Christians and Catholics
Giuseppe di Lampedusa’s The Leopard is a repository of salient and insightful thoughts about life which never ceases to fascinate and delight. Maybe because it is set in Sicily, a place so close to home, by a man whose family fortunes had, through no fault of his own, reduced to a pile of baroque-hewn rubble in Palermo’s Kalza district.
Lampedusa will forever remain an enigma; a man who died without ever knowing that his novel would become a classic till this very day. What prompted me to think about The Leopard was that Bishop Charles Scicluna, our new man from Rome, has now been made a member of the exclusive Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, which, within the Vatican, is one of the most influential administrative and directional organs of the Church, a direct descendant of the Holy Office which, for those who don’t know, is a euphemism for the once dreaded Inquisition.
To get back to Lampedusa, at one point the Prince of Salina is being mildly rebuked by his confessor, Fr Pirrone, a tame Jesuit, for betraying Holy Mother Church by voting ‘yes’ in the plebiscite that merely changed the King of Sicily from autocratic Bourbon to constitutional Savoyard. Lampedusa, through his spokesman, Prince Fabrizio, roundly declares that he is no traitor because the Church will survive, even, if necessary, by dumping the nobility – then the pillars of the ecclesiastical establishment – to do so; a prophesy fulfilled not long after Lampedusa’s death by John XXIII and Paul VI.
I had been wondering why Scicluna was sent to Malta at this stage. It seems very clear to me that he is a man with a mission, a man who perforce will be the real power in our Curia.
His task is colossal, he must restore the faith or fail in the attempt. He is also the man who is going to restore the prestige and respect of Catholicism in Malta after the divorce fiasco.
To do this, he will have to effect a surgical divorce of his own, that of Church from State. He will have to shake off the politicians who either hide under ecclesiastical petticoats or hang on to the Church’s coat-tails for political purposes.
It is these politicians who are largely responsible for the ignominious defeat of the Nationalist Party and Church-backed ‘No’ campaign against divorce last year, a campaign hallmarked by mixed and confused messages by both entities which, in the end, brought both crashing down.
I do believe that Scicluna will, from now on, ensure that the Church gives clear, humane and comprehensible messages about topics like IVF and same-sex civil unions and we will never have a repeat of that hurtful diatribe we were subjected to listen to about IVF, which only just stopped short of accusing couples who had adopted the IVF method of being murderers.
I’m sure there will not be a repeat of the Pro-Vicar’s strange declaration that voting for divorce would have to be subject to going to confession afterwards or the Judicial Vicar who, during Mass that opened the Forensic Year, told the judiciary that if they are good Catholics they must boycott divorce-related cases!
The fact that Catholicism remains anachronistically entrenched in our Constitution does not help matters at all.
We were faced with a situation wherein our deeply Catholic Prime Minister, after being faced with ‘the unkindest cut of all’ by a renegade and disgraced MP from his own party, dithered and vacillated throughout the months leading up to the referendum, which, in my opinion, was an abrogation of responsibility and a shameful waste of taxpayers’ money, only to be defeated, after which he dithered and vacillated again.
I can, in all truth, just imagine the crisis of conscience that Lawrence Gonzi went through, especially when one considers his background.
However, the upshot of it all was that the defeat brought both his party and, even more significantly, the Church to an unprecedented low. If Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando wanted to get his own back on the Prime Minister and the PN he could not have devised a more hurtful and damaging way.
Is the appointment of Scicluna as Auxiliary Bishop an exercise in damage limitation? Did that conference organised by The Times a couple of months ago posing the question of whether the Church was 200 years behind the times have any impact on the Vatican’s decision to send a brilliant prelate to Malta with its full backing to sort us out?
There is no doubt at all that the experience Scicluna has had in one of the top Vatican arms is crucial to his appointment and that the trust invested in him by the Pontiff is based on the assurance that he, Scicluna, has a tidy, insightful, analytical and extremely intellectual brain.
Will this new bishop be able to save the Maltese Church and will he be able to detach it from politics?
