Rescue Malta’s Church from itself
It was interesting to read Charles Buttigieg’s article (Should Church Not Change?, August 31) arguing, in the Pope’s words, that this was the time once again “to move resolutely away from the Church’s worldliness”.
My concern, however, is much more mundane. It lies in the position of the Maltese Church as an important human institution contributing to the Maltese way of life.
One does not have to subscribe to all or any of the Church’s doctrines to appreciate that it plays an important role in Malta’s traditions and daily life.
It makes a vital contribution through its work in the parishes, in old people’s homes, with those suffering from disabilities, the schools and many other charitable institutions it supports, where Malta’s welfare state is still largely absent.
As decisions on IVF, cohabitation and civil partnerships loom, how well placed is the Maltese Church to handle such delicate issues and, importantly, to carry its ever diminishing flock with it? How might it organise itself to do better?
The Maltese Church is still an ultra-traditional, monolithic institution that, regrettably, is being overtaken by a fast-changing society.
When it steps into the public square and expresses its views on sensitive social issues – as it has absolutely every right to do – it almost invariably ends up shooting itself in the foot.
This is what has happened over both divorce and IVF.
I am only a disinterested observer. But if I were advising the Maltese Church on how it might make itself more relevant, and, therefore, more respected, I would focus on three key issues: leadership, organisation and communication.
The Archbishop strikes one as an intrinsically good man who has been weak in dealing with rigidly conservative and out-of-touch elements among his advisers.
He has been particularly undermined by having a fundamentalist bishop in Gozo shouting from the sidelines, blinded by his own self-righteousness.
While realising that the Gozo diocese is a historical hangover outside the Archbishop’s remit, one has to question why Gozo, an island of about 30,000 souls, which is not even the same size as the combined parishes of Birkirkara and Mosta in Malta, has to have its own bishop. Perhaps the Apostolic Nuncio to Malta would kindly take this up with Rome.
In the aftermath of the divorce debacle, Archbishop Paul Cremona should have carried out a clear-out of those around him in the Curia who had so misadvised him and so embarrassed the Church’s standing.
He should have replaced them with younger, more intelligent clerics who are more in touch with the flock. There is an urgent need for new brooms in the Curia, untainted by recent events.
No leader can operate if he is constantly hobbled by poor advice. Unless the Archbishop is prepared to exercise the leadership to ensure he has the right advisers around him, not the old guard who have so blatantly failed him, the continuing decline of the Maltese Church will become unstoppable.
At the same time, once rid of those monsignors who have hijacked his Curia, he needs to lead the renewal and regeneration of his Church with a more outward-looking and youthful appeal.
This is a Church that is seen as living in the past. It is largely made up of ageing parishioners.
The young are deserting it in their droves. Only dynamic and brave leadership and a more open and transparent approach can rescue it now.
Hand in hand with better leadership, energised by a new breed of young advisers in the Curia, comes the need for better organisation. The Maltese Church gives the impression of being ponderous, over-centralised and backward-looking.
This, I suspect, is because its structure and way of operating is outdated. It needs streamlining.
There are too many elderly monsignors promoted well above their level of competence, especially in Gozo.
Given the dearth of leadership, the promotion system in the Church leaves one utterly bewildered. The selection process for promotion and priests’ in-house training need a radical overhaul to ensure only the most worthy receive the recognition they deserve.
The third crucial issue is good communication. The Maltese Church must learn how to express itself effectively in a secular, pluralistic world. It comes across as authoritarian and soulless.
It must adopt a more intelligent, more rational, less dogmatic tone of voice.
Its inability to articulate its doctrines – which are necessarily what they are – in language that is comprehensible to the faithful, and does not hurt and offend those whose consciences tells them otherwise, has been the hallmark of the last two or three years.
Modern Maltese society no longer consists of the unquestioning, malleable (and gullible) faithful of the 1950s or 1960s.
Today, society will make up its own mind on moral issues. The Church must aim to persuade its flock by rational force of argument, not by doctrinal diktat.
The Maltese Church is at a pivotal stage. Unless it regenerates its leadership, streamlines and modernises its organisation and smartens up its communication skills, it will become an institutional irrelevance – part of the pageant of festas, fireworks and colourful processions designed to entertain of tourists but with little deep, devotional significance.
