Bishop: Poor public morals are threatening our society
A sick public morality leads to malpractice, injustice and corruption of public administration, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has warned.
Urging political parties to strengthen public morality, Mgr Grech said a strong social framework could not be built without solid and ethical foundations.
Moral and ethical standards did not just bind public authorities but also citizens, who often were the ones who actually instigated corrupt public behaviour.
“Unfortunately... there are cases when what counts is who you know, not what you know... and, at every level, there are those who are happy to maintain the status quo,” he said.
During his homily to mark the feast of St John the Baptist last weekend, Mgr Grech said public morality was a good gauge for tax collection.
A just system was one that taxed those who earned more, he said, adding that citizens had a moral obligation to abide by the law.
Any form of tax evasion – such as collaborating to avoid paying VAT – was morally wrong.
Social justice was also crucial to public morality and, in a society with a strong moral backbone, the poor and the weak deserved positive discrimination.
However, he cautioned those who abused social services or sought to be boarded out with the help of false medical certificates.
“If we had a strong public morality there would be less theft and we wouldn’t tolerate it as much.
“It’s a pity that our idea of theft is so narrow – whoever doesn’t turn up for work is stealing, so is unlawfully occupying public land,” the bishop said.
Public morality also affected institutions, he added, questioning what standards the media, banks, hospitals and sport organisations adhered to.
Mgr Grech raised the issue of precarious work, pointing out that, in certain cases, workers failed to speak out about their trampled rights for fear of losing their job.
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Alfred Falzon
Jul 1st 2012, 13:43
I stand by what I have already stated, that Bishop Mario Grech is a beacon of light for all those Maltese who dread seeing their island-nation go to the dogs morally and politically!
He is Malta's fury of righteousness and we stand by him in solidarity!
Alfred A. Falzon
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 1st 2012, 05:26
Nothing could be more despicable than quoting Bishop Mario Grech's clear condemnation of the deplorable moral status of the nation, than the venomous, lying accusation that this immorality is actually a promotion of the Catholic Church. Even when some particular Christian behaves immorally, that immoral behaviour cannot by any stretch of the imagination be misrepresented as an immorality promoted by his bishop.
Mr leo attard
Jun 30th 2012, 22:35
Excellency, it is also wise to be thoughtful of the church's spending --- many complain of how the church often talks of lack of funds and yet there is so much lavish spending on cars, feasts, the episcopal residences..... society has become too materialistc, everyone talks of morals and serving god yet they have mammon in their hearts.... it's not just politicians, it's you, me and all society that needs to do some serious soul-searching
Mr leo attard
Jun 30th 2012, 22:34
Excellency, it is also wise to be thoughtful of the church's spending --- many complain of how the church often talks of lack of funds and yet there is so much lavish spending on cars, feasts, the episcopal residences..... society has become too materialistc, everyone talks of morals and serving god yet they have mammon in their hearts.... it's not just politicians, it's you, me and all society that needs to do some serious soul-searching
Peter Murray
Jun 30th 2012, 17:52
Ae you referring to bankers in particular by any chance?
victor caruana
Jun 30th 2012, 15:35
Absurd and out of time church teachings, a church that tries it best to hide its since, including the vatican, is conducive to lower moral values.
Alfred Grech
Jun 30th 2012, 15:01
Mgr Grech is proving to everyone that he is a true caring human. Thanks your Grace and please keep your sermons coming.
Joseph Grech Attard
Jun 30th 2012, 14:11
I, personally, agree 100% with what the Bishop of Gozo said. Morality and ethics have disappeared from our nation, including inside the Catholic Church! Actions speak better than words. Jesus acted on what he preached. Is Catholic Malta, especially those who govern it, and who find most favour with the Catholic Church, following suit? Why no pilgrimages and special prayers for the re-institution of morality and ethics? Is the Catholic Church waiting for the Lejber elves to be in power before it starts such spirituality? Does hell exist only when Lejber is governing?
Michael Seychell
Jun 30th 2012, 16:57
@ Joseph Grech Attard - Here we go again - you are giving a 100% political stint to a very good sermon by Bishop Grech.
You should emulate your Leader and change your colours from red to blue!
Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 1st 2012, 06:19
Morality and ethics have NOT disappeared from "inside the Catholic Church". That is why Bishop Mario Grech as the authorised voice of the Catholic Church in Gozo, openly deplores the low standard of morality in our public life.
Do not pretend to be only asking if the Catholic Church is following the teaching of Christ. You are actually accusing it unjustly of not practising what it teaches.
