Bishops express sorrow for hurt during referendum campaign

Mr K.M Edwards

Jun 2nd 2011, 21:01

There is one more aspect to this that the anti-Church crowd should contemplate ...

When you call practicing Catholics "Taliban Catholics", you have bishops apologizing for hurting feelings. Compare that to the fatwahs the Taliban issued against Salman Rushdie.

Once you have managed to relegate Catholicism to the underarm of Malta's social influences, you will have to contend with radical islam, just as the rest of your beloved EU is having to. You should prepare yourselves ... those radicals will not be apologizing for hurting feelings (or blowing up your beloved for that matter either!) any time soon.

Carmen De Bono

Jun 1st 2011, 09:58

To all those of you who are taking it out on the Church for being against divorce! What did you expect, that our Maltese priests would pat you on the back and give you a good handshake for voting 'yes'? Like each and every one of us, the Church has a right to voice its opinion. Did any of those who are so much 'out to get the church' believe or even hope that the Church would remain silent? Divorce in a Catholic country is a big issue. Fair enough it is also a civil right but what irks me is that some people out there are talking about the Church and our Archbishop as if they were 'devils in disguise'. Have we lost the meaning of the word 'respect'. Respect for fellow human beings who can also be clergymen? For those of you who are so anti Church, just stay out of it: and you will also miss out on those occasions you all crave for: the Christenings, the Holy Communions, the Confirmations, the marriages and you will be missing out on the pomp and expenses each one of these occasions brings about.

Mr K.M Edwards

May 30th 2011, 19:30

The Catholic bashing being recorded on this blog is quite astonishing and reminds me of my days in the service of the Canadian military when as a Catholic, even with about 40% of our troops hailing from French (and then still somewhat Catholic) Canada, I was subjected to all kinds of hate speech by protestants.

ALthough this apology is not clear and quite confusing, I believe it was intended by the Bishops as a gracious closure to a heated national debate. I believe they are saying that the Church has a mission to preach the teachings of Christ, but if we as his human ambassadors have lacked virtue and used words or in any way fallen short of doing so in a charitable way, we apologize. I think the fact that this statement was intended to be published at 10pm on Sat May 28 just as the voting ended, was precisely intended as a gracious closure to the debate from their standpoint.

That so many cannot accept a gracious closure and are so ungracious, even in victory, is a testimony to such hatred in the hearts of so many in the yes camp. If you call yourselves tolerant and respectful, please show us the way.

Having said that, I would like to ask charitably of the Bishops what exactly they are apologizing for:

Are you apologizing for preaching the doctrine of Christ who condemned remarriage after divorce/separation as adultery?
Are you apologizing for preaching that voting in favor of legalizing divorce was the same as voting yourself out of the Church's sacramental life?
Are you apologizing for calling those who claim to be Catholic while undermining Catholic doctrine 'wolves in sheep clothing" as Christ Himself did?
Or you just apologizing for some of the *ways* and some of the *words* chosen to articulate your position?

Whatever the case, apologizing for unnamed members of the clergy who may (or may not) have *hurt* people in campaigning for the no side will only create confusion as you can see from this blog and the response of Dr Deborah Schembri who are taking your apology to mean that you actually regret your position and are now retracting it.

In Catholic teaching, if a Catholic has reason to believe that they have sinned, they need to go to confession with sincerity and make due penance, which can involve apologizing for injuries to one's victims.

It does not however elucidate to make apologies for unnamed members of your clergy for unspecified injuries that may or may not have been made.

Christ couples that with "When you mean yes, say yes, and when you mean no, say no". Christ more than any other personality in the entire Biblical history from Adam to St John the Evangelist, and including St Paul, preached about hellfire and damnation. Christ called hypocrites white sepulchres and sons of the devil. St Paul taught his followers to "speak the truth in charity".

Before any clergyman or Catholic opens his mouth he ought to consider how best to speak the truth in charity. Once he does so, there is no need to apologize unless it becomes clear that one may have done so more charitably than one was aware of at the start.

Victor Rodenas

May 30th 2011, 17:09

Crocodile tears!

Bug Agius

May 30th 2011, 15:21

wara li qalu li kellhom jghidu, u werwru lin-nies, issa qeghdin jiskuzaw ruhhom... u ajma!

juanita debattista

May 30th 2011, 14:50

What amazed me the past few days was the hatred people who call themselves Catholics have for the church..For crying out loud,if you are in favour of divorce do not marry within the church.. if you do not like the teachings of the church do not send your children to church schools and if you dont want to follow Jesus do not call yourself a Catholic.. it is much better to have a smaller church but with convinced catholics ..

Steve Mizzi

May 30th 2011, 14:34

Dear Archbishop and Bishop

You should now follow your colleague's illuminated and Christian example and deny communion to anyone who voted Yes including old ladies, that way you save some money on hosts which in turn will help you plug the financial hole caused by a reduction in annulment "donations".

Mr carmel catania

May 30th 2011, 14:23

the church is beyond excuses.
An apology is required and merited for all the pain the church has bestowed on us.
And should not be made at the last minute but rather before reflection day of referendum.
AS far as Deborah is concerned she would be happily suprised to have the bishop embrace her as she walked in to represent a client before a church tribuneral
Then they can really show how sorry the church is.

John Scerri

May 30th 2011, 13:59

very bad timing.

What about those children who were born out of marriage and not baptised together with the rest of the congregations? but near the outside door of the church .........apology not accepted.

Ms Xaxa Caruana

May 30th 2011, 13:05

Mela dawn qed jitolbu skuza f ishem dawk il qassisin li ma ridux iqarbnu lin nies li kieku ha jivutaw iva, qed jitolbu skuza ukoll f isem dawk is sorijiet li literalment WERWRU l anzjani li jinsabu fi djar tax xjuh, li min jivota iva ha jitlef ruhu...
Mela l-ewwel intik xeba tajba u nhollok u wara nejdlek sorry ta.

Ms Sarah Attard Gialanze

May 30th 2011, 08:58

A sorry excuse for a last minute 'cover your tracks' kind of thing! Sorry to say, but the Church has really and truly lost any credibility it might have had. Should have thought of the repercussions before embarking on a scaremongering campaign! You made your bed, now lay in it! This 'apology' does not right all the wrongs!

Mr emmanuel zammit

May 30th 2011, 07:10

Apology not accepted!

Bud Moureaux - Flanders (BE) & Xemxija, SPB (MT)

May 30th 2011, 00:19

To all Maltese citizens!

Having witnessed the charade by the Church, the conclusion is obvious. We should now strive to separate State and Church, i.e. abolish Article 2 of the Constitution within the shortest possible time.

Therefore, to this effect, let's start
(1) A FaceBook group.
(2) Set up a Movement with an appropriate name, e.g. No more State within the State; Malta-Secular YES, Malta-Church NO, ...
(3) Organizing the necessary lobbying work for putting all this into laws or at least a referendum to be held to that effect.

In the past weeks leading up to Saturday's referendum, the Maltese voters have learnt how the Church has been scaremongering and lying to their flock and they have witnessed the utter hypocrisy the Church has shown by their belated apology. The voters are now much better armed to resist the Church's dirty tricks in the next campaign.

The correction of the relationship between the State and the Church in Malta is already 50 years overdue. An untenable situation will then finally cease to persist. In this way, Malta will become a real secular society where Maltese citizens will effectively be able to decide for themselves without fearing to be bullied by Mgr. XYZ and consorts. The Church in Malta should restrict its role to its teaching and advice to its own flock, i.e. Catholics, but refrain by all means from scaremongering and dictating what others should or shouldn't do.

Maltese voters are mature, conscientious people. They have shown it last Saturday, the D-Day for Divorce legislation. So, let's go for it, under the motto 'YES, we can do it!'

Bud Moureaux, partially residing in Flanders, BE and in Xemxija, SPB, MT.

konrad borg

May 29th 2011, 22:37

If you read carefully the church is not apologizing for its views which it has the right and duty to express. It is expressing regret if it hurt anyone. Evidently many who wrote, perceive this as weakness and an attempt to court favour. It seems your anti-clericalism blurs your understanding.

Schembri Ray

May 29th 2011, 22:04

The church cannot be in favour of Divorce - never. It's always been like that and it will remain like that. Persons in favour of divorce should never marry by church. They must not use the church only when in need. It's better to have fewer christians than have a lot but does not practice what they believe.

Steve Elliott

May 29th 2011, 21:11

to little to late

Ramon Mangion

May 29th 2011, 20:39

Well I think that the church should offer a public appology to Dr. Deborah Schembri and also immediately reinstate her employment

Mr M Vella***

May 29th 2011, 20:39

The Church in Malta does not want to learn from its past mistakes of the 60's when many left her fold..They have lost that power in the 1960's and they are going to lose much more power now,secularism is on it's way to prevail in this country, whether you like it or not.

