Kurt Sansone
Fr Mark Montebello off to Mexico
Fr Mark Montebello. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Renegade Dominican friar Mark Montebello will start a new mission, only this time it will be 11,000 kilometres away in Mexico where he will be transferred for three months by mutual consent after meeting the Order’s head in Rome.
In March, Fr Montebello was summoned to Rome for a meeting with the head of the Dominican Order, Fr Carlos Aspiroz Costa, in the wake of some comments he wrote in the newspapers.
It had been reported that Archbishop Paul Cremona, a fellow Dominican, insisted the Order take action regarding Fr Montebello, following articles he wrote about divorce and paedophilia as well as the priest’s defence of Nigerian Monday Iseki, who was charged with resisting arrest.
Last year Fr Montebello was disciplined by his superior in Malta for “offending the sentiments of the Maltese” after he said he believed that Jesus was in favour of divorce and that crucifixes did not need to be “flaunted” in public buildings.
“After the meetings I had in March, something had to be done and it was either this or other things. We made the choice together,” Fr Montebello told The Times when asked whether his mission in Mexico was forced upon him.
“God closes a door and opens a hundred,” he said.
Fr Montebello will be serving in the Saltillo diocese in northern Mexico starting next week and will work directly under the wing of Dominican Archbishop Raul Vera.
The experience will serve as a moment of study and reflection, Fr Montebello said in a statement he issued to all media.
“There is a programme planned for me, which includes various experiences such as working with migrants and native people. The choice was social minded and it is absolutely different from here,” Fr Montebello said, insisting he was “deeply scandalised” by the lack of social conscience in Malta.
He was non-committal when asked whether this move to Mexico was intended to silence him.
“This will be another experience. I will not probe the issue too much, somebody else can do that. After the reports that were made about me and my meetings in Rome this is the result. Life, with all that it brings should be taken as a gift from God,” he said.
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charles grech
Aug 18th 2010, 21:46
Fr. Mark is also vice president of the Saint Francis Foundation for Animals - www.saintfrancisfoundation.com. Bon Viaggio Siehbi.
J.Bonnici
Aug 17th 2010, 19:06
“After the meetings I had in March, something had to be done and it was either this or other things. We made the choice together,”
Hobson's choice!
Typical Catholic Church democracy in action!
People open your mind and FREE yourself . How long are you going to accept being led by these Almighty Dictators!
Omar Seguna
Aug 17th 2010, 16:09
Fr Mark Montebello, devoted his life towards the poor, the marginalized, detained and victims of criminality. In Fr Mark, many (including those who feel away from the church for some reason or another) can see the other face of Jesus, who spoke justice about love and justice, and of the Church which from its humble beginnings stood up to defend human dignity.
More so, Fr Mark is a respected academic through his writings and contributed heavily to the church and society in general.
This news took me by surprise. We're going to miss you here Fr. Cottonera still needs you.
ABORG
Aug 17th 2010, 15:20
Fr Montebello, i was never very keen on the way you expressed yourself, despite usually good reasons backing your arguments. wish you good luck in your new mission and may God Bless you always
Alexander Morana
Aug 17th 2010, 14:47
Sur John Portelli, and what kind of standard of living do you think Mexico has where Fr. Montebello is going? Some parts of Mexico is worst than that of Africa. Some parts of Mexico reminds me of Malta and Gozo of 50 years ago!.
Mexicans are very senisitive, warm and they almost have the same temprement as that of the Maltese. I do hope that this mission will be of some good to Fr. Montebello. It will open his mind and see life from a different point of view.
Recepción a México y a la buena suerte
Victor Ross
Aug 17th 2010, 13:27
EZILJU !!!!
Adrian Wirth
Aug 17th 2010, 12:59
This arbitrary banishment sounds very much like victimisation.
Why?
Because a theocracy it appears isn't able or possibly is afraid to stand up to scrutiny and questioning?
Martin Luther experienced much the same treatment century's ago and the church came only recently to acknowledge the truth in Luther's observations and demands that lead to his excommunication and the start of protestantism.
Seems after all this time clerics still will not open their eyes and ears to the pleas of their people. The good works and beliefs of enlighted men continue to be suppressed.
Could it be that fear of a weakness or a lack of faith in the strength of underlying christian culture is the driver behind the curia's demands and the priory's action.
K. Grech
Aug 17th 2010, 11:51
Montebello you are the only good thing about the Maltese church. And they sent you packing.
John Portelli
Aug 17th 2010, 10:55
Maybe, the Mexican community where Montebello is going to be based should be wary of this priest. Mexicans tend to be very religious and I doubt this is the right place for him. I think they should have sent him to work with Refugees in Africa where his services are sorely needed, but I am sure he would not like to go there due to the substandard of living on the African continent.
Robert Callus
Aug 17th 2010, 14:25
Do you really believe there aren't refugees or Internally Displaced Persons in Mexico?
A Cassar
Aug 17th 2010, 15:18
Fr Montebello in Malta chose not to work with the richest of our lot.....working in some parish in Sliema or Rabat, but working with the people nobody wants to work with ....and a lot of holier than though people commenting on the times despise and hate (prisoners, refugees etc).
So OF ALL people on this island you have to be really living in the clouds to say that Fr Montebello would not like to live with people living in sub-standard conditions!!
Paul Brincat
Aug 17th 2010, 17:55
John Portelli how about YOU putting your money where your mouth is and YOU go to Africa and work with the refugees there? We will sorely miss you for these three months Fr Mark.