Just to give you an example of how confused people still are about Church and State I was astounded to realise that a surprising number of gay people actually thought that gay marriage would have meant getting married in Church, something which the MGRM and I have had to patiently explain ad nauseam.
At the end of the day, I fervently believe that one is a Christian because one sincerely believes in the tenets of Christianity and not because it is imposed upon me by the State.
I have long described myself as a convinced Christian but a reluctant Catholic. It remains to be seen if the advent of Bishop Scicluna will change this in any way.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
43 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Mr Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Dec 7th 2012, 15:16
................and Emmanuel Muscat!!! What a relief!!! I thought both Andy Farrugia and he had absconded from my fan club!!!
Emanuel Muscat
Dec 9th 2012, 20:16
You don't take criticism lightly:
it is bad for your heart,
so go easy on your 'fans'!
Andy Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 21:50
Long may you continue to "entertain" us......where would we all be without some light relief? Hahaha!
Mr Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Dec 7th 2012, 15:15
Allerwieh Andy; I thought you had emigrated or something!
Andy Farrugia
Dec 8th 2012, 00:34
Hahaha, Kenneth! I'm so touched by your concern about my well-being and ever so chuffed that you regard me as a fan.
Daniel Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 19:50
"At the end of the day, I fervently believe that one is a Christian because one sincerely believes in the tenets of Christianity and not because it is imposed upon me by the State. I have long described myself as a convinced Christian but a reluctant Catholic" - well stated, Kenneth! Any person who uses his God-given intellect will confirm your sentiments without any hesitation.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 08:15
@SVella yesterday, 22;09
The state doesn't legislate to cater for the foibles of the individual. It legislates for the common good.
The present agitation is not about religion being imposed as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum. It is about the right and the duty of bishops to teach, which duty is being deceitfully described as an imposition when it is nothing of the sort.
Mr Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Dec 5th 2012, 17:38
Foibles?? I think that the state under this particular legislaturte has had more than its fair share of foibles! Ask Franco Debono!!!
Read my penultimate paragraph again............slowly and carefully!
Mr Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Dec 5th 2012, 01:24
I am driven to despair! Is this a deliberate misinterpretation exercise or are most of you incapable of understanding plain English? The object of this article is to speculate and discuss, in a sober and logical fashion, the tough job that Bishop Scicluna has before him.ie the separation of Church from State that is necessary to liberate the church from politicians 'hanging on to its coat tails.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 09:09
@KZT
The tough job that Bishop Scicluna has before him is not the fait accompli of separation of Church from State in Malta. It is to consolidate the efforts of the bishops to fend off the campaign by local anti-Catholics to obstruct them in the execution of their duty to teach what is right and what is wrong, an obligation imposed on them by Christ and the state of Malta.
Mr Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Dec 5th 2012, 16:29
Amazing! You still think that the Church and the State should be one and indivisible??? When Henry VIII separated from Rome it he was excommunicated; not for doctrinal reasons as such but because he wanted to divorce the Emperor's aunt!! When Louis XIV did it nobody dared murmur!!! In Malta by and large we may as well have the archbishop installed as Head of State! Re-read my penultimate paragraph
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 23:21
@KZT
Where did you get the idea that I think that State and Church should be one and indivisible? I think that the separation of State from Church was the best thing that could have happened to both freeing both from being blamed for the other's faults. I dislike mitred dukes as much as I dislike crowned bishops.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 23:43
@KZT today at 16:29
The fact that both Christ and the Republican Constitution confer the right and the duty of the Church to teach what is right and what is wrong that does not mean that I think Church and State should be one and indivisible. That answers your first question mark. I am still trying to figure what are the two other questions to which the other two interrogation marks refer.
Emanuel Muscat
Dec 6th 2012, 07:55
Despair is bad:
go and sing Christmas carols at the open air theatre.
Get into the spirit of Christmas
Alex Ellul
Dec 4th 2012, 17:10
Regarding the confusion in the minds of local gays about church marriage, this is in fact being enforced by some EU states on their local churches, where churches have to officiate the marriage rite to homosexual couples if these request it.