Ramon Mangion

May 29th 2011, 20:38

CHURCH COMPLAINS WITH ELECTORAL COMMISSION

The church submitted a formal complaint about MaltaToday to the Electoral Commisson.


>>>

can I please ask why can't we also complain ? who was organising prayers, and processions etc on reflection day ? I also switched to Radju Marija on Friday evenings and welll you know..

Mr MARIO ZERAFA

May 29th 2011, 20:34

The church has lost its credibility not only because she permitted the use of Christ name to mis-inform and mis guide the people but also to allow her teaching mixup with the civil rights of the citizens. The church should have disengaged itself by speeking the truth and explain that state laws and church teaching are a different reality and that the church accepts diversity but goes by its own teachings. But the worst was this apology at the very last hour which cannot be accepted even though the YES vote won. This is because the church was in complicity in a campagne of mis information about Christ teaching that no well inform christian could believe. The church needs to be brushed up by the same wipe that Christ used to clean the Temple. Many of those close to the church and its institutions are only for their own interests and gains. Money,Power and personal achievements guide many of those who profess their saintlyhood. Wake up dear Bishops and put the house of Our Lord Chirst in order.

George Camilleri

May 29th 2011, 20:14

I have not read the original document yet, but the Bishops' statement does not appear to be an apology. The Times report states that they express sadness if anyone was hurt by the arguments used in the divorce campaign. It does not state that the Bishops admit to any wrong they did during the campaign.

So all this talk about an 'apology' is misplaced. The Bishops have nothing to apologize for. There would have been cause for an apology had they not done their duty by speaking out in loud and clear terms.

The statement also mentions that the Bishops forgive those who may have hurt them during the campaign. That is consonant with a true Christian spirit, which is sadly absent in the vitriolic anticlerical sentiments that are still pouring forth from many commentators.

Mr Alex Buds

May 29th 2011, 19:48

The Church has lost alot of respect permanently in this campaign. A secular Malta, long overdue, is finally beginning to emerge.

Mr Joseph Buhagiar

May 29th 2011, 19:21

What I cannot understand is simple. One of the few things that can reduce the many broken marrages or put it another way, one of the thinks that would help all famies enourmously is - Intervene, intervene, and persuade the Goverment to reduce the burden which all famies are being called upon to shoulder.

The misiters reserved a rise. I have no doubr about that. But then you cannot give us all, peanuts! How can we when just to give one example, most of us were changing to using gas, and then in a matter of a few months a cylinder goes upn from 5 to 15!

And the Prime minister needs to remember that most of us do not have a free car, fuel, maintenance and paid lunches and other perks. Most of us have to pay for everthing, every single cent.

VAT is now 18% and the income tax promise was not followed through. Need I say more Bishops. And no one seems to take note and / or make any statemenst about any of this hardships.

Thank you.

Mr Joshua Micallef

May 29th 2011, 19:05

Apology not accepted!

Mr K. Zammit

May 29th 2011, 18:01

The Church has lost all credibility. That eleventh hour apology was the last nail in their coffin. R.I.P.

Mr Lawrence Fenech

May 29th 2011, 18:00

Issa imisskom taghtu lura ix-xoghol lil-Deborha. Ghal anqas ohorgu ta irgiel.

Raymond Sacco

May 29th 2011, 17:53

history keeps repeating itself! how many times did the catholic church have to apologise? crusades, inquisitions, condemning scientists, the 60's in malta and so many other shameful blunders! can't they do the right thing right away for once?

Mr David Farrugia

May 29th 2011, 17:48

I always said it. The biggest loser from this referendum will be the Maltese Church. Now there you have it. You treated people as if they were a bunch of idiots, but the whole strategy backfired. This was the last time the church will interfere in politics. Good riddance.

Mr Lawrence Fenech

May 29th 2011, 17:35

Wara kampanja sfrenata anki Gonzi baqa gallaria ghax kellu min jiggiled ghalieh.

Julian Micallef

May 29th 2011, 17:19

Now that the Bishops act sorry for offending people, why shouldn't they answer to God as they expected Yes voters to do?

Ginevra Alvarado

May 29th 2011, 15:40

Too late ...... this should have been done before!

Mr Philip Micallef

May 29th 2011, 15:14

Their attire is ample testimony of their mindset.

vincent zerafa

May 29th 2011, 14:36

I was one of those who voted 'yes' and am really glad that the yes vote has prevailed. I am especially glad for two reasons. First that freedom has prevailed over the present situation of a church-state in Malta. And second that spiritual terrorism was defeated in such a big way! Now those who are against divorce are free not to make use of it, while those who wish to have a new beginning have the freedom to do so.

Mr Joe Xuereb

May 29th 2011, 14:25

Meta l-apoloġija ekkleżjastika tkun sfaċċatament biex trattab id-dannu u tillimita l-ħsara u b'hekk il-Knisja tirrendi ruħha bħal dawk li tikkontrolla, jiġifieri infantili. Araw kif jaħdem l-indottrinar tal-moħħ.

Il-Knisja għallmitni li għandi naħfer. Hekk għamilt u kull darba indimt. Dan li jiġri meta taħfer lil min għamillek azzjoni ħażina mingħajr ma ġġegħlu jammetti li żbalja. B'hekk qiegħed tagħtih il-messaġġ li l-folja karta tiegħu hi dejjem bajda u pura. Anzi, qed tagħtih il-jedd jgħid, 'kemm hu ċuċ, nagħtih bis-sieq u jiġi għal aktar. Jirkbek, jikkalpestak, jisraqlek kull ħjiel ta' stima lejk innifsek. Biż-żmien tgħallimt li qabel naħfer hemm bżonn li min ipprova jweġġagħni jammetti li l-aġir tiegħu kien diżgustanti. Wara, dejjem skond id-dagħdigħa, jew naħfer, jew nimxi u nwarrab u nħalli warajja daqs li kieku it-tali qatt m'eżista.
Mhux fl-interess tal-Knisja tgħallimna, jew nitgħallmu minn ximkien ieħor, il-psikoloġija tad-dnub, il-ħsara tal-gideb. It-tagħrif jagħti poter lill-bniedem u jkun jista' jieħu f'idejh ir-riedni ta' ħaju. Fl-interess tal-Knisja li l-bniedem iżżommu fi stat ta' infantiliżmu u b'hekk tikkontrollah. Għalhekk ivvintat il-qrar - biex il-ġwejjed jidneb kemm irid, iqerr, daqsxejn ta' pinitenza, u jerġa'. Għax dejjem jaħfrulu. Aħjar alla jagħtini paċenzja! X'ħajja dik!

Joe Xuereb. Tul żmien twil bogħod minn pajjiżu, jiġġerra fit-toroq ta' Londra li għenitu jiftaħ għajnejh. Għalkemm mhux bilfors titlaq minn pajjiżek biex titgħallem ċertu affarijiet. L-importanti hu li tgħix b'moħħ miftuħ u b'hekk titgħallem li l-ħmieġ li jidħol (fil-moħħ) tirriġettah u żżom biss dak li hu siewi. Tikkontrolla ħajtek, fi kliem ieħor. Tkun matur mhux infantili, moħħok sponża jaċċetta kull ma jwaddbulu.

Mr JOSEPH AGIUS

May 29th 2011, 14:04

I guess the three Excellencies in the photos, and possibly Mons Pullicino and Father Gouder with them, should have the courage to resign; unless, that is, they are told not to because this would cause the Vatican further embarrassment.
What cheek to ask for forgiveness after five weeks of unrelenting and at times terrorizing crusade. How can they be trusted if in five weeks they did not get it right?
My full admiration goes to priests like Fr Mark Montebello and Fr Colin, and I cannot but regard with contempt others, like Fr Joe Inguanez who this week on Campus FM felt he had to lash out at Fr Mark.

Mr Tony Camilleri

May 29th 2011, 12:55

Too little, too late.
Your sheep have scattered.

M. Cardona

May 29th 2011, 12:46

You expressed regret after all the harm YOU (and your entourage of fanatics) might have caused these last months. You knew (I saw the interview with Mr Galea Salamone where he stated that they had indications the Yes camp would win) that the Yes would probably win. This was nothing but a damage control exercise. But definitely not because you sincerely regretted the harm you "might" have caused. Don't worry the harm is not hypothetical but FACTUAL.

The more you persist, the deeper you dig.

Victor Rodenas

May 29th 2011, 12:43

I do not want to be in their booths and neither in Gonzi`s....Maltese history now will say that divorce hit our shores when they were Bishops and Gonzi as Prime Minister.

