The Church had an obligation to speak about moral issues within the political sphere and its words should not be misconstrued as interference, Archbishop Cremona said this morning.

“We are here to help politicians, not to interfere. The Church is not interested in imposing its views on anyone. But it has a moral duty to pass its ideology on to others. Unfortunately sometimes whenever we speak out, people think we’re trying to interfere,” he said.

Archbishop Cremona spoke while receiving dignitaries for the customary New Year’s day exchange of greetings.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his cabinet members were the first to arrive at the Archbishop’s Valletta palace. Dr Gonzi noted that 2013 was lining up to be a “year of serious choices” for Malta, but had a uniting message to share.

“Malta is like a beautiful rainbow, and a rainbow is not made up of just one colour. Even if people believe different things – or don’t believe anything at all – we are all in this together, and we have to ensure no one is left behind,” he said.

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat also dedicated much of his brief cordial address to unifying themes, saying that the country would march ahead as one regardless of politics.

“We have some very big challenges ahead, challenges we can only overcome if we all work together,” Dr Muscat said. He had words of praise for the Church’s focus on social justice and network of schools.

Parliamentary speaker Michael Frendo called on the Church top brass together with a group of MPs from either side of the house. He reflected on the important role the Church played within Maltese society, and said he had grown more appreciative of the important balance to be struck between Church and state since having become speaker.