Meanwhile new EU legistlation is being drafted to ban pro-conventional man-woman families from school curriculums. Baffling but true. 2000yr civilisation?
Joe Zammit
Dec 4th 2012, 15:55
Kenneth,
"convinced Christian but a reluctant Catholic" Can you be so?
In the Acts of the Apostles we read that the disciples of Christ were called ‘Christians’ for the first time in Antioch. Then this one Christian Church was called ‘Catholic’, i.e., universal, by St Ignatius of Antioch. St Ignatius’ episcopate lasted 42 years from AD 70 to 112.
Kenneth, can you still be so?
Alton Costa
Dec 5th 2012, 07:13
The Roman Catholic Church did not exist prior to 450 AD. As it was founded by Constantine who made Christianity the official religion of the whole empire. To accommodate the numerous pagans within the empire He merged certain celebration days together thus we get the 25th of December as Christmas which used to be the day the Pagans celebrate the God of the Sun. Christ left Christianity not the RCC
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 10:54
@ AltonCosta.
Although the distinctive term Roman Catholic did not exist at the time, it was Christ who founded Christianity/Catholicism, not Constantine. By the Edict of Milan Constantine only reversed the Roman Empire's hostility towards Christianity, afforded it legal recognition alongside other religions. In all probability he himself was a Mithraic worshipping the sun throughout his life.
Francis Sammut
Dec 4th 2012, 15:05
Mr. R. Cauchi, I think you hit the proverbial nail straight on the head!
Emanuel Muscat
Dec 4th 2012, 14:59
The city gate open air theatre is going to be used for the Christmas festivities,
to be visited by Austin Gatt tomorrow : better Christmas carols then Nessun dorma!
Gerry Cowie
Dec 4th 2012, 12:40
Kenneth, it depends which Scicluna you are talking about! There is already another Scicluna claiming to have all the answers - or rather comments!
I think this new Bishop will be a breath of fresh air for the
nation.
"They'll know we are Christians by our love!"
Evarist Saliba
Dec 4th 2012, 12:21
The question of same-sex marriage, for after all, this is what this article is about, goes beyond any church teaching. The concept of marriage as a union between man and woman is an acknowledgement of the fundamental biological difference between man and woman, and nature's purpose for this. No claim for equality can justly eliminate difference and husband/wife/father/mother from marriage.
Mr Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Dec 5th 2012, 16:21
Mr Saliba; No this article is definitely not about same sex marriage although it would be salutary to find out what Bishop Scicluna had to say about the subject. This article discusses how the Church could rid itself of the political parasites that all but destroyed it in the divorce nightmare. I wouldnt have expected you out of all people to speed read an article like this!
Evarist Saliba
Dec 6th 2012, 10:00
Your claim that the article has not been drafted with the aim of leading up to your concluding reference to the introduction of same-sex marriage in Malta does not hold water. Same-sex marriage is the pending item on the LGTB agenda on which Mgr Scicluna may have to declare himself. The others are past issues.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 4th 2012, 11:45
The separation of church and state - I think it's already here. But it depends on the individual character of the politician. Reading Minister Pullicino's article (blog) yesterday in this newspaper, you would think that it's a priest writing, not a politician. Or, remember Minister Fenech's pre-referendum sermon? And other politicians? A question of commonsense, I think. And balance.
Luke Lanzon
Dec 4th 2012, 13:29
Separation between the church and state is not gone, if it was why are there crosses hanging on class walls in STATE schools and religion is not an optional subject in STATE schools, if things were like that in CHURCH schools it's of course no problem, by all means they can do as they please......
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 4th 2012, 16:02
@LukeLanzon
Don't change the agreed "separation" of State from Church into something totally different i.e. "suppression" or "exclusion" of one from the other. Genuine separation is a symbiotic co-existence to the common benefit of the people without interference between the function of the Church as a teacher of morals and of the State as a legislator.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 4th 2012, 17:25
@Luke Lanzon
You may care to note that when a Nordic atheist lady insisted that the Italian government remove the crucifix from the wall of state schools, the European Court of Justice (not the Catholic Church in Malta) rejected the godless demand.