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Mark Shaw
Sep 26th 2012, 11:32
First off, i have never been baptised into ANY religion, My parents saw fit to let me decide at an age when i was both mature and reasoned enough to decide for myself, I am now 40 years on this spinning rock and i still belong to no religion and yes i have given it due consideration at times in my life! So, My stumbling blocks are simply this, I believe the Catholic church is one of the richest and far spread organisations on the planet ( i could be wrong) yet how can they ask/beg for money when the Church in Rome is abundant in gold and silver and jewels? maybe i'm taking a simplistic view, but did not jesus enter the Temple and throw out the money lenders?. Now then , lets get more to the point, which is, the vast majority of todays youth and even their parents live less in fear of consequences from the "do as i say" message purely because the information age that we live in has given the ability to find answers for oneself and exposed a lot of hidden lies and deciet from the Catholic Church.
So how can anyone follow a leadership that is self serving and self interested but purports to be for the "good" of humanity?? Until ( and i believe that moment has passed) the Church listens to its flock, becomes relevant in age of ever increasing doubt and becomes humble and loses it's righteous attitude to knowing whats best, i can only see generation after generation moving away until All the church benches are empty and silent.
Finally i will add Political Correctness is not a creation of atheism as has been stated in a comment below, but a VERY serious threat to free speach and thought imposed by many governments around the world!, it's all about control! not so very far from how most religions work .
Andy Farrugia
Sep 8th 2012, 17:14
@ Anthony Charles Abela
Going by what you typically post I'm not at all surprised that the moderators block your offensive, slanderous lies. Your freedom of speech STOPS when you start insulting and slandering others. Now back to your dark corner, there to scowl to your heart's content.
Alex Ellul
Sep 8th 2012, 10:57
In the US, where there are a myriad of Christian sects, the best surviving ones are those who have held true and fast to their beliefs. Astoundingly, the Church that has done best in durinf the onslaught on Christain values ad morals experienced these last decades is the Catholic church. Churches that had given way to the new 'morality' and ploitical correctness all but disappeared from the Christian world. Some non-Catholic communities even moved lock, stock and barrel to the nearest Catholic Church led by their pastor.
Christians want Christianity and not political correctees eas xpounded by atheists and anti-Christian politicans and journalistsn who try to push it down our troaths while labelling us as suffering from some sort of plague if we refuse it.. These left-wing, faux-liberal anti- Christians are out in force to destroy morality, values and family as we know it.
Anthony Charles Abela
Sep 8th 2012, 15:43
In your dreams Mr. Ellul that other denominations are moving lock, stock and barrel to the Catholic Churches. There are cases where it is vice versa, Catholic congregations moved out after the mass paedophilia and lies and misconceptions by the Catholic Church. I have written several factual stories on the so called "unmistakable church" but the T.O.M. has refused to have them printed, maybe the editor is afraid of being excomunicated?. This is in spite of the fact that the Maltese Constitution guaranteeing me freedom of expression. It is easier for readers to hear one side of the story thanks to the T.O.M. this is muzzling freedom of speech. A.C.Abela
charles caruana
Sep 9th 2012, 14:21
'unmistakable' Church'? Perhaps if you were to disinfect your mind, your pen and your English in some intellectual and emotional detergent, you might get printed more often. Great minds have tried to wipe out the Catholic Church, and failed miserably - just imagine what puny minds can do.
Maria G. Buttigieg
Sep 8th 2012, 08:03
Mr. Martin Scicluna is not original in his diatribe. Unfortunately it was a man of the cloth who in this same newspaper proffered his opinions about what is wrong with the Church in Malta, namely its fundamentalist leadership. And this is what is wrong with the Church in Malta. Some men of the cloth are a cause of scandal. The church in Malta and indeed the Universal Church needs men and woman of substance who more than talking and preening about exhalting their mental and academic faculties follow the lord in prayer and obedience to his words not as their inflated egoes interprets it but as Holy Mother Church through the Pope and Bishops teach it. It is an act of utter arrogance and bad faith to attack the messenger in order to annihilate the message.