Noel Mifsud

May 29th 2011, 12:37

Ma nafx se nikteb bil Malti imma veru imisshom jisthu dawn in nies jitolbu apologija. Sa fejn naf jien dan iwasslu l messagg ta Kristu u zgur Kristu qatt ma qal li min ma jaqbilx mieghu traditur. U L Isqof tan nofs alla jbierek qal li ma jiddispjacihx li qal hekk u issa qed jitlob apologija. Mela qedin sew naf li qed namel hazin, nibqa namlu u nsostnih u meta nasal fejn ghandi nasal namel apologija. Kburi li ivvutajt IVA ghax imxejt wara Kristu, tajt dak li hu ta Cesri lil Cesri, habbejt lil proxxmu ghax ghenthom bil vot tijaj, u mhux tlajt nitqarben u nqarben u najjar lil proxxmu tieghi traditur. Mank jara il Papa din l ittra ghax kieku ingiel lil min qal dan id diskors jirrizenja. Kristu qal Mulej ahfrilhom ghax ma jafux x inhuma jamlu, San Gorg Preca qal Grazzi SInjur Alla u Ahfirli sinjur Alla, u jien nghid Sinjur Alla harisni minn dawk li Bat int biex jamluli l gid ghax l ghedewwa tieghi naf minn huma.

Joe Fenech

May 29th 2011, 12:34

Hypocrites! I would start going to Church today if Rene Camilleri and Mark Montebello were heading the Church! they're think on a completely different level from these idiots.

Aaron Gatt Floridia

May 29th 2011, 12:30

It's not the first time the Catholic Church has issued pointless public apologies after having done their very best to dictate their medieval agenda on the thinking world. It has fought against logic, common sense, scientific thinking and free thought for centuries. This latest fight was no different.

Talk is cheap. A late apology with no action has no value. .. especially now.

Mr Malcolm Seychell

May 29th 2011, 12:14

The 3 above in the photo deserve the monument found near Mambra. Ipokriti Kristjani

Charles Camilleri

May 29th 2011, 12:09

I was surprised by the apology of the bishops and even more by the embargo imposed. I find it ridiculous to impose such an embargo, what the church should have done was either to publish the apology before the begining of the referendum, which would have been more appropriate, or when the referendum was over. As I said in another comment when Fr Mark Montebello made his views on the Times of Malta, I said that after this crusade there will be an apology from the church. I am no profit but I got used to these apologies. I also said that I do not agree the divorce is a solution to broken mariages but I voted yes because the church and the no movements convinced to vote yes. I still am convinced that divorce is not the solution. The solution should be help to those who encounter problems in their mariage.to be saved from the next step, that is divorce. For every problem under the sky there is a solution or there is non. Help followed by action should be present in such situations not just talk talk talk but action. There is quite a lot to be said and this is not easy to be said in just a comment.

Joe Fenech

May 29th 2011, 12:06

Bunch of bootlickers! In this campaign you have proved to be the same Church that reigned in the 50 and 60s under Uncle Gonzi (which was the equivalent of the European Church in those terrible Middle-Ages).

Although no referendum was needed to pass a law, I am glad that the thriving Maltese cultured person won over the Gahan Malti.

Mr Malcolm Seychell

May 29th 2011, 12:04

Are they still smiling????

Glynis Zammit

May 29th 2011, 11:49

'Hypocites' is to nice!!!!!. Thankyou to the church for helping me make my decision on what to vote for during this referendum. This so called apology means nothing but one thing.. LAST SUNDAY WAS THE LAST TIME I WILL BE STEPPING INTO A CATHOLIC CHURCH, especially on this Island. I certainly believe in God but I DONT BELIEVE IN YOU! and as for my children i think from now on they can decide for themselves when they are old enough to decide whichever path they choose to follow.
Thankyou

Mr Joe Gatt

May 29th 2011, 11:45

Tyrany and Dictatorship fails.

May the Almighty forgive you and have mercy on your souls

Mrs Lucia Vella Vella

May 29th 2011, 11:41

hahaha very funny nahseb li zewg isqfijiet ghandhom jaghmlu spazju ghal haddiehor ax tilfu kull fiducja li l poplu kellu fihom

Tonio Farrugia

May 29th 2011, 11:18

Now its too late for apologies. Some words do really hurt and are better left unsaid. However the wolf in sheep clothing should not have been addressed to the Catholics who are suffering and are trying to address their problems. Maybe it would have befitted perfectly to some clergymen who abused children.

Ms Manquareiel de Caveden

May 29th 2011, 10:07

Have you by any chance decided to stop publishing comments?... How despicable.

Ms Maria Vassallo

May 29th 2011, 10:05

If the world hates you, you must realise that it hated me before it hated you.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice of you has drawn you out of the world, that is why the world hates you.

Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.

But it will do all this to you, because they do not know the one who sent me. be on my account that they will do all this to you, because they do not know the one who sent me.

from the Gospel of John

Victor Pulis

May 29th 2011, 10:03

Thank you archbishop! At least you put my mind at rest that I'm not going to hell for not listening to you!

vincent a galea

May 29th 2011, 10:02

Is this some ACT OF CONTRITION ? Are the Bishops REPENTING ? Is their CONSCIENCE pricking them?

This is definitely an admition of guilt!

Can bishops RESIGN ??

Mr Carmel Debono

May 29th 2011, 10:01

I now expect an apology from the Government for letting the spiritual bunch of hypocrites interfere in state affairs.
My humble advice to the church in Malta is to start counting their losses… evidently our bishops never learn!!!

Mr Joe Gatt

May 29th 2011, 09:56

Please forgive me, as I will not forgive anyone of you.

In any case, you will not deserve it.

Mr Adrian Vella

May 29th 2011, 09:51

The Three Stoogies; Larry, Moe & Curley have decided to take off their Sheep's Clothing. Now they are Wolves in Wolves' Clothing.....

We need a separation of Church and State, today before tomorrow!

Mr JOSEPH ZAMMIT

May 29th 2011, 09:47

May the Bishops be reminded that actions speak louder than words. With their timed strategic apology they showed again how immature the church in Malta is.
On the other hand, had this happened in another civilized country, people would have protested in front of the curia, and, needless to say, would stop attending church functions where they only hear childish sermons and ancient opinions that would have sounded sour even in ancient Egypt.
Putting a protest comment on the newspaper and still continue to abide by things you do not agree with, leaves much to be desired about many of us Maltese.

Ms Manquareiel de Caveden

May 29th 2011, 09:43

An apology? At 22:00?! Is that how they treat those who voted 'No' after having terrified them and denied them sacraments? Well I'm glad I voted with MY OWN conscience and voted for a better Malta by voting 'YES'!!!! How dare they? This is really an insult to the intelligence of the Maltese! Well maybe it's well-deserved, let's see the result.

Martin Borg

May 29th 2011, 09:39

What a shame. The bishops had all the chance to stop all the malpractices that were perpetrated by some of its members during the runup to the referendum. Instead it waited until the balloting was over to issue a 'supposed' apology for this irreprehensible behaviour. Do the bishops honestly believe that people are that gullible ?. It is an insult to people's intelligence.

No amount of apologies will ever make me forget Bishop Grech's labelling of Yes voters as wolves and brigands, or through personal experience, my local church's priest performing Sunday mass during which he categorically stated that anyone voting Yes was CONDEMNED.

What the bishops seem not to realise is that this latest gaffe of theirs will only serve to alienate more well intentioned Catholics away from the church they love and would like to actively participate in.

Paul Miruzzi

May 29th 2011, 09:38

Min qed jghati l-pariri lill Isqfijiet? Statement zejjed, barra min loku u f' mument ferm u ferm hazin. Hemm bzonn li jkun hemm mentalita' ahjar fit-tmexxija tal-knisja. Il-Knisja qed tmiss mal-fidili, qed jghidulha x' hemm hazin, izda trid tibqa' tinheba billi ddahhal rasha taht ir-ramel u tinsa dak li huwa ghaddej madwarha.
Hasra, ghaliex l-istampa generali turik li matual il-generazzjonijiet il-Knisja ghamlet hafna u hafna gid, izda l-ftit hazin qed jidher fil-wicc wisq u qieghed jgheleb t-tajjeb kollu. Il-MULEJ MAGHKOM.

Anthony Busuttil

May 29th 2011, 09:34

Mahfra ghal fejn ?
lili ma offendejtunix ghax jien ivvutajt IVA skond il kuxjenza tieghi.

x'Farsa......x'hela ta erwieh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ma ridtx inkun sufa f'gisimkhom.......................

