A governmental entity, such as a parliamentary secretariat, should devote its efforts to teaching and honing the country’s “moral fibre”, Archbishop Paul Cremona suggested during yesterday’s Independence Day Pontifical Mass.
Addressing the congregation of dignitaries gathered at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Mgr Cremona questioned whether Malta’s moral fibre had actually been strengthened or weakened in recent years.
What about setting up a governmental entity tasked with teaching and honing the country’s moral fibre?
Noting how increased political participation and discussions on the economy, education, employment and health have cultivated a better quality of life, he added that social values such as justice, honesty and solidarity should also be honed and strengthened.
When the moral fibre fades away or is weakened, Mgr Cremona continued, society suffers many losses, including financial ones.
Without a moral conscience, the road is opened to theft, fraud, deception, tax evasion and injustice, all to the detriment of the people.
“I’d like to put forth a proposal: what about setting up a governmental entity, such as a parliamentary secretariat within one of the ministries, tasked with teaching and honing the country’s moral fibre?
“We need to reach out to adults and society at large. A social plan could be drafted to target everyone, young and old. Social media could also be used.”
Mgr Cremona then turned to the Pope, holding him as a source of inspiration on how to live the love preached by Christ.
He referred to September 7, when Pope Francis led a global prayer vigil for North African countries and Syria. The Pope had urged all Catholics to pray for their Muslim brothers and sisters.
“I don’t know what you felt, but I felt great happiness. We are now truly living the Gospel... perhaps we have even given an example to those who don’t believe in the Gospel.”
The Archbishop urged the Maltese to pray for asylum seekers, including those on our island, noting that more work was needed in this regard.
Independence Day ceremony
For the first time, the Leader of the Opposition accompanied the Prime Minister and the President during the laying of wreaths at the Independence Monument in Floriana.
President George Abela, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil laid wreaths at the foot of the monument in a ceremony consisting of a parade by the Guards of Honour and a 21-gun salute.
Having occurred under a Nationalist Government, Independence Day has been traditionally associated with the PN, much like Freedom Day was linked to Labour.
In the 1970s and 1980s, independence ceased to be celebrated nationally, only to be reinstated by a PN government in 1987.
In 1989, the two parties agreed on five national holidays: Independence Day, Freedom Day, Republic Day, Sette Giugno and Victory Day.
While on the Opposition bench, Dr Muscat had called for a revision in the protocol on the celebration of national holidays, arguing that Freedom and Independence Days should be celebrated jointly by the Government and the Opposition.