Raymond Bezzina
Sep 7th 2012, 12:23
@ Mr. Martin Scicluna
After reading the above article regarding the Catholic Church, some direct questions came to my mind, which I cannot resist not to ask :
1. What do you mean when you said, quote " I am only a disinterested observer " unquote ? Disinterested in what ? please elaborate.
2. Are you a practicing Roman Catholic ?
3. How much time have you spent praying in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament to enlighten you, before writing and sending your article for publishing ?
I await your reply in due course.
P. Vincenti
Sep 7th 2012, 11:26
Mr Scicluna suffers from a complete ignorance as to the role and mission of the Church. The advice he provides may be well intentioned however it is misguided.
The Church is not perfect however she cannot change to suit the whims of a vagillating society.
She is Christ's representative and not a business organization.
She is concerned with truths and not success.
She is misinterpreted and at times even misunderstood
She is however not perfect or flawless.
Henry J Bonett
Sep 7th 2012, 10:32
Mr Martin Scicluna has made a reasoned statement. As a practicing Catholic I can identify myself with certain points he made which are very valid and I wish to see them in practice for the good of our church. We are not arguing about faith but about the human way we, the church, can feel as true sons and daughters of our loving God and also how to be seen by others as God's people. Why do so many Catholic bloggers, shut up mentally like clams and start kicking out with their feet rather than their brains.
The anger and frustration of their intransigence is palpable . It does great harm by restraining the development of our church through the Holy Spirit.
Mr Ernest Vella
Sep 7th 2012, 08:41
The Church is not a commercial company and because people denies its truths does not call the Church to change its truths. To give better explanation...its ok...but if some people get hurt in their conscience because the Church speaks the truth than the Church has no faults.
Henry S Pace
Sep 6th 2012, 21:33
‘ I am only a disinterested observer ‘
How very surprising that martin scicluna is so disinterested in Church matters and yet he,akes such a great
effort to impress the readers how The Church should conduct its affairs among the faithfull.
He compares the individuality between Archbishop Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech. It is to be said that
any human being has his own way to speak . He comments how the Archbishop is surrounded by old
fashioned priests. He suggests to the Archbishop that he should have your clerics as if they would advise
him and say that divorce is compatable with the teachings of Jesus Christ. What God has joined together
let no man put asunder. ()Math: 19.6)
Martin Scicluna stooped so low when as a disinterested observer he went on to suggest to the Papal Nuncio
that reconsider the exzistence of the Diocese of Gozo
With regard to the IVF legislation, The Church is against the freezing of embryos. This is quite
understandable because God has given the fifth commandment: Thou shall not kill. Among other things the
embryos may be given to other couples .
Martin Scicluna said ‘Today, society will make up its own mind on moral issues. Moral issues never
change . it is to be said that nobody can comprise with the Lord’s Teachings.
In the Gospel of St John: 6 : 65,67
65: For Jesus knew from the outset who did not believe and who was to betray him. He went on, ‘This is why
I told you that no one could come to me except by the gift of the Father.’ 66: After this, many of his disciples
went away and accompanied him no more. 67: Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you
want to go away too?’
It also appears that Martin Scicluna is either a non-believer or an unconvinced christian.
carmel cassar
Sep 6th 2012, 21:21
Why dodn't we go back to basic, and preach only, Jesus words no more and no less. If He comes back He wouldn't even recognise his own church. The church is there to listen and help where nessesary and not to push or lead.
Joseph Meli
Sep 6th 2012, 19:02
It would be better to clarify what the present Pope think about this:- Conservative voices in the Church tried to repair damage caused by Cardinal Martini's criticism. Marco Tarquinio, the editor of the bishops' daily paper, L'Avvenire, accused the mainstream press of distorting the Cardinal's comments, although he did not give specific examples.
"The attempts to distort and manipulate in an anti-ecclesiastical way the Cardinal's final hours on this earth are a bitter reminder of similar actions against even the blessed John Paul II," he said.
The suspicion – ever present in Italy – that the Vatican has tendrils everywhere, even in the mainstream press, was heightened by the failure of the article to appear on the Corriere della Sera website. Following inquiries by The Independent, Corriere's editor, Ferruccio de Bortoli, said there had been no pressure to keep the article off the website. It was then published online yesterday evening. Other leading newspapers failed to give the cardinals' comments much coverage.
Juanita Cassar
Sep 6th 2012, 17:58
I sadly have to agree with Mr Scicluna here. As a rather committed Christian myself, some public statements the Curia makes leave me thinking the people running it have no real-life pastoral experience to speak of (which, as it turns out, is not the case).
charles caruana
Sep 6th 2012, 17:32
Here we go again – the secularist knight in shining armour, heart all aflame for the welfare of the local Church, has come to rescue the Church from itself, no less. After graciously allowing the ‘stop-gap’ charitable works of the Church, a move calculated to convince readers that he is a disinterested but well meaning observer of all things ecclesiastical, the knight of the sad countenance makes his first lunge by accusing the Maltese Church of being an ‘an ultra-traditional, monolithic institution’, nobly and I’m sure sincerely regretting it is not up to date- forgetting that nothing dates faster than the effort to keep constantly up to date. Of course, like all those self-styled faddists who bad-mouth traditional as a dirty word, our hero has probably little or no clue to what the nature and meaning of tradition might be. He might not even realize that the secularist mentality to which he subscribes has a ‘tradition’ of its own and of which it is justifiably proud.
The howler of the century in Mr Scicluna’s article must surely be the claim that he is only a ‘disinterested observer’. I bet you are. Using his not so subtle tactic of damning with faint praise, he again graciously and generously allows the Archbishop to be an intrinsically good man, but ‘regrettably’ weak and at the mercy of his ‘evil’ advisers. A whole bevy of Rasputins no doubt. Does this man realize how insufferably supercilious and self-righteous he manages to come across? And in the same superior condescending way he dismisses Gozo’s bishop as a fundamentalist and the Gozitan people as not deserving a Bishopric of their own. This disinterested observer has no qualms about advising even the Apostolic Nuncio on how to act. He proceeds to throw around like confetti a bonanza of advice and judgments , urging the Archbishop to stop being a weak leader by replacing his aged advisors by younger ‘more intelligent clerics’ and forgetting that by his weird chronological logic younger ‘disinterested observers’ of the Church than he are therefore be more intelligent in their comments. Speaking of being hoisted by your own petard! Oh how sweet the cult of youth for those like us who are getting on in age yet want so desperately to be 'with it'
After giving the Archbishop this free and friendly lecture on leadership, showing himself to be a true believer in and devotee of the contemporary cult of youth, Mr Scicluna launches into a management lesson that again excoriates Gozitan elderly monsignors - what is it with you and your apparent distaste for things Gozitan? He thenpontificates to the Catholic Church – who invented the word seminary- on how to recruit and train priests. All this Mr Scicluna does with remarkable panache and humility.
Finally, still galloping on his moral high horse, this connoisseur of all things ecclesiastical gives the Church a crash course in communication skills, managing in the meantime to insult all the faithful of the 1950’s and 1960’s as being far below him in his critical ability and his lofty enlightened stands.
The last mind boggling gem of the article is Mr Scicluna’s complaint about the lack of ‘deep, devotional significance.’ What do you know about deep devotion Mr Scicluna? Perhaps in your next article you could regale us with a ‘disinterested’ explanation of your belief in and practice of deep devotion. I am sure the local church would be rescued by it.
Maryann Borg
Sep 6th 2012, 16:47
The church simply needs to be closer to the wounded and searching people it serves and represents. If it does that it will be healed. If I were the Archbishop I would send all the ordained members of the Curia to work in the slums, children's homes, and, yes, red light districts.
Alfred Fenech
Sep 6th 2012, 16:26
Just another disorganized organization trying to organise itself. Bring back interdiction or
better still reestablish the inquisiters palace.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Sep 6th 2012, 17:26
Just name one other organisation (organized or disorganized) that has managed to flourish in the face of severe constant repression, dating from the time of the Roman Emperors in its first centuries of its existence up to the atheist Communist dictators of modern times!
You must admit that is a remarkable feat of organisation - not unexpected when you take into account Christ's committment that the gates of hell would not prevail gainst her until the end of time!.
Joseph Agius
Sep 6th 2012, 19:23
@ Francis Saliba
I will limit myself to one: Judaism. It too has survived over two milennia oduring which it has suffered the most dire of persecutions, being also accused of deicide. I think you, Dr Saliba, know very well at the hands of whom? I am not referring only to the Nazi one. And you also know they had no such promise as the Catholic Church had.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Sep 7th 2012, 17:54
@ Joseph Agius yesterday at 19:23.
I will not enter into odious irrelevant comparisons with other religions. These do not have any bearing on the undisputed record of Christianity resisting successfully any persecution that its enemies conspire against it and in accordance with Christ's promise that the gates of hell shall never prevail against it.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Sep 6th 2012, 14:39
"Unless it regenerates its leadership, streamlines and modernises its organisation and smartens up its communication skills, it will become an institutional irrelevance".
A debatable statement I would say. It is true that the church no longer enjoys a universal appeal in Malta and for many of us the Catholic religion is no longer the focus of our lives nor does it provide us with our moral and ethical and values framework. However the reality is that while the church has shrunk I would say that many of those believers who remained in its ranks (still a large absolute number) are more committed , devout and understand their religion and beliefs better. What strikes me is the large number of students who attend evening school at the University to read for degrees in all aspects of religious studies. Indeed the largest number of registered evening students at the University is in religious studies What is worth noting is that many of these church adherents have quite conservative ideas whilst also being very spiritual and committed to God. A full time army of salvation even if compact is a better long term defender of faith that a larger rag tag one of convenience . One also notes the growth at the University of intellectual groups committed to what are considered as conservative church movements such as the Opus Dei , Bible groups and groups based on the nearby Jesuit centre. I suspect that traditional elements within the church led by the wily Bishop of Gozo rightly think that it is better to have fewer fully trained troops waiting for better times to fight and support a religious revival . They probably see as a model and source of their own comeback the growth and expansion in the last decade of very conservative militant Islam with an ever increasing number of adherents totally rejecting and opposing the trappings of Western society. These church leaders see that the Western world as eventually needing such a religious force to counteract this rise of Islam and its values. Local leaders must also be aware that in trying to be more modern , liberal and move in fashion with the times the Church of England has ended up riven with internal strife wherein its congregation have abandoned in larger numbers. Local church leaders therefore see liberalization as the wrong approach likely to offend its committed. There is no doubt that whilst the Western world has become more liberal and humanist it has also entered into a period of financial and moral decadence where mass consumerism and evil kinds of financial and banking capitalism have gone wrong. Some church leaders are biding their tie waiting for a religious backlash and revival to occur. Just look at the restored powers and influence of the orthodox church in Russia.
Gerry Cowie
Sep 6th 2012, 13:57
So, Marie Benoit, what is your solution to the "crisis"? What are YOU as an individual going to do about it?
How many people do you think actually agree with Martin Scicuna, when you say:-
"Disinterested or not Martin Scicluna is speaking the truth and possibly without knowing it is speaking on behalf of many more people than we may care to admit."
If it is not the duty of Mr Scicluna to find solutions to the difficult circumstances in which the Church operates, neither is it his right to find fault. That is indeed having one's cake and eating it!
Sadly we have only heard soundbites from what the late Cardinal Martini had to say - and carefully selected ones at that, as chosen by those who have truck with the Church for one reason or another.
The Church is described as he body of Christ. Therefore we all have a part to play as believers.
I am by no means saying that everything in the garden is coming up roses either! It's just that it is all very well for somebody who claims to be a believer to write an opinion in which he does little to help with a way forward!
Richard Farrugia
Sep 6th 2012, 16:46
I am in full agreement with your views on other contributors.
Many have left the church as early as when Christ was still with us on account of reason and their self diety. Christianity is a way of life that one embraces freely on account of the gift of FAITH which is bestowed on us by the Sacrament of Baptism but which unfortunately is not watered to its full growth.
Our Catholic Church in Malta is the fruith of the Holy Spirit : she administers to us -SINNERS- the sacraments and guide us to form a community of LOVE and PEACE.
