you will feel better.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 26th 2010, 18:11
Let us follow...
Let us be faithful ...
Let us pray ....
yes,yes, yes, do that, do that, do that. ... but please leave us be!
Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 26th 2010, 13:26
@Sabrina Borda.
I take note of your smug complacent self-inclusion among the elite of superior “intelligent humans” who do not follow the authorities of the Church “like sheep”. Speaking for myself I choose differently to follow the durable teaching of Christ as expounded by the Church. I do that precisely because I do my own rational thinking, because I take charge of my own life and I resist the temptation to follow the modern trend to join the herd of today’s populist secularists. I do not envy you.
Sabrina Borda
Jul 26th 2010, 17:52
My reaction was not in response to the bishop or I would have put my comment into his box with due respect and without fear. My reply was meant to a blogger before me for it was he who was preaching about the 'flock' and how the bishop tries to preach. I'm not arrogant to assume anything, I argue about serious social facts and I do not go around 'quoting' to shift burdens under a rug. I will point out that many are not sheep in a flock as if born followers at all. Faith has to be based on a stronger footing than what some people merely quote. I find some language/terms used demeaning. There is a whole big issue and all some people can do is repeat quote after quote of repetitive scriptures that do not seem all too functional to help with today's thinking, social demands or problems. I do not have to be smug to point this out only honest enough to face what is right and what is just and will not be held hostage by scriptures of any sort, fictional or not.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 25th 2010, 16:53
Bishop, you would do much better, as a Church, to put your attention on the xenophobia and racism that has torn apart this country, instead of focussing on divorce and same-sex partnerships and what-have-you. As a Church, you are misconstruing the Gospel and you are putting all your energies (?) on the issues of divorce, and other civil liberties, when the real devil lies in the hatred that people have for one another. Love thy neighbour AS THYSELF. I hope you understand my meaning because frankly, I do not see God in the Church.
Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 25th 2010, 17:50
Among the condemned hatreds that people have for each other one should include the hatred that some people show towards our concerned bishops whenever they try to teach their flock how to love God with all their might and their neighbours as themselves. These people presume to instruct our learned bishops which problems they should address and which they should ignore and also how to interpret the gospel. Talking of people trying to teach their mother how to rock the cradle!
Franco Farrugia
Jul 26th 2010, 00:13
Francis Saliba - it is indeed unfair and unwarranted that you should continually attack those who somehow are not of your way of thinking. You try, however feebly and pompously, to protect the Church of which you are, I presume, a member, yet, on the other hand, you throw venom at those who, like myself, hate nobody in particular, yet do not agree with the way things go. No, I do not hate the Bishops, and as far as I know, I hate nobody. I simply do not agree. I do not presume to be able to tell them how to lead their flocks, however, I presume to tell them not to expect that every single Maltese citizen should follow their misguided ways. Their priorities are not mine. Is there hatred in this? That is the hypocrisy that we need to overcome.
Sabrina Borda
Jul 26th 2010, 08:54
With all due respect, You may be one of the flock if you choose, but today less people follow like sheep.
Most of us are intelligent humans do not need to be taught how to love God we simply do because we understand, see, and sense much more than you think. Just because the Pope declares something or other it doesn't mean it is suitable for many yet it may be for you.
Today people do their own thinking and have faith in believing what is rational and true because we have evolved from being a mere flock led by strangeness. Today people take charge of their own lives because it makes much more sense. So please enjoy your ancient scriptures and believe they are not fictitious without enforcing them onto others by force, while the rest of us can move on happily and read plenty more books to enhance our lives and be good individuals non the less.
Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 26th 2010, 13:07
@ Franco Farrugia
You need to read your contribution again. You might then realize that you actually presumed to dictate to Archbishop Cremona how to lead his flock and you admonished him to revise his priorities so that they would conform to yours.
I accept your protestations that you do not hate the Bishops or anyone else in particular. I only hope that in future you will not continue to creat that impression in your comments.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 26th 2010, 17:47
Francis Saliba - I will continue to comment in any way I see fit. With regard to Bishop Cremona, I have nothing further to add. He certainly needs someone to tell him to revise his pastoral priorities. This is the same Bishop who said down among Muslims at a recent conference and with head bowed, listened and therefore approved the rantings of some Muslim officials who spoke denigratingly and disaparaginly against gays, women, etc ... You do not approve of my writings: so what? You do not need to 'accept' what I say and yes, I was presuming to tell the Archbishop how to lead the flock - it's about time someone did! Just get down from that high-and-mighty chair you have put yourself in and smell the coffee before it is too late.
Joe Zammit
Jul 25th 2010, 16:13
Christ founded his one holy apostolic Church and guaranteed her existence until the end of time. The members of this Church were called Christians for the first time at Antioch. Sometime later, in the first century, St Ignatius of Antioch called this same Church "Catholic", that is, universal.
Today the Catholic Church counts over one billion members. There are over 5,000 bishops and over 400,000 priests.
There are millions of converts who came into the Catholic Church in the last few years who were versed in the teachings of their previous churches, some who were even proudly anti-Catholic. However, in their quest to prove Catholicism wrong, many found the Catholic Church to be the one Jesus founded.
Gerard Cassar
Jul 25th 2010, 16:56
Mr Joe Zammit wants to add something to what the Archbishop wrote. Does he think that what the Archbishop wrote is not sufficient and has to have the help of people like him to be absorbed.
Robert Louis Fenech
Jul 25th 2010, 13:39
Shut up about divorce and start talking about immigrants. It was shameful for Gonzi to prohibit an independent inquiry on the matter, it's the Church's job to speak out against such injustice.
renald williams
Jul 25th 2010, 11:04
For those Christians who want to return to their roots;
the solution is to start reading the New Testament, peace and health wishes.
one mediator also between God and men… Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5.
Joe Zammit
Jul 25th 2010, 13:21
The Gospels, and for that matter the whole of Holy Scripture, have to be read and understood according to the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church wrote the whole of the New Testament. The Catholic Church told us which books of the Old Testament are inspired. Only the Catholic Church can say that she has Christ as her founder. She is 2000 years young! All the other churches which separated from her by time are historically and theologically not the one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ.
All false churches take the Bible as their foundation because they read the Bible and understand it the way they want. Reading the Bible without bearing in mind the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church qassatat biss tagħmel!
Mario Attard
Jul 25th 2010, 14:53
@ Joe Zammit
Your Catholic Church, which you wrongly refer to the church of Christ ( God forbid!) has a disgusting history and a very turbulent present too. Its scandals are no longer a secret. Did you read the following news http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100725/world-news/pope-grants-broad-powers-to-legionaries-troubleshooter. Do you possibly think that Jesus would be the founder of such a shameful church? Well after reading some of your comments recently, I'm sure you do!
Mario Attard
Jul 25th 2010, 15:03
For those who want to read the latest scandal by the catholic church 'Pope grants broad powers to Legionaries troubleshooter" it is found in today's 'World News' section.
renald williams
Jul 25th 2010, 15:48
if any Christian, is interested in so called infallible teaching, and historical teaching, and theological teaching, www.tecmalta.org/blata.htm might be interesting, sincre peace and health wishes
Joe Zammit
Jul 25th 2010, 16:20
Christ founded only one Church: the one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. All the others are not the true Church of Christ. They are all FALSE. All the other chuches have a date when they started, more that 1000 years after Christ. They all take the Bible and try to form a church of their own. Today, protestant churches alone amount to more than 26,000! Imagine, x'qassatat taghmel bil-Bibbja biss! Kull gimgha jivvintaw knisja gdida ... imma FALZA!
David Borg
Jul 25th 2010, 19:32
Although there were many serious faults committed by many members of the Catholic Church, the Curch has a glorious history. Without the Church our society will be much the poorer. I think we all know that "It operates social programs and institutions throughout the world including schools, universities, hospitals, missions, shelters and charities" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church.
What many do not seem familiar and think about is the great contribution given by the Catholic Church to culture, science and art. One can say that the western civilization has been built and influenced mainly by the Catholic Church. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of_the_Catholic_Church_in_Western_civilization