I have read some of the articles and letters in this newspaper as a plea against the massacre of Christians and other ethnic groups in Iraq. I am very struck by the Talking Point written by Miriam Sciberras entitled ‘Horrific sound of silence’, (Times of Malta, August 13).
It is one of the very best articles I have read in the press. She strongly denounces, like the prophet Isaiah, silence and indifference. A few days before, Times of Malta also denounced the apathy.
I did the same last week at a meeting of the Aid to the Church in Need at theDolmen Hotel.
Coming to Malta from Milan, I too was struck by the silence and the indifference of both the Church and the people about the genocide taking place.
Unlike the prayer vigils, Masses, marches and placards in Milan, I did not see a sign of Christian concern over here.
For 10 minutes I heard on a local religious radio a barrage of announcements of festas, religious gatherings and so forth.
There has never been a gathering of prayer for our suffering brethren in Mosul, Iraq or even Libya. When I complained with a distinguished prelate he told me that the parishes could not find a place as they were busy with the festas.
Quite rightly, Sciberras wrote that we remain indifferent to the suffering of the people of Iraq at our own peril.
In the past, Malta prayed so much for the ‘Church of silence’ behind the Iron Curtain. We are also generous towards the missions, but somehow this time we are the ‘Church of silence’.
I feel that abroad there is more of a conscience of solidarity. The plight of Christians of the Middle East and the faith in the region has even moved Prince Charles, who wishes to give wider publicity to the sufferings of Christians. Pope Francis exhorts us daily to prayer and help, while he sent Cardinal Fernando Filoni to Iraq as his envoy.
Unlike the prayer vigils, Masses, marches and placards in Milan, I did not see a sign of Christian concern over here
The Archbishop of Lyon, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, led a French Church delegation of solidarity in flesh and blood with Iraqi Christians expelled from Mosul by the Islamic State radicals. The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, sponsored a march in London with Muslims and Jews to put pressure on the government to intervene in defence of Christians and Palestinians.
Rallies and Masses were held in Paris outside Notre Dame Cathedral, where many participants wore the Arabic letter ‘N’ for Nazarene, daubed on the doors of Mosul Christians by the Islamic State terrorists.
A Chaldean priest recited the Our Father in Aramaic. Cardinal Barbarin said: “Many French people will wear the ‘N’ symbol in solidarity and I will say the Our Father daily in your language until your return to Mosul”.
In Washington DC, hundreds of protesters marched to the White House to demand that President Barack Obama take action to help those terrorised by the Islamists. However, what strikes me is how the millions of Muslims, who I am sure condemn these atrocities, are also in this “horrific sound of silence”.
After weeks of silence we now have a pastoral letter from our bishops, hoping that the clergy will not only read it, but also pray daily and exhort the people to get in tune with the appeals of Pope Francis.
One sign of encouragement is the work of a group of laymen involved with Aid to the Church in Need, who are at the forefront in prayer and help in solidarity with those suffering because of their faith.
This NGO works under the aegis of the Vatican. It has also come out with a T-shirt with the letter ‘N’, which people are encouraged to buy and wear.
At the end of the month it is also organising a pilgrimage to the Madonna delle Lacrime, in Syracuse, Sicily, to pray and meet the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who will speak on the theme ‘Peace in the Holy Land. Is it possible?’
I encourage readers to contact Stephen Axisa of Aid to the Church in Need, on info@acnmalta.org or telephone 2148 7818.
Mgr Charles Vella is the founder of the Cana Movement.
• Lino Spiteri’s column is not appearing this week.