Our Church is not an institution otherwise it should seek success as per Mr Scicluna advices but a spirtual entity seeking the eternal bounty
She seeks its guidance in the Spirit of Jesus who is not mutable or bending to the whims and wishes of COMFORT and MONEY that enstrange us from the TRUTH and LIFE.
Our pastors are anointed and have the blessing of being in harmony with the Holiness of the Trinity and as such cannot express their opinion but fix their teachings on the word of God to his beloved creatures in his way which is not that of creatures but that of the Creator of all that exists.
Hope that my words reach anyone who is sinner and if not an intelligent false demi god.
Karl Consiglio
Sep 6th 2012, 17:20
So true, if you point at problems without offering solutions you wind up like the Labour Party.
John Zammit
Sep 6th 2012, 13:54
What Martin Scicluna is say about the high officers of the Curia is 100% true. I am afraid that the Archbishop is not running the church but the conservative element is forcing him to do what they like.WE must not forget that he was a monk before elevated to the post. So he has to rest on their advice
Gerry Cowie
Sep 6th 2012, 12:59
@Anthony Pavia - And who is this man to "give advice" to the Church? Where are his concrete ideas?
please do not put words into my mouth - the word "amoral" was neither stated nor inferred.
Where re your own concrete ideas?
ANTHONY PAVIA
Sep 6th 2012, 18:40
If Mr Scicluna will permit, I will adopt the ideas exposed in his article as my own. How's that for concrete ideas? I never attributed the word amoral to you. But considering the topic the word is appropriate.
Marie Benoit
Sep 6th 2012, 12:45
Disinterested or not Martin Scicluna is speaking the truth and possibly without knowing it is speaking on behalf of many more people than we may care to admit. As we all know Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini who died on the last day of August gave a last interview on his deathshortly before he died and did not mince his words: "The Vatican is 200 years behind the world" and called for a radical transformation of the Church. Now if that is true of the Vatican how much more true is it of the Catholic Church in Malta? It is not up to Mr Scicluna to find solutions to the problems the church is encountering but solutions must and can be found if the churches are not to become even more empty and more Catholics alienated. And we don't have to change Christ's teachings to align the Church with the world of today.
Of course one good bishop is more than enough for these tiny islands.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Sep 6th 2012, 18:00
Whatever Cardinal Martini meant when he said that the Vatican is 200 hundred years behind the world, it is undeniable that Martin Scicluna's clear target was not the Vatican itself but the bishops of Malta and Gozo. In my opinion our bishops cannot be reasonably faulted for toeing the line set by their superiors in the Vatican rather than the line that Scicluna attributes to Maltese " ... younger, more intelligent clerics who are more in touch with the flock".
Dear lady, your slip is showing! Martin Scicluna is pointing his gun at some local Curia clergymen. Your guns are pointing not at the one good bishop whom you (2nd person plural) judge is in excess of the full complement that you judge to be "more than enough for these tiny islands". Your primary target is a Vatican lacking in modernity.
charles caruana
Sep 6th 2012, 18:02
'...is speaking the truth and possibly without knowing it is speaking on behalf of many more people than we may care to admit.' Thus spake Marie Benoit and therefore it must be truth. Can you prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt, Ms Benoit, using evidence and rational arguments rather than flat statements? Again, can you show that Cardinal Martini, the man who failed to become pope, spoke the absolute truth about the Vatican? What qualifies you to consider his jugdement the last word on the state of the Church in the modern world? I am afraid you are wrong about Mr Scicluna, he did offer solutions, aplenty and with a dead certainty which matches your own. About not changing Christ's teachings while 'aligning' the Church with the world of today, why not read the documents of Varican II and the the tragic history of its immediate aftermath brought about by those progressive aligners like Martini who tried to hijack it but thank God failed. You are in for a surprise, Ms Benoit.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Sep 6th 2012, 18:33
Dr Saliba, this is not an attack on your blind love, the PN. It is not even an attack! It is intelligent, here and now, common sense advice that you do not seem to appreciate. You seem to consider all negatives, even on the weather say, as an attack on your party and to be defended, even nonsensically, at all costs. Perhaps Mr Scicluna's advice would be better followed by others as well as the local church. After all we are not talking football clubs here.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Sep 7th 2012, 17:39
@ ANTHONY PAVIA, Yesterday, 18:33.