Take the advice of Michael Seychell and emulate your leader - and go the whole hog, raise the gay movement rainbow flag on your rooftop. That is more likely to garner a few more votes for the LP than any any anti-Catholic Church sentiment.
Rocco Camilleri
Jul 1st 2012, 07:51
@ Michael Seychell:
What political stint Mr.Seychell ?? Is it not true that the church is not doing anything or too much regards these issues. How different it was in the 60's . We all catholics from Top to bottom should make our voice heard or else everything is going down the drain due to lack of expression. Also some younger generation priests ( few) are not helping as they should do to the younger generation because sometimes I feel they are being lenient on certain topics discussed on TV programmes or other media. May GOD and Saint George Preca enlighten our minds and show us the true road map.
R. Cilia
Jun 30th 2012, 13:44
It’s a pity that our idea of theft is so narrow – whoever doesn’t turn up for work is stealing, so is unlawfully occupying public land,” the bishop said.
At least there is one priest (bishop) who has the courage to say this in his sermon. I would have gone a little further and say that it is scandalous for these persons to receive Holy Communion!
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jun 30th 2012, 13:21
I do not think that the Gozo Bishop is correct. We have been living under a Christian Democratic Party for 25 years and everything is blossom....even morality.
joe briffa
Jun 30th 2012, 13:03
What are morals? Aren,t we free ?In Italy there are 3 powerful politics,the governemnt,the vatican and the underground,which feeds the other 2...The vatican is the dirtiest,more orless it has the principle of the crusades,but this time its money not killing in the name of god,fraud in the name of god.....
Alfred Hili
Jun 30th 2012, 12:00
Those who govern have to be credible and transparent.
The honest and hard working are being trampled upon. It doesn't pay to be honest any more, when so many are abusing the welfare state. They pay taxes while many others cheat.
To go forward, it's not how clever you are that matters but the people you know.
Some people seem to always get what they want while others have to fight for their rights.
When people are comfortable themselves, they tend to forget about the misery of others around them.
Ian Pace
Jun 30th 2012, 11:40
You reap what you sow.
Rocco Camilleri
Jun 30th 2012, 11:34
Well said Bishop Grech, because for the majority the Commandments given to us by GOD to help us trough our living went loose or does not exist. Even Scandalising others is ever being mentioned by most as if it does not exists. Also certain TV programmes does not help too our younger generation too . This behaviour is causing a lot to suffer through stealing, violence, fraud, taking others wife and so on and so forth. One has to stop and reconsider our actions / direction and this should start from the TOP people to the BOTTOM or else instead of a minor desease we are going to have a Cancer which leads to a corrupt society ( Death) .
E. De Marco
Jun 30th 2012, 11:16
According to world bank experts the Vatican's wealth amounts to between 10 to 15 billion dollars.The Vatican has been told by Mario Monti that it has to start paying taxes, after he consulted with Mr. Almunja. Italy wants to tackle the budget crisis and the Pope could end up facing a bill for 600 million euros a year IN TAXE. How come the Church in Rome does not pay any taxes on its multi-million dollar interests, coming from bank investments, insurance, chemicals, steel construction, real estate.....
Andy Farrugia
Jun 30th 2012, 11:11
Excellent homily by Bishop Grech. He is accurate in his observations about the ills which plague our society.....the social and moral deficits which have led to a barren, devastated, "sick" society.
Anthony Scicluna
Jun 30th 2012, 11:00
Should't the Church, a public institution and leader of the faithful, be the first to set the example in things moral?
Gerry Cowie
Jun 30th 2012, 10:41
Stand by for the usual cabale of athiests, secularists and humanists who oppose the Bishop for the sake of it!
Charles Grixti
Jul 1st 2012, 07:28
That is by the Vatican had to hire a top-notch front PR man from Fox recently, to shore up its scandal riddled reputation. And this has nothing to do with atheists, secularists and humanists either. The Church is in a mire of its own creation.
anthony sultana
Jun 30th 2012, 09:57
If every person is cheating the government,[means the puplic] 100 euros a year that is 400,000 x 100=40,000,000.That is happening at least.In the other hand the government charge too much taxes to make good for the cheaters.
Lucienne Dimech
Jun 30th 2012, 09:30
I very rarely agree with what the bishop says but today is an exception. My only question is how moral and ethical has the Vatican been when it has just been accused of laundering mafia money?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jun 30th 2012, 11:20
As is ro be expected from certain quarters, if a priest or anyone remotely related to the Catholic Church, is accused of anything, then the allegation is assumed to be proven and true. In other cases, the reasonable attitude is to wait and see if the allegation is proved.
Please choose the reason of your report below: