Sunday should be a day of rest, Church commission
Everyone had a right to rest on Sunday and a duty to cultivate this heritage, the Commission for Pastoral Activities among Workers said in a statement.
It said that it was a common practice for workers to have a rest day and this right was protected by law.
In Malta, this day was Sunday. If six people worked seven days they would be doing the work seven workers did in six days, so six workers working on Sunday would be stealing another’s work.
This was not beneficial to an employer because the seven days would be paid at a much higher right and tiredness reduced efficiency.
The International Labour Organisation said workers should have 24 consecutive hours of rest a week and when this was possible this should be given to all workers together.
The commission said that Sunday should be a day of rest. Rest should be part of a worker’s style of life to reflect on life and get away from the stress of everyday life.
When one rested, one would be able to take a better look at the difficult schedule of work, get a better understanding of oneself and does not remain in a state of mind thinking that he has to be in control of everything. He would feel better and be better prepared for another week’s work.
The commission warned that in today’s hurried life, the absolute importance of rest was being forgotten but the Church made it a point to always remind one of this right.
Sundays, it said, should be blessed with charitable work and with dedication to family and others, especially the elderly and the sick. Sunday was also good for reflection, study and meditation and for thinking about others who had the same needs and duties but who, because of poverty and misery could not rest.
Public authorities, it said, had a right to ensure that people were not denied this right.
Christians should insist that Sundays and holy days should be legal holidays and be an example to all through their prayers and happiness on these days. They should defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society.
Because of social needs, there were workers who had to work on Sundays, such as those in the health, tourism, public transport and public safety sectors.
But every Christian should avoid of making others work on Sundays, depriving them of the opportunity to observe Sunday as the day of the Lord.
There were traditional activities and social needs which made some work on Sundays but everyone should ensure that he had sufficient time to rest.
Christians should agree with their employer that if they had to carry out indispensable work on Sundays, they would still get time to rest, including to carry out one’s religious duties.
Sunday was a family day. It was time for the family to unite. But if the father was off on Monday and the mother on Wednesday, how could a family unite when Sunday swas the children’s rest day?
If Europe wanted to strengthen social bonds, it had to safeguard and protect Sunday.
Sunday was dear to Europe and Malta and everyone had the duty to safeguard this heritage for the benefit of workers and the economy.
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Jeremy N Grech
Aug 9th 2010, 19:43
When will people understand this? : The church is the leader of a religious belief.... nothing more and nothing less. Church should have nothing to do with the law ...as not every being on these islands is roman catholic. Church has nothing to do with politics and politics have nothing to do with church. All of us should be free to decide what we choose to believe and what not to..
B. Cachia
Aug 9th 2010, 18:58
Quite independently of the merits of this particular issue - I fail to understand why the Church has to keep taking a position on almost every political issue that crops up on the island. Does it really want to be just another NGO or political party? Has it not learned from the mistakes of the past?
G Cutajar
Aug 8th 2010, 21:15
Most of the comments below are simply disgusting. Even on such an uncontroversial matter, most of you still get hysterical to vent out their venom against the Church.
Malcolm Felix
Aug 8th 2010, 18:20
I am a Christian and beleive most of what is in the bible, however I think, SOME things written there are not meant for today's world, so I guess a bible update is needed, and the church need to update itself, can't be stuck at the year 0000 :)
Felix Agius
Aug 8th 2010, 23:34
Good one Malcolm !! "a bible update is needed" HAHAHAHAA LOOLLL ... Mela dik il-Bibbja hsibtha il-Yellow Pages jeewwww ?? !!!!
Daniel Vella
Aug 9th 2010, 13:40
And yet you still "believe most of what is in the bible"? To each his own I guess
Joe Arevalo
Aug 8th 2010, 09:41
Church aside, it was hard for me to get accustomed to finding all the stores closed on Sunday; I moved from the US to Germany. However, I see the benefit to the worker and most especially to families. An imposed day of rest is good for society. Gone are the days of Sundays off to the shopping mall, having my oil changed at the garage hammering and pounding on the house. Now it is time spent together, with friends, and family and festivals; church for the believer. Social bonding in every way. Even quiet time alone is regenerating. Joe
John Psaila
Aug 8th 2010, 07:53
First off all the Church commission should protect agricultural water and then Sunday
J.Borg
Aug 7th 2010, 23:43
Why should the church choose what I want to do on a sunday ? Does the church make the laws and rules now in Malta ?
Dr. David Pollina
Aug 7th 2010, 21:33
Hmmmmmmm... Well, for all of you criticising the Catholics for changing Saturday to Sunday (they did), you might be interested to know that the Jews had previously (end 1st cent.CE) changed the ORIGINAL Sabbath to Saturday.
Read "Moadai Tishmoru"
Charlotte Grima
Aug 7th 2010, 20:42
God commands "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." - the seventh day of the week. Immediately after the "Creation chapter", the Bible states this, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made, And God Blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:1-3) The very 1st thing that God created after man was the Sabbath. This occured 2000 years before the1st Jew was born or ancient Israel. The Sabbath was made for "man" - for Adam & Eve & for all other men ever after. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Any schoolboy knows that Sunday is the 1st day of the week. One may read the Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelation and will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday . In vain do....(Mark 7:7-9)
Joseph Calleja
Aug 7th 2010, 17:33
"Sunday should be a day of rest, Church commission" Mr Micallef I am very surprised you are writing this article in this day and time. Because of the bad economy and the high cost of living it is very hard to make it working only five days a week. The church does it's most productive work on Sundays. Same goes for restaurants, car rentals, flea markets, beach concessions and the list goes on. It is very easy to tell people to take Sunday off and I am sure if they could they will, but there is a family to feed and care for and if you don't provide nobody else will. Most people who work on Sunday don't do that by choice but by necessity. So unless you or anyone else is willing to provide for these people they are forced to work on Sundays. If these people did not work on Sunday like you suggest, then the rest of us will not be able to take Sunday off so we can rest. Everybody would love to have Sunday off but unfortunately some of us work on Sundays so you are able to take Sunday off.
Ramon Casha
Aug 7th 2010, 17:32
"Sundays, it said, should be blessed with charitable work"
I thought you said "rest".
E.SciclunaCamilleri
Aug 7th 2010, 16:29
So why don't they start by not permitting saturday's evening mass as being a replacement for sunday's. Action speaks louder than words.
Joe Gauci
Aug 7th 2010, 17:01
On the contrary E.SciclunaCamilleri, they are giving an example by holding mass on Saturdays to try and keep the Lord's day free of work. Even when mass is heard on Sunday it is still not work but praising the Lord.
Andy Towler
Aug 7th 2010, 16:22
"But every Christian should avoid of making others work on Sundays, depriving them of the opportunity to observe Sunday as the day of the Lord."
Yeah, tell that to all the people who come out of mass in Rabat on Sunday mornings and immediately start shopping in the Sunday market on Santa Rita Street.
Presumably the church commission wants everyone to boycott the Rabat market, thus depriving a large number of people of part of their living, and depriving the town of a major attraction and useful service for the community.
Paul Farrugia
Aug 7th 2010, 17:05
Andy Towler the fact that the market is held on Sunday means that capitalism has brought the people to disregard their day of rest in running after money or that the situation is such that they cannot afford to even have a day's rest. When the Lord rested on the seventh day he did so to give an example that people have to rest because it is good for them and their physical body and not work all the time without any rest.
Roderick Micallef
Aug 7th 2010, 15:37
Dear Mr.Albert Farrugia,
The fact that the church has been making it's voice heard is no mere justification for the church to interfere in anything except religion, I agree that the church continues to talk about anything however what is much more important is whether most people actually take notice of what the church says, in other words whether the majority let the church to actually interfere with their daily lifes.
