Bare-chested revellers in marches, indecent clothing, banners and disparaging words have been banned from village feasts under an agreement signed yesterday between the Church authorities and the Band Clubs Association.

When... these marches have reached a point where they can no longer be controlled, they will be prevented from being held

The agreement follows discussions between the two parties aimed at ensuring the celebration of religious feasts remains in keeping with their Christian and social spirit.

The discussions have been under way since the publication of a consultative document, Restoring Feasts Together, dating back to October 2009.

The club that organises the march, or whoever invited the band to participate, as well as the police will now be responsible for these regulations, the agreement states.

It is categorical on the need for a change in the character of what is known as the morning march which, over time, has turned into an “occasion of major exaggerations”.

The agreement states this is an area of grave concern to the Church, both from the religious point of view and concerning the social aspect, due to the behaviour of participants.

“When the Church authorities conclude that these marches have reached a point where they can no longer be controlled, or reformed, they will be prevented from being held in the festa period,” the agreement says.

Marches must not be carried out during the main liturgical functions, including, for example, the novena, while the morning version cannot be longer than four hours and each must stop at the time stipulated in the police permit. In parishes with more than one band club, in the absence of a written agreement between them approved by the Church authorities, they cannot pass by each others’ premises.

Where this is impossible in practice, after permission is granted by the Church for these exceptions the band would not be allowed to stop in front of the other club.

“In parishes where, unfortunately, senseless rivalry between neighbours still exists, in the absence of a written agreement between the band clubs and the festa commissions of both villages, they cannot pass from these peripheries.”

Where this is impossible, again, they are forbidden from stopping unnecessarily, the agreement says.

During the eight days allocated to the feast, which include the actual day, no other external activities can be carried out within the parish other than those organised by the Church authorities.

Disparaging songs that promote pique in hymns and marches are prohibited.

Breaching this regulation can lead to the suspension of the band club from taking part in Church activities organised by the parish, and other measures could be considered.

According to the agreement, sanctions can be faced by whoever breaches the Archdiocese directives for celebrations of religious feasts to be more Christian.

The Church is also setting up a board to investigate allegations of infringements of the regulations.

The agreement will be in force in Easter, on April 8.