Make an extra bit of effort so as to understand that my comment is not about the PN for which I do not have any "blind love". I reserve that to my God.
My comment is an argument anticipating and refuting your allegation that Ms Marie Benoit's comment is "
common sense advice ... ". Your brash opinion does not make any valid contribution to that dialogue.
It only exposes your "blind love" to criticise the NP in a discussion about the organisation of our Curia.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Sep 7th 2012, 19:21
Dr Saliba, my criticism was addressed to you, not the PN. Did you understand that?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Sep 8th 2012, 01:00
@ Anthony Pavia yesterday at 19:21.
It is YOU who do not understand your own comment. You cannot deny that your comment is an irrelevant attack on what you brashly allege to be "my blind love for the PN" when my blind love is for GOD, for his Church and for the Catholic dioceses of Malta and Gozo. My comment is in defence of all of them to the exclusion of all political parties. If anyone is blindly obsessed with politics that person is you. I stick to the matter under discussion. You should try to do the same.
M Farrugia
Sep 6th 2012, 12:35
Inti min tahseb li inti bix lil Isqof ta Ghawdex tajru fundamentalista. Mhux ahjar talaq halqek u fejn ma tifimx ma titkellimx, Fuq kollox akatr il-fuq ghid li inti osservatur li ma jinteresakx mela halli il-kummenti ghal min jinteressah. Fejn jidhol l-ambjent u l-patrimonju fallejt u nahseb li anki f'dan is-suggett hadd ma se jaqbel mieghek hlief dawk li ghandhom l-istess tahwid tieghek f'mohhom.
JOSEPH CROKER
Sep 6th 2012, 11:47
Though I agree that the Church in Malta needs to renew herself (strictly guided by the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ) as all organisations of her calibre need to in order to keep up with the times, the gloomy picture painted by Mr Scicluna is anything but real.
Youngsters are living their faith in a more realistic and practical way, witness the number of young people who give their all to help others in need, without any fanfare but with all the enthusiasm in the world.
They may not be the types who bead through endless rosaries and throng churches, but they surely live their faith in a tangible manner, out there in the real world.
The Church (which incidentally is made up of us faithful and not solely the clerics) should discard all the trappings that mire her work and should make it her declared mission to care for and norture these youngsters, obviously without abandoning others, so that they may live in accordance with the authentic teachings of Christ. Unfortunately, I get that uncomfortable feeling that occasionally the Church is more worldly in her outlook when she should be more spiritual and pastoral.
Gordon Vassallo
Sep 6th 2012, 11:46
What the Church needs is to shift its focus from excessive rituals and much dedicated energy to organise the village feast etc to the realm of encouraging an authentic spiritual experience. It is through spirtituality and not religious dogma that we come to comprehend insights into the merciful love and compassion of God through Jesus Christ. Instead of focusing on the bandlora, pedestalli, statwi, gebel, and kandlieri priests should primarily be people of God through ernest prayer, meditation and a life of material poverty. They cannot be one with the poor if they sit pretty on a throne. They cannot be judgemental of broken families and moral decancy if they are not present in the midst of the people and their poverty. We must place substance before form. No element of super- organisation/ leadership style or further institutionalisation will bring the flock back to the Divine Master. It is true humility, poverty, understanding, compassion and true pastoral care that people see the love of God in action and are only then attracted towards sensible rituals as a sign of heartily thanksgiving .