Mr edward ciantar

May 29th 2011, 09:30

Dear Archies, I mean all of you. The damage has been done and it is irreparable. You might have won the referendum, but believe me in so doing you have lost so many souls from the fold with your hypocrasy. I believe in only one God but his pastors, no, actually his Maltese pastors are a big deficit for the Lord.

Ms A. Axisa

May 29th 2011, 09:23

Isn't this a democratic country???
Because it REALLY does not show...
Why is it that when the Church speaks up, it's wrong.
When the Church is silent, it's wrong...
Accept the Church as another entity who has the right to speak up, just like everyone else.

I would have been ashamed of the church if they had spoken in favour of divorce...whether I agree or not.

Mr Joe Morana

May 29th 2011, 09:15

The fact that the Bishops regret if anyone was hurt by any words or actions taken by members of the Church during the referendum campaign at the 11 hour, indicate that during the Referendum campaing, the Bishops aknowledge that both camps including the No campaing have hit 'below the belt'.
Frankly I strongly disagree with the tone and content of illogical and simply emotionally based anti-clerical outbursts on the media by some individuals.However I beleive that the No campaing in toto was by far the most party hitting below the belt by being economical with the truth to say the least, misintrerpreting, manipulating and distoring the facts ( e.g. repeated misintepreting relevant reports) and persistently engaging in a socio-economic and spiritual/religious intimidating and scaremongering campaings.
The fact that such press communication expressing the Bishops' sorrow etc was embargoed till after 10.00pm when polling stations close, seriously undermine the Bishops' message and makes one wonder why 'divine presence' was just present during the voting process to illiminate voters and not during the refrendum campaing to illuminated our Bishops !!.

Ms Rose Cilia

May 29th 2011, 09:15

'Lil dawk kollha li ħadu sehem attiv fuq iż-żewġ naħat, nixtiequ nuruhom is-sogħba tagħna jekk xi ħadd ħassu mweġġgħa b’xi kelma jew azzjoni mill-membri tal-Knisja, kif ukoll naċċertaw lil kulħadd li aħna naħfru bla kundizzjoni lil dawk kollha li ħassejnihom li weġġgħuna.'Dan hu l-kliem ezatt li nkiteb mill-isqfijiet.Ma ntalbet l-ebda appologija!

Ms A. Axisa

May 29th 2011, 09:13

"...the Church’s campaign continued blatantly even on reflection day yesterday and voting day today" ???
What about the posters which were running about some streets Saturday morning??? They were not there before...some 'accident' must have happened...jahasra...
Let's not point our fingers to others when we can point them at ourselves too.

M. Cardona

May 29th 2011, 09:11

Deceitful apologies not accepted! Now and in times to come you and your inquisition will reap what you have sown. Apologies if your church won't enjoy the aftermath of your deeds.

Mr Mario Debono

May 29th 2011, 09:08

ISTHU JA QATA FARIZEJ!

ruth klotzer

May 29th 2011, 09:00

oh my God, what hypocrites !!!! are you going to apologize to all the people you scared stiff during the campaign - this is unbelievable, you are worse than politicians, at least everybody knows they are liars, catholics are supposed to respect you and you have definitely lost that respect. you're a couple of weeks too late!!!!!!

Mr Daniel Schembri

May 29th 2011, 08:56

To discuss the possible impact of excommunication from the catholic church, join the facebook group 'Exocommunication from the Catholic Church - Why Not?'.

Mr william cauchi

May 29th 2011, 08:55

Whatever the result, this is the beginning of the end of the Catholic Church in Malta. I consider myself as Christian but for me the Catholic Church has lost completely it's appeal and sincerity. This appeal for forgiveness has come to little and too late. Words can be nice but it's actions that counts.
This church has not only lost it's sheep, but in fact told them to get lost and now these ''apologies'' seem to be doing more harm than good.

Mr William Flynn

May 29th 2011, 08:51

On Thursday and Friday the bishops were telling people they will be bad people and bad Christians if they let others less lucky have the release from a bad marriage and remarry; and after it’s all over, they say sorry for the hurt.

This is one time the embargo placed by the evil ones should have been broken for the common good and the good of the state.
Every editor who didn’t break the embargo is a traitor against the Republic and should be brought to account.

This is almost as bad as a newspaper concealing a crime – a crime against democracy and democratic process,. This is a day of shame for the Catholic church, its managers and the media.
Congratulations to the editor who broke ranks in the name of democracy.

Well may the three wolves smile for they have lost the plot and they shall NEVER be trusted again.

Down with their politics and down with Article 2.

Mr Philip Micallef

May 29th 2011, 08:51

The damage has been done. History, surely repeats itself. Hope that this time, the Maltese People have learned the lesson well. The only honourable way out, is for the Bishops and the High Hierarchy of the Church to resign

Mr JOSEPH AGIUS

May 29th 2011, 08:45

Irrespective of the result of the referendum the three men in the photo should tender their resignation. Men carrying such responsibilities who suspect that they might have got things wrong for five full weeks and and express regret at this at the last moment cannot expect our respect. What cheek to tender us their apologies and forgiveness at the last moment when their statement could have prompted people to go and vote YES; no wonder they are furious at a certain editor who jumped the gun and have asked for steps to be taken against him. We do not want their apologies and forgiveness. We do not want them nor need them.. And only time can help us forgive them for being so insensitive and not completely truthful in this campaign.
But perhaps their resignation will only serve to embarrass the Vatican. Our sympathies are all with Fr Marco Montebello and Fr Colin Apap, whatever these three men can do to them. And we have nothing but scorn for people who attack them as Fr Inguanez did on Campus Fm a few days ago.

Nathalie Frendo

May 29th 2011, 08:41

Dear bishops you should have thought of not hurting your people before you actually uttered yours words during this campaign.Your apologies now, as usual, are a bit too little too late. Check your acts this is not the way to persuade people to come to you.

Charles J. Buttigieg

May 29th 2011, 08:40

I am not apologising and if the Archbishop and his Curia honestly wanted to apologise they would have issued their press release before the start of the period of reflections not after they got their way.

I applaud the progressive element within the PN who showed courage to air their views publicly and voted yes. I feel very sad to see a substantial element within the PL supporters who are still priest ridden and have problems to exclude religion from politics.
It looks like the No movement, with the massive support of the church, won the race, however, the church had definitely lost the war.

Mr Saliba Francis

May 29th 2011, 08:37

The Bishops’ statement is being misrepresented as an admission that the Church had abused and hurt the divorce movement. That is not true at all. The Bishops did not apologize exclusively to the “Yes for Divorce” movement. They apologized to everyone, on BOTH sides of the spectrum, for any hurt that may have been caused by some priest.

I belong to the “No for divorce” movement and I felt hurt that some priests had insinuated, or categorically stated, that I was some fundamentalist crusader or some High Priest of an outmoded Christianity when I was only quoting Christ. I accept in all humility the bishops’ apology on behalf of any offending clergy but I will not try to make capital out of it – I will only defend the bishops when I feel that they are being unjustly attacked.

There was a deliberate abuse of the electoral process but it was made by a section of the media when it prematurely published of the bishops’ statement, under a press embargo, when voting was still in progress and the distortion of a gentlemanly apology into an admission of wrong doing by the whole Church against the divorce movement.

I agree that the timing of the apology was naïve because they should have anticipated that it would be misused.

Mr Alfred Hili

May 29th 2011, 08:37

The Bishops would make the same declarations should there be another referendum. They are only apologizing for those memebers of the clergy who went out of their way. As for forgiveness, many were convinced it was a sin to vote yes. I can't understand how the sin of voting 'yes' can be forgiven considering the end result, the repercussions, if the 'yes' vote wins.

Mr William Flynn

May 29th 2011, 08:34

Disgraceful! Not only do the bishops have absolutely no clue about the issue of marriage and divorce, they have no clue about human feelings, common courtesy and common sense.

To make certain none of this Catholic treachery in the future, REMOVE ARTICLE 2 from our Constitution.


The political campaign of these three celibate bishops over recent months, interfering with secular law dealing with man-woman relationships, reminds one of three babes in the wood following the breadcrumb trail leading to the witch's oven.
This time they will get burned; and a good thing that will be.

I mean, look at them; with their mediaeval cloaks and the massive gold ornament of Roman execution equipment hanging around their neck; quoting Bronze Age fairy tales and rules developed and formulated by old celibate dictators; and as dictators, having the nerve to insist they have a democratic right to be heard in a matter concerning marital and family relationships in today's complicated modern life styles, pressures and solutions.
They claim their secular democratic rights even as they and their cohorts constantly spout their contempt for secularism. They denigrate, defame and conspire to assassinate secularism to the point that the Vatican has openly established an anti-secularism department which would be replicated in every diocese on Earth. And yet they still demand democratic rights; which are freely given and rudely partaken.
Apology!? Give us a break! This isn’t an apology but a calculated twist of the dagger.

The bishops have only one goal; to retain political power through the votes of weak and indecisive imbeciles whose minds they poisoned during childhood with the arch-typical Catholic guilt and fear of the fictitious oven of hell, and who look to them for guidance in every decision.

Apology not accepted, I’m sorry to say; the bishops knew precisely what they were doing, why and to whom; and so did anyone with a crumb of individual thought.

What remains is to find out the degree of the burns the Catholic church and the bishops will suffer when the oven is switched on Sunday; and how black they’ll look on Monday.

Brian Cremona

May 29th 2011, 08:27

The more i read, the less I want to have anything to do with the catholic church.

Charles Bugeja

May 29th 2011, 08:26

Dejjem l-istess l-Knisja, l-ewwel taghmel il hsara u imbaghad jiddispjaciha. L-knisja mhux veru jiddispjaciha - l-aqwa li iggib ir rizultat li trid. Ma nistax tghid ghal partit politici ghax johorgu xjuh nofshom mejtin biex jivvutaw - ghax hi ghamlet l-istess. Ghandha bzonn iddur dawra maghha infusha!!!!

Marc Caruana

May 29th 2011, 08:19

ftahtulna il ferita li kienet kwazi fieqet , dik tas 60 s bid differenza li il poplu issa hafna aktar inteligenti. tliftu il merhla li kontu gibtu lura . jien min ta quddiem kristu ive knisja leeeeeeeeee.

Mr Robert Agius

May 29th 2011, 08:14

Christian 'justice'!!

victor caruana

May 29th 2011, 08:08

Apology not accepted. Go to hell, your rightful place.

Mr Angelo Camilleri

May 29th 2011, 08:07

I dont go to church and after this am sure there is going to be a lot like me, you dont need to go to church to pray if you believe in god!!

Mr Victor Laiviera

May 29th 2011, 08:06

An apology is issued the moment that a need for an apology is felt, if it going to be of any value.

This was no apology - it was a cynical, calculating piece of PR.

Mr Philip Sciberras

May 29th 2011, 08:01

In all of Christ's teachings there is none loftier than the beatitudes handed down to us from the sermon on the mount. May I therefore be allowed to add another one for all those who, like myself, voted "Yes" in the divorce campaign. "Beati monoculi in terra caecorum" (Blessed be those one-eyed in the land of the blind). As for the Bishop's apology an Elvis song is more suited. "Return to sender. Express or no. No such number. No such soul.

Mr Lawrence Fenech

May 29th 2011, 07:52

TROPPO TARDI, CHI ROMPE PAGA.

Mr Malcolm Seychell

May 29th 2011, 07:48

Kristu Iva, Knisja le. They have shown us what they really are.

It justified every single move Mintoff did against them in the past.

Nothing has changed. They are dictators who want power and control people lifes like Imams do in Afganistan.

However we can still beat them.

Do not give a single cent to the church till the last day of your life

At least you would have done something for the future. Elimate the church from control

Steve Mizzi

May 29th 2011, 07:46

The utter disrespect and contempt for the population is disgusting. How can such people's advice ever be trusted?

We have finally seen who the "wolves in sheep's clothing" are.

P. Ciantar

May 29th 2011, 07:44

A bit late in the day. to all the persons who thought they knew many things about Christ please read Matt 19,9.......the rest was a charade ....and fear mongering

Victor Rodenas

May 29th 2011, 07:44

If somebody deceives me once it is not my fault but if I let him to deceives me twice ,that would be my fault.This apology is an insult to our intellegence,fidili open your eyes and don`t be `fidili`any more.

Mr ALBERT FENECH

May 29th 2011, 07:38

Dear Bishops, your immediately hurried excuses give away the strategy of your whole game, which was to scare, alarm, panic and stampede the faithful into a negaive corner as well as to totally negate that a human being has their own individual intelligence and conscience to choose what they think is best - without your scheming and scaremongering interference. The ultimate long-term result of this Referendum will not be whether it is "yes" or "no" but that you as Bishops have lost credibility, the populace will automically strive for a more secular and less clerical society and already-dwindling church attendances will dwindle further. You only have yourselves to blame and it is on your consciences.

ALBERT FENECH
Qawra

Mr ALFRED MICALLEF

May 29th 2011, 07:28

Hfirnilkhom darba, erga fdajnikohom, u ergajtu abbuzajtu bil - poplu Malti. ISSA DAQSHEKK !
Kristu IVA, imma il-knisja LE. Kristu mhux xi brand name li jappartjeni ghal xi hadd. Kristu
mhux xi monoplu tal-knisja. Kristu huwa il-mod kief tghix, u din relazzjoni personali li ma
jidhol fiha hadd, specjalment nies u organizzjoniet li l-istorja tghahom dejjem kienet storja
ta abbuzi. Kristu IVA imma il-knisja LE.

Lawrence Attard

May 29th 2011, 07:28

I dont see the 10pm embargo as necessarily Machiavellian, for had the apology been broadcast before 10pm the Church would have been accused of propoganada to influence voters.

But the main point here is not the embargo at all. If one steps back from the chaos and confusion that was this campaign and looks at the big picture, whatever the result in those ballot boxes, the one 100% certainty is a loss of faith and respect in the Church by many. This will probably be even worse if the result is No.

This apology shows that the Church knows this only too well. More than as spiritual counciller and beacon for thpse who believe in the words of Christ, the Church has played a medieval role as a power structure, resorting to scare-mongering tactics that have harmed it more than anyone else. Once again it has lowered itself to the position of a political party, when of course an institution tasked with being a beacon for people's spirituality should never have been there in the first place, let alone employ such tactics.

Those are surely thousands who, even as faithful Church followers, could not help using their intelligence to see the improper and un-spiritual nature of the pressure and blackmail the Church engaged in, using fear of sin and deprivation of sacraments which it had infamously invoked back in the 60s. Nobody dreamed this would ever happen again, yet half a decade later, when people's mind's are by far more open than they were in the 60s, the Church did that mistake again.

Perhaps the Church's biggest shortcoming, which has been losing it congreation, is that it has been unable to accept the unavoidable expansion of people's minds and attitudes. Instead of flowing with it and adapting to it to convey the sacred teachings more effectively, most of the time it dug its trenches in an archaic mentality which it insists on imposing even when clearly it does not work. The outrage expressed as a response to this apology is a clear testimony to this.

If the Church really wants to maintain a sacred role, it should decide once and for all that playing politics is a medieval pursuit for medieval minds, and that it cannot serve its people if it is unwilling to accept their change of attitude and mentality.

Maybe this apologyshould not have been about hurt caused by the attitude of the institution itself. That would have been a little more honest and to the point. Othewise the Church is only shirking the onus carried by prominent figures such as bishops, who need to be aware that their statements are nothing less than statements for the entire Church.

One thing that stood out in my opinion was the bravery, compassion and spiritual maturity of certain (if minority) members of the Church who, at the risk of invoking a transfer to some distant land as we have seen before, have spoken out in defence of what is truly right.

Mr Mario P. Sciberras

May 29th 2011, 07:20

Hypocrisy is the condition of a person pretending to be something he is not, especially in the area of morals or religion; a false presentation of belief or feeling. This I found written in a book. For practical examples see what the bishops are saying and the way they behaved during the campaign. Mr Archbishop by forgiving me you are setting a prisoner free and you will discover that the prisoner was you. You keep your forgiveness thank you very much.I have done no wrong. As for your apology it means NOTHING coming from you and your sort. What are you going to do about Dr Deborah Schembri's position vis a vis your tribunal. Are you going to drop your ban at least? Or are you going to blame it on somebody else and do NOTHING about it.

Mr Paul Caruana

May 29th 2011, 07:16

Convenient but not very convincing.

First you send out your minions to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt in the form of less than accurate / misleading statements on the issue, and then, once you have made sure that the misdeed is done and its effects are irreversible, you 'apologise' for it.

Reminds me of Matthew 23:28.......

Mr Michel Ellul

May 29th 2011, 07:00

is this an apology for being such a wolf in sheep dress, well whatever you say, apology or not the damage to your church has been done. You should have thought twice regarding your actions

Mr Frederick Attard

May 29th 2011, 06:45

Needless to say, like many others who already expressed their views, I am ashamed at the way that you, Bishops, have lead this referendum campaign in the name of Jesus Christ. You have done nothing more than harm by insulting people's intelligence and Thanks to you, more people will now believe in God but not in you, supposedly, his people.. For long this was my personal belief because for long I have learnt and discovered what and who you truly are. You may be celebrating and toasting victory later today but rest assured that you have lost the respect of those, who are being denied a civil right to live and lead a happy life,

Jason Borg

May 29th 2011, 06:29

Sa fejn naf jien, imkien fl-istqarrija m'hemm il-kelma 'apoloġija'. Bħal kull ma jgħidu l-Isqfijiet, din l-istqarrija qiegħda tiġi immanipulata minn min jaqbillu.

Ramon Casha

May 29th 2011, 06:21

Now why didn't they issue this apology on Thursday? Why didn't they show this to voters BEFORE voting day? This "apology" is an insult to Malta.

A. Borg

May 29th 2011, 06:05

"When an apology is calculated, it’s isn’t an apology but a tactic, a piece of strategy. Apologies come from the heart, otherwise they are meaningless and worthless." Daphne Caruana Galizia (28.05.11)
Couldn't have said it better!

Mr Chris Grillo

May 29th 2011, 05:39

Too little, too late, for a campaign based upon scaremongering.

I'm sorry it came to this, but this law needs to be there for those in need. I will not be affected by its' passing or its' falling, but I sincerely hope that many people who are suffering do not take it badly should the 'We don't give a damn about you brigade' triumph.

And here I am am thinking that forgiveness and understanding is the name of the game. How wrong I am!

At this point I would like to dedicate to the bishops an old Abba song.... 'Money, Money, Money!'

Mrs Teresa Pace

May 29th 2011, 05:29

So now to express what the Church teaches is wrong and there is need of apology. What next? And it's ok for the other side to fire whatever comments they want to fire without the Church or its members to state that it is wrong and to state what the Church and Christ teaches. Give me a break will you?

Mr Joe Gatt

May 29th 2011, 04:26

Too little, too late,

Please, may all the three of you, forgive me, as I for one, will not forgive you, for the lack of respect and concern to the suffering minorities of this Catholic Island state.

You still wield some power and control in Malta. But you and your organization will eventually die a natural death, as everyone and everything else.

Actually, you may have hastened the process, thru. your unilateral and totally undemocratic actions.

Nadine Borg

May 29th 2011, 04:24

The mafia in malta is clearer than ever... It's unbelievable there are so many puppets in malta who follow their preaching... It couldn't be more obvious... first they threatened and lied in front of their own god... then they waited until 10pm to issue an apology... so that no matter what... even the Catholics who voted yes, would go back to them...

joyce darmanin

May 29th 2011, 03:59

ikun naf li se nghamel il hazin imbaghad nitlob mahfra!!!! IL-Papa jaf b'din bicca li ghamlu il mexeja tal knisja f'malta? jehtieg li sir jaf,kemm se jibirdu nies mil knisja imbaghad min kien il kagun ,irrid jider quddiem Alla bhal ma qaluna il Hadd li ghadha f'itra pastorali

Mr Clyde Ellul

May 29th 2011, 03:37

Of course! The typical "kill now, repent later" mentality from the Crusades. This is nothing less than what I expected from the church. Just goes to show its hypocrisy.

Mr Alex Buds

May 29th 2011, 03:28

To "forgive" when you are actually the party that committed the most grievous wrongs is rubbing salt in the wound...

Ms Manquareiel de Caveden

May 29th 2011, 02:13

Spiritual terrorism throughout the whole campaign and THEN an apology once the mess has been made.
It's as if they pulled a rope tightly around someone's neck, waited till he took his final breath and then, tried to save his life... with a little tap on his face.

Ms Manquareiel de Caveden

May 29th 2011, 02:13

Spiritual terrorism throughout the whole campaign and THEN an apology once the mess has been made.
It's as if they pulled a rope tightly around someone's neck, waited till he took his final breath and then, tried to save his life... with a little tap on his face.

Mark Cassar

May 29th 2011, 02:04

This referendum campaign has definitively brought a couple of issues to the fore. One is that there is an ever increasing chasm in Malta between those pro and con the Catholic church and its teachings. What is also undeniable is that there was a lot of anger and intolerance from both movements of this referendum. One side believes that Malta cannot move forward without the Catholic church, and the other the exact opposite and is shackled because of it; even to the point that they believe and want that the church is (or should be) wholly irrelevant in Malta. The truth is that to those that do not believe the church is irrelevant already. The problem is that a large number of believers are also having difficulties towing all the church rules with them. The only way forward for the church in Malta is to make it clear that everyone has the free-will and hence the responsibility to decide for themselves once they are adults, and not to beat about the bush. The church must be clear. This reality will see the numbers of church-goers decrease drastically, but what is the alternative? Whether divorce and other issues which will be coming along in the future - such as gay-marriages, abortion, euthanasia - will in fact be detrimental to the whole of Western and global (and not just Maltese) society in the long-run remains to be seen, as the net total effect is now starting to be confirmed.

C. Vella

May 29th 2011, 01:54

From the way the PM spoke (we will accept the will of the people) and now this apology it seems that the LE vote is considered a winner already. There is no reason why the PM should all of a sudden accept the result at face value and the church to apologise if they were not certain of a certain win.

Mr twanny borg

May 29th 2011, 01:48

Ma naqbilx li kellha issir apologija lin~nies li cahdu x'qal kristu. L~istess nies li laqaw lil kristu bil~palm u wara salbuh. Araw xi hdura kontra l-knisja minn nies li jridu id~divorzju biex it-tkissir tal-familji jizdied f'malta bil-konsegwenza li jbaghtu it~tfal u familji. Ahfrilhom ghax ma jafux x'inhuma jaghmlu. Il-knisja kienet prudenti izzejjed. It-telliefa mhux il-knisja imma il-vittmi tad-divorzju.

Mr Joseph Lungaro

May 29th 2011, 01:46

Sorry apology not accepted from people that played dirty........far too easy to ask apology now........guess now I wont go to hell right? what a sad joke!

Ms Xixi Caruana

May 29th 2011, 01:20

The Church I once so loved has become a farce!!!!! And it hurts big time!

Mr Joseph Brincat

May 29th 2011, 01:03

IF THE BATTLE MAY HAVE BEEN WON

BY THE ' NO ' , BUT THE WAR GOES ON

Mr Stephen Muscat

May 29th 2011, 01:01

If they really wanted to apologise, why didn't they issue the statement earlier this week and not after 10pm??!!!!!!

Mr Robert Callus

May 29th 2011, 00:51

A large number of people voted on or did not vote because they were afraid they were doing a sin. I rest my case.

mario spiteri

May 29th 2011, 00:51

What a cheek!! It would have been better letting sleeping dogs lie!

This amounts to adding insult to injury. Malta' s Triumvirate expect us all to forget and forgive as if nothing happened...WE are a civil democratic EU country where the Church' reign should be strictly in an other world or realm of people's souls and no amount of fancy satin, red apparel, poses or airs of self-appointed authority should matter. This is NOT IRAN!

To all the conservative Gozitans smug in their selfish choice of NO what if we were to hit them where it hurts most - their pocket? The issue was always about free choice and not a question where divorce is to be dished out en masse.

Boycott Gozo is a possibility...after all it is cheaper to go to Scicly.

WE Maltese holiday makers that year in year out keep Gozo's economy affloat would be able to see how compliant with their Bishop the Gozitans would be then!

M. Spiteri

Glenn Cassar

May 29th 2011, 00:50

Perfect timing. Maybe if the apology was made a couple of days earlier some would have thought that it was not so bad to vote YES.

vincent a galea

May 29th 2011, 00:43

IS THIS SOME FORM OF REPENTANCE SO THAT KRISTU FORGIVES THEM FOR THE HITTING BELOW THE BELT BY THE CHURCH DURING THIS CAMPAIGN...

THE REMARKABLE LOW TURN PROVES BEYOND DOUBT THAT EVEN STAUNCH CHURCH BELIEVERS DID NOT WANT TO BE PARTY TO THE AWFUL SITUATION THAT WAS CREATED.... !!!!!!!

WAS THIS FACT THAT PROMPTED THIS APOLOGY ?? !!!

ray huber

May 29th 2011, 00:34

Who cares. The damage has been done.

Franco Farrugia

May 29th 2011, 00:30

Shameful for the Church in Malta and its Bishops. A very ugly stain in the history of the Church in Malta. Disgusting and absolutely puerile.

Charlie Borg

May 29th 2011, 00:27

I find this behaviour of the bishops very, very difficult to stomach. I do not accept such an apology. The Church has hurt many, many people and it is hypocritical of the Maltese bishops and of the Church in Malta that they lead, that they issue this apology after the polls. Who do they think they are kidding?
Regarding Malta Today, in the circumstances, I think that they did the right thing.

Bud Moureaux - Flanders (BE) & Xemxija, SPB (MT)

May 29th 2011, 00:27

Monsignori!

