“I see the Church as a field hospital after battle,” warned Pope Francis when analysing the present situation of the Church. What is true about the Catholic Church is also true about the local Church. “The Church”, my Church, is not limited to the magisterium.
The Church in Malta finds itself in a field hospital because of many reasons. I quote two main ones: clericalism and omertá.
Clericalism, indeed, is the main cancer of the local Church. It’s not consoling to point out that this disease is not restricted to Malta only. Clericalism is deeply ingrained.
Anti-clericalism is a reaction to clericalism. Maltese history proves it. The local Church’s actual or alleged power and influence, in all aspects of public and political life, are the source of negative reaction even from Catholic politicians and authorities.
Indeed, the majority say they are Catholic. The majority attend the inaugural Mass at St John’s Cathedral on the inception of a new Parliament. Practically all take the oath of office holding a cross and the bible on their side. Yet, I can feel a palpable underlying widespread disdain – and a lingering rejection – as a reaction to clericalism.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, one tends to throw the baby with thedirty water.
The cultural battles that await Malta (the new Maltese Constitution, human rights legislation etc) would prove whether we have learned the lessons of the past and can dialogue with a world that is proud to be secular and lay.
Maltese clericalism is seen in the way some Melchizedeks dress, feeling happy with their long black skirts, parading their ‘golden’ crosses to distinguish rank and status, the archaic titles used, remnants of a nostalgic Constantinian shift and the reaction to Caesaropapism, ‘monsignore’, ‘canon’, ‘arciprete’ , ‘eċċellenza’, ‘your Grace’ and all the trappings of power.
Clericalism is the main cancer of the local Church
Some act as feudal lords in their fiefdom. Some parishes are becoming like museums with ornate clerical garbs of pre-Vatican II on show. Some nostalgics still cling to Latin rather than our own language. In some parishes, before the celebration of the sacrament of unity, they would distribute the liturgical vestments according to title and rank.
This year, I will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of my priesthood. I have learned many lessons since our ordination of 50 priests for the 50th anniversary of Mgr Michael Gonzi as Bishop of Malta. A world record, I presume.
I have learned not only to love the Church that made me what I am now but also to have a passion for the Church. This passion for the Church, as in the case of so many of my generation, was inculcated in us by a unique personality: Fr Joseph Bernard SJ.
He taught us that having a passion for the Church has nothing to do with ‘blind obedience’. On the contrary, I have learned that ‘blind obedience’ is servitude, which has nothing to do with the freedom of a child of God. Obedience should have a reference point that is the one and only Jesus Christ. The Church, and its magisterium, is a means not an end in itself. Clericalism makes the means an end in itself.
The other reason why the Maltese Church is distancing itself from Pope Francis’s Church is omertà - the camouflage of truth, The Truth. It has nothing to do with Christ and His Church. Omertá is just power. That’s why the Church in Malta is like a field hospital after battle.
Omertà is a very ugly word. Attributed to an institution, especially if it claims higher moral ground, is nothing but disastrous.
Omertà is a very loaded word. It’s the fruit of fear and insecurity.
Omertà brings to mind the Mafia and its code of silence. It demands of its members a total silence about any crimes of which they have knowledge of.
I would not dare to use such a title unless my conscience evaluated a whole string of recent murky events: the Vatileaks, corruption, money laundering, careerism, jealousy, rivalries and so forth, denounced publicly by Pope Francis and leading to radical changes in the running of the Vatican.
The titular bishop of San Leone, who also happens to be a Bishop of Malta, “highly respected among his peers around the world for his lecturing skills and his expertise in child protection issues”, had the courage to speak squarely on “omertà” in the Church. Rarely, if ever, has a Vatican official used the word omertà to compare the reluctance of some in the Church to come clean. I spoke publicly about this (http://frcolin.blogspot.com/search/label/Omertà).
“The teaching… that truth is at the basis of justice explains why a deadly culture of silence, or omertà, is in itself wrong and unjust,” Bishop Charles Scicluna said.
It’s not his own personal policy. It’s the Pope’s. Some would have speculated that Mgr Scicluna would be sent to Malta to silence him because some officials would feel uncomfortable with his clear stand on issues of credibility and justice in the Church. As Winfield Nicole said: “If you want to silence someone, you don’t make him a bishop” (November 18, 2012).
The story has just begun.