Once again, and not for the first time in recent history, the Malta Union of Teachers, with myself in the inevitable forefront, has ended up criticising the Malta Diocese on yet another hot issue. This time it is about the Catholic values of personnel in Church schools.

To be fair, as yet there is no official dispute with the Diocese and the Archbishop’s secretariat was quick to point out that the documents in question are still being studied and consulted upon, after we issued a press release about it.

Moreover, now that we are in possession of the documents, it is very clear that most of the ideas were not put forward by Church schools themselves but by a handful of religious persons, arguably detached from reality. These same persons are now doing the rounds with Church school teachers trying to convince them about the documents without even having the decency to discuss their ideas with their representative union.

Let me get down to theissues themselves.

First of all, is the MUT contesting the teaching of Catholic values in Church schools? Not at all and whoever is floating the idea (we even have priests who are instigating parents to ‘rise’ against the MUT’s arrogance) is either completely dumb or is suffering from the ostrich syndrome.

Secondly, what are Catholic values and who can teach them?

The Diocese, in its documents, is insisting that in Church schools all personnel should be in conformity with the Church’s teachings at all times because this is the only way students in Church schools can acquire proper values.

This reasoning is flawed from the outset because it is based on two assumptions that are repeatedly proved to be wrong.

The first assumption is that all persons who are ‘in conformity’ with Church teachings are living a perfect life as explained by our Lord. We have all seen from recent events that even those who should be nearest to the teachings of Christ have their vulnerabilities and are also prone to err.

Moreover, this reasoning is indirectly passing a damning judgement on those who are perceived as not being in conformity with the Church’s teachings, including Catholics who had problems in their marriage and had to seek separation, Catholics who are of a different sexual orientation and so on because it is being assumed that these persons cannot teach Catholic values.

There is an obvious difference between the educational competencies of professionals in education and their personal life choices

This is an outrageous idea on various counts. To start with, it is in complete contrast with the recent declarations by the Universal Church, and the Diocese itself, that it should embrace all people as God’s children (not to mention the concept introduced by Our Lord Himself when He invited those without sin to throw the first stone). Moreover, this concept is arguably illegal, discriminatory, judgemental and absolutely outdated.

This is not just my opinion but is backed by facts. School audits by the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education have shown that among schools identified as going down the drain some are led by people that, from an Ecclesiastical point of view, are in conformity with Church teachings, including religious persons. On the other hand, schools that are doing very well include those that are being managed by persons who, via this reasoning, would be judged as living in sin.

Thus, and by way of conclusion, it is pretty obvious to serious citizens, and Catholics, that there is an obvious difference between the educational competencies of professionals in education and their personal life choices.

Recently, I met with a case whereby an exemplary teacher was abandoned by her husband after he chose to pursue an affair with another person, leaving her alone with two children after 14 years of marriage. This teacher had no choice but to seek separation. Who are we to condemn her and decide that she is not able to teach values to children just because she is legally separated?

Unfortunately, the Maltese Diocese, arguably against the tide of positive vibes brought about by the Pope, is apparently taking itself backwards in a time warp and has set itself in self destruct mode.

Few people are agreeing with me at this time on this one because many are failing (or refusing) to do the mathematics of all that is going on. In this country, foresight is as lacking as €20 bills on pavements but if the course is not changed, people will look back in 15 years’ time and say that one day a guy from the MUT was right.

As a Catholic myself, I am very worried.

Kevin Bonello is president of the Malta Union of Teachers.