I am not surprised that Martin Scicluna (‘Need for workable IVF law’, August 16) disagreed with the bishops’ pastoral letter on IVF. However, I definitely would not have called it “inept”. Nor do I agree that the Church should have “been less strident in the face of another sensitive moral issue”.
I am sure he would not agree with me that the Church lost that “sensitive moral issue” of the introduction of divorce precisely because in Malta it was then not so “strident” as to imitate Christ’s sense of “stridency” in defending God’s law! (I hate to using the word “strident” which means “harsh”, as I believe it is only a question of expounding God’s law as it should be).
My friend will be happy to note that although I disapprove of “suspicions”, nevertheless I retain that his suspecting Bishop Mario Grech as the man who “drafted” the pastoral letter is merely a suspicion of “praise” for the bishop.
By now Mr Scicluna has certainly read the contribution of Fr Emmanuel Agius (August 14). Perhaps he did not expect the substance of that contribution. I was happy to see that Fr Agius had praise for the bishops’ teachings, even if, like others, he might have lamented of “insensitivity”.
Like the bishops, I am afraid Christ would have been accused of “insensitivity” on various occasions. And so also God in the Old Testament. O tempora! After reading this contribution, I wonder whether Mr Scicluna will still praise Fr Agius.
Yes, all babies are “children of God”, no matter the way they come to light. Parents’ behaviour, approved or disapproved by the Church , does not touch this point.
I do not know what Mr Scicluna has of the Magisterium. Where this comes in, such terms as “compassion” or “insensitivity” do not work. What works is God’s law!
Mr Scicluna says that “the Church cannot claim that its doctrine should automatically have the force of law”. Nor has God with regard to His law? Again, it is absolutely not a question of “compassion” or “insensitivity”. Just state God’s laws, as Christ did. We should not behave in such a way as to eventually have lost souls accuse us of not conveying God’s message in its stark reality. “Zealousness” for God’s laws is something Christ always insisted upon. Unfortunately today we also see some of God’s so-called “ministers” lagging behind in this respect.
“Inept pastoral letter”, “bad taste in the mouth” , “less strident”, “hallmarks of heavy-handedness’’, “highly emotive language’’, “none of the sensitivity of Archbishop Paul Cremona”, “offensive over-zealousness”, ‘‘back-handed manner”, “doctrinal intransigence” … I am sure my friend could have been less scathing!
“It is ultimately the job of our legislators in Parliament, not the Church, to enact laws that benefit the well-being of society as a whole,” Mr Scicluna notes. But I am sure he also agrees that this should fall under God’s laws.