Burden of poverty increased by solitude - Bishop Grech
Individualism generated by a capitalist culture has led to the spread of anonymity, the growth of indifference and the increase in the number of those who feel lonely in the crowd, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has said in a pastoral letter written to celebrate the feast of the Assumption.
Mgr Grech wrote:
“This indifference towards the suffering man is not only a personal sin but a lalcuna of the establishment, as institutions within a democratic society fail to line up to their duty! Unfortunately, besides individuals, nations too have assumed this attitude of indifference towards their neighbour!”
He said in his letter that the solution to all these ills was solidarity - social solidarity, solidarity in education, with families, environmental solidarity and God’s solidarity with man.
The whole text of his letter can be read in the pdf link attached.
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leo attard
Aug 8th 2010, 11:50
@ F Galea......I agree that the church too has to do its share. I mean, the money that is spent on new projects, feasts and pomp is enormous. Ideally, the church should base itself on the mother theresa, st francis lifestyle. still, the church has come a long way from the temporal, quasi-military political regime of the past when it made and unmade kings........still, Bishop Grech has made some good observations. there is a growing ennui, people feel they cant get justice; one can't even risk going to court to get justice because it's a gamble --- the victim doesnt always come out the winner. when the bishop refers to the abuse to the environment, one just has to look at the hondoq question going on and the OPM and the Ministry for Gozo refuse to answer the questions put to them.........Dont you think it's a shame that the government is penny=pinching because there simply is no money and then we are ready to spend untold millions to have a new parliament. couldn't it wait until the economy and local finances improve?
C. Zammit
Aug 8th 2010, 10:53
With all your respect Exc. Mgr. Grech, why don't you focus on your duties in a more spiritual behaviour. You should lead by example, as actions are louder than voice!! You was right in your statements but it would be a lot better if primarily you will get your books in order and than you can point your fingers to others!!! If all your clergy will perform their duties to their maximum than all you said will be in place automatically! As if alll of you deliver the message in the right way, at the right time than individuals themselves will feel that they want to share their solidarity with others!!!! What about all the money spent in each village feasts?? Who is accountable for that??? Is this leading to more spiritual poverty?? As it is hard to find any spirtual relation with all those thousands of money spent in fireworks etc.... is this the way that the communities will be getting closer together!!!! far from it.
Good luck!!
Anthony Mizzi
Aug 8th 2010, 06:13
And now we wait for the P.R. at the O.P.M. to come out with a statement that it is all in the mind, all a perception............ as is the good management of public funds.
malcolm seychell
Aug 7th 2010, 20:45
@ martin cassar
You are right. in less than a decade the chinese will rule the world
Good luck to them.
They only have the name of the communist party left
They work with a capitalist mentality and accept only people in their country who can add value to their products.
I would say they are using a nationalist mentality.
Surely I am not in favour of a 100% privitisation. Certain things should remain in government hands and the chinese are intelligent enough to have found this balance.
Robert Callus
Aug 8th 2010, 00:41
Exactly, a Nationalist mentality. A country that finances Sudan in weapons to BOTH government and militias so that there is a constant war, controlled by the Chinese. In return, 90% of Sudan's oil coming cheap. All this when most people in China still live in poverty.
F galea
Aug 7th 2010, 20:15
Look who's talking about poverty and solidarity;
The bishop also speaks about good management of public funds. Can one ask who pays the utility bills of the Gozo Curia's flats in M'Forn which have been refurbished when Bishop Grech was installed in order to be used by the bishop's family? The bishop's family or the Gozo Curia? Let it be known that it was the Curia who refurbished the premises and these boast not less than 5 a/c's.
The bishop also speaks about education when the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary has a long tradition of preferential treatment and lack of options offered to its students.
He also speaks about marital problems. One may ask if the Cana Movement is effective in Gozo especially considering the attitude of certain priests involved in it?
Do not judge so that you will ot be judged.
Chris Grillo
Aug 7th 2010, 18:34
Solitude is something that is searched for... the Bishop was talking loneliness...the Times' fault?
In fact, never has man been closer to each other than now. We are reachable practically everywhere all the time. My daughter even takes her mobile in the bathroom with her.
Sometimes I wonder where these ideas bubble up from.
If anything, man is CRAVING solitude, to get away from all this panic the world is in... it's RUSH RUSH RUSH everywhere.
I understand that misfits (people not fitting in) will be found everywhere. It has been thus in the past, and will continue to be so... but thankfully, thanks to the Internet (which naturally has its downsides too!) many people have overcome shyness and loneliness....
