John Guillaumier (August 28) apparently believes that his calling Gozo Bishop’s personality “stern” puts the character and mission of Bishop Mario Grech in a bad light. He refers to the bishops’ “hardline approach to everything, from divorce to IVF”, adding that Mgr Grech “alienates people by his confrontational style”.

I believe that, in the case of people like Mr Guillaumier himself, this remark hardly applies. But neither does it apply to those “within the fold” who have true Christian faith and are sincerely disposed to please Christ . The reason is that Mgr Grech is merely following in Christ’s footsteps and simply imitating his “hardline approach”!

I am sure Mr Guillaumier is well aware of Christ’s “stern personality” when preaching God’s laws and combating their transgression. See, for example, Christ’s behaviour with the merchants in the Temple. As far as I know, Mgr Grech has not reached those “extremes”.

Mr Guillaumier calls certain matters “trivial”. Unbelievers might agree with him. But I am sure Christ would not.

Mr Guillaumier thought it fit to crave support from what he calls “the tact or the charism of the Archbishop”. He also wants Mgr Grech to “emulate the example of his predecessor, Mgr Nikol Cauchi”, going as far as to state that “this is in contrast to Mgr Grech’s confrontational policy”.

Although “the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose”, I would never accuse Mr Guillaumier of doing the same. Nevertheless, I still maintain that Mgr Grech is faithfully following in the wake pointed out, and even imposed, by Christ to Church leaders.

History shows only too well that when these lagged behind in their imitation of Christ’s “stern” personality, whole dioceses have gone astray and the Church has lost them.

I would not want anybody to run away with the idea that I want to criticise Mgr Cauchi or any other Church leader for that matter.

But fidelity to Christ’s injunctions comes supreme in the field of Church leaders and their flock. Yes, Christ was “stern”! And he wants his leaders to possibly be as “stern” as he was.

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