This really is too little and too late.

I am flabbergasted by the summit of the Church's double hypocrisy by apologizing at this stage. 'Expressing regret if anyone was hurt by any words or actions taken by members of the Church' should have been done DURING the referendum campaign itself and NOT AFTER THE CAMPAIGN WAS OVER.

Moreover, the whole referendum was about the introduction of legislation on divorce, which is a purely CIVIL matter. It concerns divorce in a CIVIL marriage. The Church already has an equivalent for divorce, nl. annulment. So, why did the Church have to interfere with a civil matter. Take note, teaching on religion matters (which might be your duty) is totally different from interfering into civil matters.

And now, to top it all, the same Church lodges a formal complaint about an embargo breach by MaltaToday ... for broadcasting online the same apology which was sent to the Times of Malta, but withheld by them in view of this embargo. Unbelievable, but true: the Church wants to express sorrow ... but only wants this to be aired after closing time, when its too late for anybody to take notice. This really is foul play. Shame on you.

Wishing you all, Monsignori, a joyful Sunday, enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

Mr Anton Portelli

May 29th 2011, 00:19

Very sorry the damage has been done - it is pure hypocrisy to ask for an apology after kicking people below the belt repeatedly. This apology does not do anything more than rubbing salt into fresh wounds.

Mr K Pullicino

May 29th 2011, 00:16

The "Tolerance" brigade is active with its full force, clearly visible in the comments below. I find such "Tolerant" words so inspiring.

Etienne Bonanno

May 29th 2011, 00:12

And what are the bishops apologizing for, exactly? The Church conveyed its stand on the issue to the masses. Doing so was entirely within its rights and nobody expected an apology for doing what was expected of them.

That the bishops, then, offered an apology in the first place seems to be nothing but an admission of guilt - that they went beyond their right of free expression in their quest to influence voters, and did so knowingly and cynically.

I would have expected better from the Catholic Church. This behavior puts a severe dent in its credibility.

Alfred J. Grima

May 29th 2011, 00:11

So the Bishops KNOW that they were in the wrong and by these statements that they have said, its going put off people from this hypocisy of a church and its administration. The church needs to cater for the distant Christians but by their actions more people shall leave it.
Do they really think that people are stupid!!!!!!!!!

Mr Mario P. Sciberras

May 29th 2011, 00:10

Hypocrisy the condition of a person pretending to be something he is not, especially in the area of morals or religion; a false presentation of belief or feeling. This I found written in a book. For practical examples see what the bishops are saying and the way they behaved during the campaign.   Mr Archbishop by forgiving me you are setting a prisoner free and you will discover that the prisoner was you. You keep your forgiveness thank you very much.I have done no wrong. As for your apology it means NOTHING coming from you and your sort. What are you going to do about Dr Deborah Schembri's position vis a vis your tribunal. Are you going to drop your ban at least? Or are you going to blame it on somebody else and do NOTHING about it.

S Borg

May 29th 2011, 00:09

Haw convenient to “express sorrow” and have it published just after the damage is done and the voting process has closed. When will the Maltese Church learn that whenever it unleashes the fire and brimstone weapon there is only one loser, the Maltese Church itself. Those who have been hurt during the “interdett” years and those who have been hurt now are still Christians who firmly believe in God’s teachings but have lost faith in the Maltese Church.

Ms jeneba caruana

May 29th 2011, 00:06

JAQQQQQ!!! no words to express my anger!!!

Mr A Mercieca

May 29th 2011, 00:05

What a shame on the catholic church of malta

Mr William Flynn

May 29th 2011, 00:02

Disgraceful! Not only do the bishops have absolutely no clue about the issue of marriage and divorce, they have no clue about human feelings, common courtesy and common sense.

To make certain none of this Catholic treachery in the future, REMOVE ARTICLE 2 from our Constitution.

Paul Borg

May 28th 2011, 23:58

I think that Mons. Grech should offer his apologies separately for that famous sermon. I felt taken aback by the choice of such strong words coming from a spiritual leader

John Carmel Navarro

May 28th 2011, 23:44

Word fail me how disgusting these leaders of the church having put fear right through the campaign now come out and say sorry, bit late now.
How sad the accusers turn out to be the assassins, the trust has gone these three stooges must resign now and let the church recover away from political involvement otherwise the end is neigh. How dare they condemn people to hell, they have lost what little respect normal non brainwashed people had left for them. This makes a mockery and the government must bring divorce in what ever the referendum result is.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

May 28th 2011, 23:44

Too little too late. The bishop of Gozo is the greatest asset to a secular Malta. I know of no Australian priest or religious (and I do not include those of Maltese descent) who would support comments made by him. Win or lose, the Catholic Church can now be rest assured that it has alienated even more people in Malta and Gozo. And the blame lies squarely on the bishops. They are the leaders and have to take full responsibility. The bishops are not the only ones who want to invest in the family and marriage. The inference by them that those who voted 'no' were not investing in the family and marriage was, is and remains an insult to Maltese and Gozitans. They are spiritual terrorists.

Mr David Borg

May 28th 2011, 23:38

To forgive is a sign of maturity and responsability. Now I wonder if the Yes movement will apologise eg for trying to use an editing of Mons Charles Vella's comments for its pro-divorce spots.

Mr P BORG

May 28th 2011, 23:34

After all the lights are switched off and after all the dust is settled and the issue is sealed to history, whatever the outcome would be none thing is for sure that instead of "spiritual terrorism" our generation has experieced one of the worst form of terrorism against spirituality.....

George Debono

May 28th 2011, 23:33

What hypocrisy !

All our religious leaders and clergy have done for the last month or so is to prattle on about divorce and threaten their flock with dire repercussions – and all the while our fellow human beings, our neighbours, to the south of us have been suffering and dying at the hands of a tyrant. But who cares – they are not Christians and they are less important than divorce.

As somebody once famously said – “thank God I’m an aeteist’ - aetheist and all, I am doing what I can to help our Libyan which is more than I can see our church doing – where is the compassion and charity preached by Christ?
And, now, after all the harm has been done – they apologise. - - - - - when it's conveniently too late....

Andrew Zammit Manduca

May 28th 2011, 23:28

The church of God has finished in malta. IT DOESNT EXIST ANYMORE

Joseph Borg

May 28th 2011, 23:26

Practically, I strongly believe that the referendum is lost. Not because open-minded people do not agree with divorce but because (1) all elderly people were brainwashed / forced to vote "No", (2) most of us did not give a dime to go and vote because they already were aware about the irregularities that were going on and (3) the church and the government joined forces to advertise and do all sort of thing to get the 'No' message across.

A case in point, this morning, while going to vote, I heard a man speaking loading with another one saying "I am nationalist, I was born and die nationalist, I will vote No because I'm along with my party". That is the democracy that our government preaches!!

The message that really came across during this referendum is that the church is selfish and powerful, not religiously but financially and politically. Thanks God for having our young generation understand that there is a BIG difference between GOD and our church. If we had to follow the maltese church, we would end up like Scrooge.

It's a shame that the church had to revert to various tricks "below the belt" to get more votes and betray the maltese community. What's more shameful is that it is expressing its regrets to doing so, but after 10pm.

Mr Aleander Balzan

May 28th 2011, 23:24

Isthu. Jekk dejjem tafu kif !!!

Mr Mark Vella Bardon

May 28th 2011, 23:20

Better laugh than cry!
Will the PN now apologise to their faithful?
What a farce!

Mr Peter Korsten

May 28th 2011, 23:19

"The campaign was a democratic process during which different ideas on what one believed was the best for families were expressed."

Wrong. Democracy implies that people take a conscientious decision. In Malta, however, a large part of the people is still quite happy to be told what to think, and a large part of the people is convinced that they know what is best for other people.

This whole referendum has been a shameful shirking of responsibility by politicians, and the campaign was one of the dirtiest ever conducted.

John Mifsud

May 28th 2011, 23:17

Apology not accepted. This is an insult to my intelligence. I truly believe in God, and truly believe that you will be judged by God.
The damage has been done, today's population is not the same as the one in the sixties, and I believe that in the coming days, weeks, months and years 'il-fidili' will be 'bombarding' the church authorities by pertinent questions on its actions.
In this campaign, hypocrisy galore reigned.

As a Roman Catholic, I feel sorry for this sorry state that the Church is in. I am pleased that I cannot say to myself MEA CULPA......... although I consider myself as a 'fidil', I am not an 'iblah'.

Mr Stephen Florian

May 28th 2011, 23:15

Shame on the Bishops, the Maltese Catholic Church has once again been disgraced.