If you compare the past to nowadays it is simply evident that most people are choosing to ignore the antiquated church suggestions especially those suggestions that have nothing to do with religion as such. The church seems to be having a difficult time to adjust to the changes in society.
I do not intend to scare away any one so there is no need to be afraid of me, I am more concerned rather then anything else. For me live and let live is a fundamental of human life but I do understand that most 'catholics' have an issue with this motto and prefer instead to point fingers at others, as to my 'unhappy' life I am perfectly capable of handling that without your assistance, thank you very much!
JOSEPH MAGRO
Aug 7th 2010, 14:03
do not mix christians with roman catholics,why? if you read the bible as cristians do,one can understand that the last day of the week you want to rest is SATURDAY. READ THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, EXODUS 20:10. CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY ROMAN CATHOLICS CHANGED THE DAY OF REST? IF YOU YOU WANT TO SURVIVE AND KNOW THE TRUTH READ THE HOLY BIBLE AND YOU CAN FIND ALL THE ANSWERS FOR YOUR SALVATION. ROMAN CATHOLICS WALK ON TRADITIONS ITS TOTALY DIFFERENT FROM RELIGION. GOD BLESS YOU
Paul Barrett
Aug 7th 2010, 15:09
Putting religion aside, I believe that there should be two days of rest not one day in a seven day period. Ideally these should be a Saturday and a Sunday = We could even call the two days (put together) a "weekend". Perhaps I am just old fashioned or living in a dream world.
Evelyn Cassar
Aug 7th 2010, 17:11
Paul Barrett you are not old fashioned but a realist. The Church was the only defender that workers had and had followed the Bible to influence the ruling class to give workers their rest, otherwise they would not have had any rest. Sundays and weekends were there for workers to rest from their daily work and to be enjoyed by the family. Working on Sundays and the whole week without any rest is having its toll on families as can be evidenced by so many breakdowns of families. Think about it ladies and gentlemen.
Charlotte Grima
Aug 7th 2010, 21:17
People observe Sunday the first day of the week instead of Saturday the seventh day of the week, because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (AD.363) transferred the solemnity from Saturday the Sabbath the seventh day of the week to Sunday the first day of the week. At this same fourth century, Council of Laodicea in (AD363) the following edict was passed : - "Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath." The penalty for disobedience was death!!! The Bible is the only guide for Christians. Nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. Almost no one seems to care what the Bible's teaching - the ONLY correct teaching regarding this subject. Everyone should blow the dust of the Bible and come to grips with one of its greatest doctrines. The apostle Paul under the inspiration by God he wrote this: "And that from a child you have known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God......(2Timothy 3:15-16)
Roderick Micallef
Aug 7th 2010, 13:41
If the church commission was anywhere near of being correct then the church itself should refrain from opening up their churches on a Sunday so that the priests,bishops and archbishops will have time to rest as instructed by the commission itself. Or is this another case of preaching A with the left hand and doing the exact opposite with the right hand?
This would also apply to army personnel, police workforce, hospital workforce, service providers and other businesses that operate 24x7. I would like to document the comments of any one in the church commission that would need hospital services on a Sunday if this directive had to be obeyed.
But what insults me most personally is HOW and WHY does the church has to shove it's ideas on all topics imaginable, whether it's politics, whether it's social issues. The church should stick only to it's topic and that is religion, religion only and nothing else. We don't need any other guidance from the church other then religion. That would already be much more then enough, thank you very much!
Albert Farrugia
Aug 7th 2010, 14:21
Dear Mr Micallef....the Church has been making its voice heard for 2,000 years now...not even the likes of Roman Emperors, Nazi dictators, Fascist dictators, Communist dictators, managed to silence it...to hurt it, yes, but to silence it no...and so do you think that we Cathlics are going to be afraid of someone like you? Even today it has rbeen eported that Christian doctors have been murdered in Afganistan. Your hate is simply fuel for the Church to continue talking about EVERYTHING concerning the human condition, dear Mr Micallef. I'd rather suggest you come to terms with this or you will have a rather unhappy life. And if you dont like what the Church says. just flip the page or your web browser.
jennifer mifsud
Aug 7th 2010, 15:53
mr micallef, in case you didn't know, religion is a way of life... if you read the Bible (mentioning the Bible because it's the Catholic church of Malta that issued the statement), it's all about how one should lead her/his life... so what makes you think that the Church cannot talk about every day things? The Church, like any other organisation, has its agenda. Being a social institution with a large number of followers - including youths - here in Malta, it's only natural that it will make its voice heard. Amen!
lgalea
Aug 7th 2010, 17:15
Roderick Micallef may I remind you that apart from the Church which saw Sunday as a day of rest for the workers from their daily tribulations under their slave-master relationship with the ruling capitalist class, it was the MLP who awarded the workers an extra 52 days to rest on Saturdays because under PN governments Saturdays were working days.
edward bartolo
Aug 7th 2010, 13:38
The gist of the recommendations of the church's commission should be read between the lines. No sane person, and I am more than sure there are many people working within the church, who wouldn't even dream of pretending that everyone rests on Sundays.
It is quite lame to assume the church's commission is telling everyone to stop working on Sundays. Not even Christ himself condemned those who had to work on the Sabbath. Christ himself used to heal people on the Sabbath and this was in direct violation of the Jew's traditions. In fact, he paid with his life for irritating them.
Patrick Bellia
Aug 7th 2010, 13:35
Taf Li kieku Sunday hadd ma jahdem il vista tal papa kienet issir fost il gimgha, ghax Puluzija ma jahdmux, l istess suldati, tal linja, il Pilots tal Air Malta ( Kien ikollu jibqa Hawn) tal mini buses, Tuna break issa tghidulnix certu nies ma jkunux jistghu bhall tobba ghax tissejjah diskriminazzjoni. ghax jekk jien ma nahdimx il hadd wenzu ta hdejja li hu kok ghandu dritt ukoll billi jahdem f lukamda. tuna break
Michael Gatt
Aug 7th 2010, 17:19
Patrick Bellia the Church does not mean essential services such as those that you mentioned, but for example markets could open all the other days and rest on Sunday. I ask you one simple question. If you have a car do you always leave the engine on or do you only switch it on when you need it? Same applies to any other appliance. Everyone and everything needs a rest and cannot work all the time because it will malfunction and will have its life shortened. Let those who have eyes to see see and those who have ears to hear hear.
Ishmael Dalli
Aug 7th 2010, 13:35
May I remind you that we live in the 20th century and that the only reminiscence of inquisition is the fantastic gem of a palace at Vittoriosa.
I do not see this statement by the Church commission as a bounding obbligation to the catholics living on the island, who are quite a good number. Therefore, shouldn't the church draw up a guiding principles while leaving everyone free to make his sums.
Granted that working on a Sunday will inject that extra cash, but should also people be reminded that one's worth is not just the cash he/she has and that there are other priorities especially when there is a family unit. What about qaulity time, for the parents themselves and the children? Though I am not in a position to quote any research in the field, I am quite confident that psychological research would back the fact that man needs to rest and that rest too is crucial for his survival such as is breadwinning. Isn't the church fulffilling its duty to warn its followers not to be swayed in a ratrace to accumulate more money at the detriment of other values which are superior such as the family?
vincent a galea
Aug 7th 2010, 13:32
IS THE CHURCH GOING TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND CLOSE DOWN "R A D J U T A L - K N I S J A" (RTK) ON SUNDAYS AND GIVE ALL THE STAFF SUNDAY OFF??!! OR IS ENTICING PEOPLE TO GAMBLE - "SE TIEĦU ĊANS?" - TOO LUCRATIVE TO GIVE UP........????!!!!
U Ħ A L L U N A........ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Henry Spiteri
Aug 7th 2010, 19:57
@ Vincent a galea:RTK means Radju ta' Kulħadd. The Church is not refering to essential services like airports, hospitals, ports etc etc.