Archbishop warns against going only by utilitarian reasoning

The importance of spiritual reflection on the historical events the country celebrated was highlighted by Archbishop Paul Cremona during Pontifical Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral, in Valletta to celebrate Independence Day yesterday.

Mgr Cremona insisted that, as man accumulated more experiences, if he did not reflect on his fundamental values, he would distance himself from them and would be led by purely utilitarian reasoning.

Referring to Pope Benedict XVI’s recent address at Westminster Hall in the UK, noting that resources had been found to save the financial institutions deemed too big to fail, Mgr Cremona said the integral development of man was no less important and required the whole world’s attention.

“It is an indication of how the political and financial worlds have become detached from the fundamental values that are man – every man,” Mgr Cremona said.

He told the congregation the Church expected those inspired by Jesus to work towards realising its ideals. Human and social development did not only result from institutions but also from those who formed them, he said.

The Mass of “thanksgiving for our native land” was attended by the country’s highest officials, including members of Cabinet, the judiciary and the diplomatic corps.

The activities started with a march by the Armed Forces of Malta band and guard of honour from the monument of Christ the King, Floriana, down Republic Street in Valletta, before they took up their position in St George’s Square to salute President George Abela and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Following Mass and the Te Deum, the AFM band and guard of honour marched to the Independence monument in Floriana, where the President and the Prime Minister laid flowers.

Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat also laid a bouquet at the monument later, saying he looked ahead to the day protocol, which was possibly valid in the past but no longer today, would be abandoned and both sides would celebrate Independence and Freedom Day together.

The Labour Party pointed out that, yet again, the government had continued to insist that protocol did not allow the Opposition Leader to unite with the President and the Prime Minister on the celebration of a national day, a point it had raised in the past.

Once again, Dr Muscat said he had no interest in pitting one national day against another but strongly believed that all of them were “brothers from the same mother that have contributed to the nation as it is today”.Dr Muscat augured that, as time went by, new generations would be as proud of Freedom Day as they were of other feasts.