victor refalo
Sep 6th 2012, 11:43
Martin Scicluna's opinion in this article is totally out of point. he is assuming and drawing conclusions of his own and trying to place his opinion as the way things are run at the highest level of our religion. i assure you that the archbishop is clever enough to listen to everybody - close to him in his office or very far away including Mr. Scicluna - but then he is mature and wise enough to draw his own conclusions which are parellel with the teachings he is obliged to stand by. If Mr. Scicluna respects the Roman Catholic teachings, he should be aware that Christ's teachings do not change by time. What was right 2000 years ago still hold valid today. The church was right and will always be right about its conclusions on divorce and any result of any referendum will not embarass the standings of the church but will embarass those who think and believe that divorce is a solution. The Roman Catholic religion is there and open to anyone who truly believes in it and follow it. There is no way about it. Follow it as a whole without exception or seek what suits you in any other religion.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Sep 6th 2012, 15:28
Mr Refalo, I think it is you who has missed the point. Nowhere does Mr Scicluna attack the Church's or Christ's teachings. It is the way these teachings and messages are transmistted to the people that is worrying. In fact, I think Mr Scicluna has the Church at heart as he seems to wish that it reforms itself for the better and to stop the congragtion from getting smaller. His is constructive criticism. Some time ago people were burnt alive if they denied the Church's teachings- but the Church has moved on to pass on its message in a kore positive way. So what is wrong with the Church adapting to today's age in the way it gets its teaching's across? When I hear mass abroad I always come out feeling good and at peace. Here some times the sermon is either without any sense or just creates a sense of turbulence.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Sep 6th 2012, 16:38
So what is wrong with the Church adapting to today's age in the way it gets its teaching's across?(Mr Andrew Camilleri today at 15:26.)
Christ's message is not subject to any "adaptation" (i.e. no modifications and no alterations) to accomodate modern trends. For example Christ adamantly declared divorce to be unacceptable for everyone and from the very beginning. He did not agree with the Mosaic dispensation. Modernist clever theologians should follow his example and not quibble about the morality of voting in favour of divorce legislation.
The Church must adopt modern methods to get its teaching across to a modern audience, for example less coercion but more persuasion. But it must continue to interpret Christian morality strictly and without equivocation when faced with new problems without tampering Christ's teaching - that is not the same as adapting, modifying, or altering his teaching.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Sep 6th 2012, 10:43
A typical comment, not unexpected from someone who prides himself to be only an "uninterested observer".
It is based on the obvious fallacy that the Malta and the Gozo Dioceses are reacting at variance with the official Vatican teaching e.g. about divorce and IVF and that here in Malta we have some desirable cabal of " ... younger, more intelligent clerics who are more in touch with the flock" rather than remaining in touch with their religious superiors.
Another fallacy is that "This is a Church that is seen as living in the past". Obviously, this universal Church has the duty to spread Christ's teaching and that morality was established well in the past, two millenia ago to be precise. Even then this doctrine was considered unpalatable by many of his disciples. Modernity has no relevance. Christ's reaction was not to redraft his message so as to accomodate those who were young, dissatisfied, and abandoning his side in droves. He did not decide to surround himself with some "new breed of young advisers" more prone to accomodate the dissenters. He asked his innermost circle if they also wanted to leave.
david wirrich
Sep 6th 2012, 10:35
I generally agree with what Martin Scicluna says, but beware of emulating how both the Catholic and Church of England have become in UK.....ultra liberal and shifting their opinions according to so called modern trends instead of standing up for the teachings Jesus Christ gave us.
Gerry Cowie
Sep 6th 2012, 10:04
It is clear from this and other recent articles by Martin Scicluna in recent weeks that he is happy to point out what he perceives to be problems with the Church but has no firm solutions to put forward. Somewhat negative comment with no real support for the Church. "I am only a disinterested observer" he says! "If I were advising...."
What is his agenda exactly?
ANTHONY PAVIA
Sep 6th 2012, 10:44
I do not believe Mr Scicluna has any hidden, amoral agenda. I believe that his article hits the nail straight on the head. It should be considered excellent, free advice to church leaders and goers.
Victor Rodenas
Sep 6th 2012, 09:50
What happens in Europe sooner or later will happen in Malta too,something is wrong,in Europe Churches are empty and they have become museums,unless something drastically happens the same will happen in Malta.We all know that Jesus will be with His Church to the end of time......but we use this phrase just not to do anything or too little.A ray of hope will be Vat.Council III,......only a new Pope will do that.About the bishop of Gozo,........many cooks spoil the broth and many hands make lighter work, two Captains sink the ship....which is the right saying for Malta.?
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