Jesmond Micallef
Aug 7th 2010, 20:28
It could be nice smiles, nice gestures, nice body language, nice dress, nice cool sunglasses and other dressings of the eyes, nice sportive cars, nice villas etc etc. But all these can be part of the "theatrical" skills modern humankind glorfies !!
Authenticity won the European Song contest called the Eurovision becuase people know what is genuine and what is not !! They seem to appreciate it more then nice theatrical skills.
This should answer your "Sometimes I wonder where these ideas bubble up from"
With regards to "misfits", well, apparently there always some within the crowd, you are so right there, Mr. Grillo !! I just wonder who they are, the ones wearing the masks or the ones who are not ?
Furthermore "Indifference" has indeed lead to so much, in particular european history, to be more precise !!
Joseph E Briffa
Aug 7th 2010, 18:27
When someone is lonely even in a crowd it means he is sick...depressed. If one is not depressed one doesn't feel lonely even when alone. This is a state of the mind and anyone can be depressed whether in a capitalist or communist environment, in much the same way as one can be happy in either environment. One can be rich and depressed while one can be not well off and happy.
MARGARET RICHARDS
Aug 7th 2010, 17:36
Quote: 'Individualism generated by a capitalist culture has led to the spread of anonymity, the growth of indifference and the increase in the number of those who feel lonely in the crowd" unquote. This type of anti-capitalist sort of jabbering seems coming straight from the Red Square during Lenin's time. But when this capitalist culture generates much needed funds, from which even the church gains a lot from, this is not called capitalist culture. Also this type of patronizing,attitude is really out of place. Since both bishops and the whole church hierarchy apart from the given few, do not have any contact with people, how in the hell can they speak about loneliness or solitude. In his high and mighty eminence, the dear gozitan bishop did not even try to distinguish between loneliness and solitude! A fact that he does not mingle with people. Let me enlighten you. Loneliness is normally something enforced, solitude is by choice dear bishop. So much for freaking pastoral letters, you'd better mingle with the man/woman in the street than write letters, which make sunday mass even more boring than it usually is.
lgalea
Aug 7th 2010, 22:24
MARGARET RICHARDS
Since both bishops and the whole church hierarchy apart from the given few, do not have any contact with people,..... How do you know what the bishops and the Church hierarchy do not have contact with the people?
Martin Cassar
Aug 7th 2010, 17:31
Well said Bishop Grech.
Insatiability and injustice are two ‘silent’ evils that are more dangerous and constitutes a threat to mankind than all tobacco companies products, and all types of mass destruction weapons coupled with the nuclear bombs.
Why do we have to choose between two devils (capitalism or communism) after all? Why not opt for a third option?
@ Malcolm seychell.
Capitalism is morbid and soon (within a decade) a death certificate will be issued. How long you think it will take before the Chinese dragon swallows Wall Street! Please?
lgalea
Aug 7th 2010, 16:56
These are the effects of capitalism and eu membership where the eu worships capitalism and a free-for-all without any controls whatsoever and nothing else. The only way out of this misery is out of the eu as we ahve every right and duty to do towards ourselves, our families and country. www.cnimalta.org and http://www.europarltv.europa.eu/YourParliament.aspx?action=viewVideo&packageid=f5077c6b-3b92-4a1f-8271-c7a49c3bc6e8
C A Camilleri
Aug 7th 2010, 19:06
When are you going to get over Malta and its EU membership, I ask? Give it a break please.
Franco Farrugia
Aug 7th 2010, 19:31
Ghadek mohhok hemm? Possibbli ma qtajthiex qalbek? Possibbli l-PL ghadu ma kkonvinciekx li post Malta hu fl-UE? Id-dover taghna hu li nimxu mal-UE u li ntejbu l-hajja taghna ta' kuljum MAL-UE! U mela bil-kontra? Ghandek ideja x'jgri b'Malta barra mill-UE? Mela, kompli ohlom.
lgalea
Aug 7th 2010, 22:22
C A Camilleri, Franco Farrugia ħadd ma jikkonvinċini li barra mill-ue mhux aħjar għalina. Imisskom taraw kif qerditiklna kollox, dak kollu li għamilna bit-tbatija, kif ninsabu invaduti bil-klandestini, kif ħaddiema barranin qed jieħdu xogħol il-ħaddiema u l-familji Maltin, kif qed inħallsuha €182,192 kuljum bħala miżata tas-sħubija, kif sirna ma nikkmandawx aħna imma jikkmandawna d-dittaturi ta' brussell. Hekk teidu li l-barrani jikkmanda dak kollu li nagħmlu u min jidħol f'pajjiżna? Nassugurakom li qatt ma se naqta qalbi li naħdem ħalli nitilqu mill-kolonjaliżmu ġdid li l-PN daħħalna fih bil-qerq flimkian mad-dittaturi kolonjalista ta' l-ue. Għax ma trarawx jekk il-poplu għadux irid jibqa' fl-ue? Ara dan ma tagħmluħx għax tafu li tieħdu tkaxkira nobis. Imma għad jasal żmien u mhux daqstant 'il bopgħod li jkollkom tagħmluh għax issa l-poplu jaf xi batijiet u taxxi tfisser l-ue.