S. Vella
Dec 4th 2012, 22:09
I have no issue with the church being a teacher of morals as long as it is not compulsory. Otherwise, the state as legislator is enforcing a teaching that I do not agree with..
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 06:28
@SVella
You do not understand what you are saying. When laws are passed it would be the State that is imposing compulsorily. That law may be in agreement with, in conflict with the teaching of the Church or neutral. Leave Catholicism out of the deceiving mantra that the Church imposes its teaching on anyone unwilling to accept it.
Luke Lanzon
Dec 5th 2012, 07:56
@ Mr Saliba
Care to share with me the link because I'm that kind of person that needs proof of existence to believe before blindly believing anything that people say or write, so I'm expecting that this article that you're about to share with me isn't a religious newspaper but a non-biased one.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 11:02
@LukeLanzon
I did not mention any link to which I could refer you.
Luke Lanzon
Dec 5th 2012, 11:22
So in other words you have no proof to back your claims, thanks that's enough proof for me.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 14:30
@LukeLanzon.
I have proofs but you do not make it clear what proof ("link") you are asking for.
If you refer to the case of the crucifix in Italy's schoolrooms try a Google search for "Landmark ECtHR ruling on Crucifix in the Italian classroom".
Franco Farrugia
Dec 4th 2012, 11:43
I think we are all reading too much into the 'two very recent 'elections' - Busuttil and Scicluna. Obviously, it remains to be seen what effect they will have on the various institutions they are in, respectively. Positive, one would hope and pray. Regarding Dr Gonzi's actions following the divorce referendum, Gonzi stuck to his own principles while at the same ensuring that divorce came in.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Dec 4th 2012, 16:04
That old chestnut 'Gonzi ensuring that divore came in' is repeated here again. I have asked many times for an explanation how Gonzi 'ensured' that divorce was voted for by a majority in Parliament- but have had no reply. If anything, Gonzi's stance shows (and continues to show) a certain disdain towards parliament and to his arrogant superiority.
Joe Zammit
Dec 4th 2012, 10:51
Nothing, no person can change you to the better. Only the grace of God can do that. So, please, if you want to be better, ask God to give you more of his grace. You can visit also Jesus in our churches and ask him for the grace to win all obstacles and temptations to be able to draw nearer to him.
God does make use of us for the benefit of others, but his grace will bring about the change.
Paul Pulis
Dec 4th 2012, 13:28
"Nothing, no person can change you to the better." Wrong again. I have met persons personally and through their literary work and they have been instrumental in bringing out postive cahnges in me. As an educator, I also had the privilage to come across former students who claimed that I have contributed positively in their lives.
Re God's grace, careful Joe, you are verging on pre destination.
Joe Zammit
Dec 4th 2012, 16:08
Paul,
If you think you have changed anyone, you are wrong. All changes for the good come about by God's grace, and all changes for the worse come about by the deceitful influence of the devil. We can ONLY be instruments in the hands of God or the devil.
St Paul himself says, e.g., that he was what he was because of the grace of God.
Predestination does not exist!
Tom Calleja
Dec 4th 2012, 21:45
Joe Zammit, spare us
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 4th 2012, 10:22
The Malta Catholic diocese has long been detached from politics as proven by the recent legalising of divorce. The aim of its critics is not to separate Church from State. It is to prevent the Bishops from carrying out their duty and from exercising their right to teach what is moral and what is immoral. Bishop Scicluna has not been anointed Auxiliary Bishop to change that in any way.
Ronald Cauchi
Dec 4th 2012, 11:28
Yes the church is entitled to teach its faithful followers what it thinks is right and wrong. What it's not entitled to do is to try to impose its agenda on the nation in general. This it has done and has continued doing over the years by overt and covert means.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 4th 2012, 13:07
You have mesmerised yourself into believing that when the Church teaches it is imposing at the same time. . At this late stage please learn to distinguish between the two. People like you are only trying to intimidate the Church not to teach so as to avoid being accused of imposing by the likes of you. I regret to admit that this had some effect in Malta (not in Gozo) during the divorce debate.
Please choose the reason of your report below: