Church restoration should be tax exempt (2)

The letter by the Balzan parish priest, Fr Kalċidon Vassallo, about the exemption from income tax for the restoration of churches (September 2) is very welcome, especially in view of the fact that our churches are an integral part of our country’s heritage.

Moreover, the news that the restoration of Balzan parish church is being taken seriously is more than welcome. This long overdue project was promised far back in 2004!

Since then, we have witnessed many other churches in the vicinity that have been or are in the process of being restored, like the parish churches of Attard, Lija, Birkirkara, Qormi (St George) and Żebbuġ. I presume these parishes have paid their dues in income tax, like the parish church of Balzan did on different (some of them superfluous) projects.

Notwithstanding this, having properly planned and prioritised their projects, these parishes managed to procure the necessary funds for restoration. I cannot figure out why Balzan has been the exception. Nonetheless, I urge the government authorities to give Fr Vassallo’s request due consideration.

In his contribution, Fr Vassallo complained that his letter to the Minister of Finance remained just “acknowledged”.

It has come to my knowledge that letters sent to the same Fr Vassallo by well-meaning parishioners, containing suggestions about the parish, were not even “acknowledged”, let alone implemented.