Mr Kevin Cassar

May 28th 2011, 23:14

Typical attitude from a religion in which one can do anything (wrong) and then simply apologize or "confess" and all is "forgiven". Thus nobody is held to account, and instead of doing something positive to atone for the damage done, a Catholic person only needs to "repent" and just like magic - back to a clean slate. Forgiving others is a very good virtue but asking for it should never be enough. A responsible person should also do his best to try to make up for the damage done to others. It's too easy to just say sorry when the damage is done.

Andrew Zammit Manduca

May 28th 2011, 23:11

Apology????? For what ????? You didnt act in the name of God ?????? Hypocrites .......... All planned for after as soon as the election is over. off coarse damage is done. But now be responsabile for our own damage which did to yourself. Losing more people towards the church. Its ok money from annulment is more important.

Charles Sammut

May 28th 2011, 23:08

To use an old cliché, the leopard cannot change its spots. Time and again the Catholic Church has been proven wrong and time and again it persists in its stubbornness in its struggle for money and power. It is not worth fighting it. It will decline and die a natural death, hopefully in our lifetime.

Mr JOSEPH ZAMMIT

May 28th 2011, 23:05

The Maltese, AGAIN, manipulated by the Church. Vera fidili.

Patrick Sammut

May 28th 2011, 23:04

Mamma mia how stupid ? But dont they realize that doing this few hrs after voting closed is self stabbing. Do they really think we are that blind folded ?
I m really surprised that there are still people wasting time hearing their moaning.

And what worries me more is the percentage of YES voters ( any percentage) who after they were practically pushed out from church and clearly stated that they are against the church rules, ( which honestly is true since by church rules divorce is forbidden ) , and they bend and twist religion as they feel satisfied and they get married again in church and they go to church to say prayers just the same -- of course for the eyes of people !!!!

Long time we know that church is based on a bunch of hypocrites --- but we must realize also that many said to be catholics are also a bunch of hypocrites as much as the priests !!!

I am a yes voter -- so i dont even step on the door step of the church !

Mr JOSEPH ZAMMIT

May 28th 2011, 23:03

Hypocrites! Crocodile tears! Shame on the Bishops!

Anthony Cassar

May 28th 2011, 23:03

How convenient to believe that anyone can do anything and then just ask for forgiveness and all would be well!

Responsible adults are expected to behave RESPONSIBLY in the first instance and especially so when they are in a position of power. But then many have read Zimbardo and know what really happens!

Mr Victor Laiviera

May 28th 2011, 22:56

Too little and much too late.

George Caruana

May 28th 2011, 22:55

What a cheek!! And at 10pm!! They know that whatever the result, the only entity that lost (again) would be the Church.

D. A . Agius

May 28th 2011, 22:54

Ok, so this time the apology came within the hour rather than 7 years late as in 1962.

This time however many people will simply not accept it.

Once bitten, twice shy.

As was predicted a long time ago, the biggest loser, whatever the outcomoe, will be the Church. This is not damage control, it's salt upon open wounds.

Frank Portelli 2BFRANK

May 28th 2011, 22:53

It is a Conditional Apology

The fact that the Bishops' "Apology" had a time embargo – to be published after polling had closed signifies that the Church was convinced that the its affected voters.

It does not appear to be a sincere apology.

Indeed it is a Corrupt practice according to the laws of the Land


Dr Frank Portelli

Mr Joseph Aquilina

May 28th 2011, 22:52

Note that the Church asked an apology to anyone who might have got offended. They did not say that what they did was wrong!! This news is just being abused by the pro-divorce movement in order to have an excuse to continue their crusade against Maltese values even if the Maltese might have voted NO!!!

Mr Joseph Brincat

May 28th 2011, 22:52

I FORGIVE >>> BUT

I AM SO SORRY YOU LOST YOUR

CREDIBILITY

Marco Vella

May 28th 2011, 22:52

the letter was not an apology but a kind letter full of awareness that the society in general needs to sustain those married and those who are going to. it only mentions 2 sentences to express the sorrow if some of its members acted wrongly. all the Church did and said was good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr John Azzopoardi

May 28th 2011, 22:48

I only blame our politicians for creating this atmosphere of tension. They do the same thing, every time there is an election. Most of you know that what I am saying is right.

Mr M Vella***

May 28th 2011, 22:44

Miskiena Malta, I weep for my country. Seriously :(

Mr Mike Rizzo

May 28th 2011, 22:43

What kind of apology is this? Made at the eleventh hour, and accompanied by an arrogant statement that they forgive those "who have hurt them"? What planet are these guys on?

What I find really sad is that there will no doubt be the usual brainwashed followers who wil see this as an act of kindness and humility from the bishops.

Mr Leonard Brincat

May 28th 2011, 22:42

Issa too late tliftu hafna naghag u ha titilfu iktar.Ghax jekk hemm xi hadd ma mexix mat taghlim ta kristu huma intom li tmexxu il knisja .

Mr Alfred Grech

May 28th 2011, 22:41

The Bishops don't have an easy role and have many responsibilities. It would have been better if the apology was published a few days ago or even yesterday.

The worse I've seen was not from the bishops but from some fanatical, hot headed, truth twisters in the NO camp some of whom used scare tactics and intimidations. Such people would do Malta lots of good if they zip their mouth and say nothing.

Claire Busuttil

May 28th 2011, 22:40

love means never have to say I am sorry, dear bishops!

Mr John Muscat

May 28th 2011, 22:36

FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THE CHURCH HAS MADE A U-TURN TO KEEP THE NUMBERS:

The Church apologized towards those who felt hurt, but did not apologise for saying the truth to Christian Catholics... Building bridges is necessary, but not at the cost of twisting the truth.

Of course, those whose main scope has been that of undermining the Church and its teaching, from the very beginning of this campaign will first say that they don't except such apologies, but then funnily enough say they don't need them either! SO WHY WERE YOU OFFENDED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Once again it's hilarious to see how people who absolutely hate the Church or want a separation from the Church and the State, to expect the Church to comply to their thoughts and views at all costs! And then we speak of democracy and freedom of speach! Sure!!!

Mr Dominic Fenech

May 28th 2011, 22:34

Bishops, your casualties are bigger than you think, whatever the result.

Mr Joseph Aquilina

May 28th 2011, 22:32

Will the yes movement apologies to the many offences they did to fellow Maltese who where against divorce. The Church has showed it's human side and the pro-divorce movement is trying to get an advantage rather then face reality - whatever that might be!!

Peter Bartolo

May 28th 2011, 22:30

The Bishops should have apologised earlier. Why wait untill the voting time expired? You want people to believe you three are genuine with your apology? It´s a farce.

Peter Xuereb

May 28th 2011, 22:29

It's all fine and well to hurt people, as long as it's in the name of God.

Rings any bells? Bah. The Catholic Church never changes.

Mr Alfred Mallia

May 28th 2011, 22:28

the bishops had cheated the catholic who believed them. this is the typical maltese curia. pls if you three love God, resign.

Mr Saliba Francis

May 28th 2011, 22:21

Matthew 9:36

When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd.

U meta (Gesu') ra l-gmieghi, thassarhom ghax kienu qishom mghakksin u mitluqin bhal nghag bla raghaj

Sgd. a "NO" voter

James Scerri

May 28th 2011, 22:16

hmmm...patch work....already?!
...next is they're gonna come some sort of 'yes-votes are welcome to the church!'

Mr Tonio Micallef

May 28th 2011, 22:09

SHAME! An apology issued at end of voting time. The apology should have been issued weeks ago. For spreading all that fear of mortal sin if voting YES, for warning people about Holy Communion, for the whispering campaign in confessions, for the outbursts from pulpits and religious gatherings in all parishes, for firing IVA Leader from the Judicial Tribunal. Shame!

James Dalli

May 28th 2011, 22:07

I do not accept this apology at 10pm

I do not ask nor need forgiveness.

Damage has been done.

Mr Wally Vella-Zarb

May 28th 2011, 22:06

What a bunch of hypocrites!!!

Ms Martina Baldacchino

May 28th 2011, 22:06

mux hekk! mela l-ewwel jghajjru n nies u jedduwhom imbaghad ghandhom ittra ta apologija lesta al kif idoqqu l-ghaxra, kif jalaq il voting!! jekk kontu tafu li amiltu hazin miskom tlabtu apologija qabel mux kif jalaq il voting! intom il wolves nahseb...makakki!! biex tippruvaw tigbdu n nies li tliftu. for me too late! sorry!

Mr James Cauchi

May 28th 2011, 22:06

The church has shifted to damage-control mode - issuing 'apologies'.

Sorry buddy - but your true colours are shown in period such as the ones leading up to the referendum.

Asking forgiveness is reasonable - but to ask the people to forget and trust is something that the Church is going to need to work VERY hard on.