R.Borg
Aug 7th 2010, 16:01
Solitude or loneliness?
I was taught that 'solitude' is positive and 'loneliness' is negative.
Charles Miceli
Aug 7th 2010, 15:08
With the help of Caritas, we have started a self help group for people suffering from emotional difficulties such as loneliness and aloness. We meet every Monday at 5.30 at the Caritas Head Office, 5 Lion Street Floriana. Membership is free and there are no hidden charges. For more information phone 79412338 or 21412338.
malcolm seychell
Aug 7th 2010, 14:52
again attacking capitalism.
Why don't you officially tell us that you support communism. So we will be all equal in our misery.
As usual the church is afraid of progress.
david camilleri
Aug 7th 2010, 16:04
the church opposes communism. the church is pro-middle ages since there was one meta-narrative albeit a dark and depraved one. the church ruled then. the church is losing power now and it blames capitalism. solitude is a state of developed individuality, loneliness is a different matter and state of mind.
the bishops and arch-bishops parade around like celebrities...they are nothing but fear mongers who wish to oppress others so that they may feel like they are themselves special.
if the church really cared about poverty it would sell all of its lovely gold and other expensive things and help the poor. god cares not for riches. instead of money spent on feasts...give the money over the charity.
Dani. Mangion
Aug 7th 2010, 17:51
Mr. Camilleri
How sad of you attacking the church and bishops this way. The church is in favour of making one's life with that of God. Though you are right, due to secularisation the church is losing its influence.
Still Mr Camilleri you got it all wrong. Our religion is controlled by some basic world wide known, code of ethics. What is the meaning of ethics? Ethics is about living a responsable good life, leading to serenity. These codes of ethics vary in time, some of which are atributed to well known philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle, therefore definitaly not bishops.
Moreover, the riches in the churches are mainly, not bought, but given to the church by people. Furthermore, for God's sake stop attacking feasts. The feast is divided into two sections. The church is only concerned with the religious rituals which only cost a small amount of money. The street decorations in a feast are not payed by the church, but it are made and bought by voluntiers. The feasts are the main attraction for tourists in the summer, and Mr Camilleri, I hope that you know that most of our income comes from tourism?
Charles Sammut
Aug 7th 2010, 14:47
Talk is cheap, and exhorting others to act is easy, now what does Bishop Grech himself intend to do about it?
Frans Sammut
Aug 7th 2010, 14:20
Once again, fine words from a great man!
M. Fenech
Aug 7th 2010, 13:47
I agree with all the points that Bishop Mario Grech has pointed out. I wish all the other authorities listen to what he pointed out, and start taking the issue of poverty seriously. Maybe then we can say that we are Catholic Democratic State within the E.U!!!!!
renald williams
Aug 7th 2010, 13:41
just for info... feast of the assumption?... enjoy the break... peace and health
Some Christians, to teach that not only-Jesus-went-to-Heaven-with-body-and-soul,
try to use Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5, for Henok, and 2 Kings 2:11-12 for Elijah.
But we use, till this day, the words ‘God-took-him’, as meaning one died,
and not went-to-heave- with-body-and-soul.
But we use, till this day, the words ‘saw-death’, as meaning facing a fearful experience.
So ‘did-not-see-death’ means did not face death, in a fearful experience.
Even Paul says he ‘saw-drowning-three-times’ 2 Corinthians 11:25,
but does not mean he litteraly-drowned-three-times,
because obviously he would be dead-by-the-first-drowning.
As for Elijah they did not see him, not because he went to heaven with body and soul,
(and this is even confirmed by Catholic Encyclopedia),
but beacause he was taken somewhere else on-earth, 1 Kings 18:12 and Acts 8:39-40.
Heavens in Hebrew, samayim, means also to be just feet upon the ground,
even by being on a horse and/or on a tree, 2 Samuel 18:9.
Paul explains there are three Scriptural heavens,
birds and clouds are in first heaven Genesis 8:2,
sun and stars are in second heaven Genesis 1:14,
heaven where God is third Heaven Deuteronomy 10:14, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.
renald williams
Aug 7th 2010, 13:37
just for info... feast of the assumption?... enjoy the break... peace health
Kindly note quote Tghajjat bl-ugigh u t-tbatija biex tehles: a Scriptural sign of sin.
