Lawrence Zammit, St Venera
Bishop not afraid to proclaim Catholic beliefs (1)
I would like to express my utter disgust at the cartoon carried in The Sunday Times on November 7, which depicted Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo in an unbecoming manner.
I admire Mgr Grech, who is one of the few who are not afraid to proclaim the Catholic Church’s values. Unfortunately the media try to ridicule those who profess their Christian beliefs.
Today many try to compromise on the Church’s teaching in order to accommodate ‘modern’ sexual behaviour. However, there is nothing modern about lust, since this has always been with us.
Catholic schools in Malta must not only concentrate on the academic aspect of education but also impart Catholic values to their students. This mission should become more evident as our nation becomes more secular.
In his homily during Mass for the consecration of the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, the Pope said that “one of the most important tasks today is to overcome the split between human conscience and Christian conscience, between existence in this temporal world and openness to an eternal life, between the beauty of things and God as Beauty”.
This message holds true not only for Spain but also for post-Catholic Malta.
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I Bugeja
Jul 26th 2011, 18:17
Catholic schools prepare children for the real world therefore the teacgings should be standardised. If catholic schools do not agree then might as well cut the government funding. Obviously by the time I write this comment the divorce referendum has also proved that we live in a pro-secular Malta!!!!!!!!!!!!! Therefore those who do not agree might as well lump it.
M Grima
Nov 21st 2010, 16:10
see today's news.....in the World section of The Times. Me thinks you spoke to soon.
Joseph Calleja
Nov 21st 2010, 15:34
Mr Z, I am glad the parish priest is keeping an eye open and keeping tabs on who attends mass on Sunday and who doesn't. And what difference does that make? Going to mass on Sunday is a personal thing and I would think the parish priest has better things to do than counting his sheep. As a matter of fact if he is missing over 25% of the sheep he should be out there looking for them. The bible says, even if one sheep is missing, the shepherd should be out there looking for it. By the way your 72% attendance is a bit lower than what you usually cut and paste. I really don't know where you get your facts but you are way off.
Alex Ciantar
Nov 21st 2010, 10:21
Get over it !!! its a free country.......
Joe Zammit
Nov 21st 2010, 09:47
In Malta church attendance to weekly Mass is 72% because there are those who do not go regularly. Parish priests know exactly also those who do not go to Mass every week.
Besides, the others who do not attend are still Catholic. They still baptize their children in the Catholic Faith. They still send their children to learn their Catholic Faith at school and Church societies. They still prepare them to receive the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist. They get married in the Catholic Church. When they die they are taken to a Catholic church and after Masses are offered for them in Catholic churches.
On Trinity Sunday 96% of Maltese and Gozitan children of their peer group have made their First Holy Communion. This augurs very well for the future of the Catholic Church on our Catholic islands until the end of time.
P.Pulis
Nov 21st 2010, 10:20
Among those who attend mass regularly (and are usually found seated in the front rows), one finds even mafia bosses. So it all depends on whether one is happy with the quantity or with the quality.
wally vella-zarb
Nov 21st 2010, 11:42
Going to a house of worship does not make one a religious person any more than going to a garage would make one a mechanic.
victor pulis
Nov 21st 2010, 12:46
Poor JZ. I want one cent from every man of those 72% who uses condoms before he goes to mass and another cent from every woman of those 72% who is on the pill! Being baptised does not necessarily make one a good catholic Joe. neither partaking of any of the other sacraments which more often than not is done out of tradition ratherthan conviction. The fact that you are always repeatig the same mantra is proof enough that the church in malta is in dire straits. I'm not gloating while saying this but just stating facts.This does not auger well. Finally, every empire and religion have claimed that they would endure till the end of time (a very long time) so there's nothing new in your statement. If Jesus had to return he would hardly recognise his teachings as it is today let alone in say, a thousand years from now. Ps. You really got me worried when you said that the parish priests know who doesn't attend church every week!
victor pulis
Nov 21st 2010, 18:20
In another post you said that Christ and his church are not worried about numbers now you're quoting percentages! I'd like one cent from every man who uses condoms before going to church and one cent from every woman who is on the pill. Going to church doesn't necessarily mean one is a good catholic. Receiving tha sacraments (the majority of which are imposed on children) is not so much a sign of faith as a tradition as most of them are based on unexplainable 'mysteries'. This does not auger well and until the end of time is a very long time. Finally are we supposed to tremble knowing that the parish priests know who attends church every week and who doesn't? is that some kind of hidden threat?
Joseph Calleja
Nov 21st 2010, 19:19
JZ even God rested on Sunday, why don't you?