With reference to the President of Malta’s address on the occasion of Republic Day, may I express my doubts regarding the phrase: “Tibdil soċjali kbir ġenneb mhux ftit lir-reliġjon Kattolika bħala forza organizzativa tal-kultura”, which was translated into English as: “The Catholic religion is no longer central to cultural activity because of the vast changes happening in our society.”

It seems to me that the phrase in Maltese expresses the President’s concern that many social changes have made the Catholic religion less important as a contributor to culture.

The phrase in English, however, shows that the President opines that the Catholic religion has lost its grip on cultural activities “because of the vast changes happening in our society”.

Culture and cultural activities are not the same. If the Catholic religion has become less important to culture, it is a very serious problem for Maltese society but it has to be proved.

If, however, the Catholic religion is not contributing to cultural activities, this is surely not the case in Malta.