U sinjal kbir deher fis-sema, mara mlibbsa bix-xemx, u l-qamar taht riglejha, u fuq rasha kuruna ta’ tnax il-kewkba: U billi kienet tqila, kienet tghajjat bl-ugigh, u bit-tbatija biex tehles. Revelation/Apocalypse 12:1-17.
Qal [il-Mulej Alla] lill-mara [Eva]: Nkattar qatigh it-tahbit tieghek, u l-hbiela tieghek; bl-ugigh tiled ulied. Genesis 3:16.
Jason Borg
Aug 8th 2010, 07:59
Take back your peace and health, together with your misleading quotations, and then you will be rewarding us with real peace.
renald williams
Aug 7th 2010, 13:34
just for info... feast of the assumption?... enjoy the break... peace and health
Only Jesus ascended to heaven, with soul and body.
Only the body of Jesus, did not remain in the grave, and did not turn to dust.
U l-ebda bniedem ma tala’ fis-sema, hlief dak li nizel mis-sema, Bin il-bniedem… John 3:13.
Il-Mulej irtafa’ fis-sema u qaghad fil-leminija t’Alla. Mark 16:19.
U gara, Hu [Kristu] u jberikhom, illi nfired minnhom, u rtafa’ fis-sema. Luke 24:51;
U huma u jharsu fiss lejn is-sema waqt li kien (Gesu’) tiela’. Acts 1:10.
Dak [il-Mulej] li nizel hu dak stess ukoll li tala’ wisq ‘il fuq mis-smewwiet kollha, biex jimla’ kollox. Ephesians 4:10.
Gesu’ Kristu…Li mar fis-sema, u qieghed fil-lemin t’Alla. 1 Peter 3:22.
Kristu, li ruhu ma thallietx fl-imwiet, u lanqas gismu ma ra t-tahsir. Acts 2:31.
Imma… ma rax (Gesu’) it-tahsir. Acts 13:37.
Dan nghidilkom issa, huti: Il-laham u d-demm ma jistghux jirtu s-saltna t’Alla; lanqas it-tahsir ma jiret in-nuqqas ta’ tahsir. Ara, sa nghidilkom misteru: Ahna mhux ilkoll immutu, imma lkoll nitbiddlu. F’waqt wiehed, f’hakka t’ghajn, mad-daqqa ta’ l-ahhar tromba: ghax iddoqq it-tromba, u l-mejtin iqumu bla tahsir, u ahna nitbiddlu. 1 Corinthians 15:50-52.
renald williams
Aug 7th 2010, 13:28
for info... feast of the assumption?... enjoy the break... peace and health
L-Enciklopedija tal-Knisja Kattolika tammetti; li t-twemmin li Marija telghet is-sema bir-ruh u l-gisem, ma joriginax mill-Iskrittura imma minn kitba eretika tas-seklu erbgha (De Transitus Mariae). Infatti fis-sena 495 Gelasju I, Isqof ta' Ruma ikkundanna dan il-ktieb, u hareg dan id-digriet, Epistle...
Dawn il-kotba miktuba minn eretici… Il-Knisja Kattolika u Appostolika Rumana bl-ebda mod ma taccetthom (De Transitus Mariae) … u l-Kattolici ghandhom jevitawhom. … dawn il-kotba… miktuba mill-eretici… nistqarru li gew mhux biss michuda, imma wkoll mwarrbin mill-Knisja Rumana u Appostolika kollha, u kkundannat ghal dejjem, taht ir-rabta li ma tinhalx tas-sahta (anathema), lill-awturi taghhom, u dawk li jaccettawhom.
L-Enciklopedija tal-Knisja Kattolika tikkonferma dan id-degriet ta’ Papa Gelasju 1.Hekk rega' ghamel Harmisdas, Isqof ta' Ruma, fis-seklu sitta.
• San Ippolitu (it-tielet seklu Ruma). Treatise-on-Christ
Il-mara mlibbsa x-xemx, hu car li ried ifisser il-Knisja.
• Victorinus.Commentary-on-the-Apocalypse-of-John
Il-mara… hi l-Knisja; il-profeti, il-qaddisin, l-appostli.
• Methodius. The-Banquet,-Discourse
Il-mara li dehret fis-sema mlibbsa bix-xemx, u nkurunata bi tnax-il stilla, u ghandha l-qamar b’mirfes riglejha, u ghandha tifel, u qed tbati biex twelled… hi zgur li l-profeti… xi drabi sejjhu Gerusalem, kultant Gharusa, kultant Muntanja Sijon, kultant it-Tempju u t-Tabernaklu t’Alla… Hi l-Knisja.