The current hysterical reaction of the Malta Union of Teachers against the Church should be cause for concern. Apparently, confidential draft documents that were being discussed by the Church authorities included guidelines that would enable Church schools to safeguard their Catholic ethos. Obviously, such a report would have addressed the sensitive issue concerning the credentials of teachers in such schools.
This draft was deceitfully leaked to the MUT officials before any decision was made and before an official and final report was concluded.
Common courtesy should be the hallmark of any civilised person, all the more so of representatives of a trade union of teachers who should lead by example. One would have expected that if the MUT had any apprehensions it would have approached the Church authorities and raised them there.
Instead, it went public and lambasted the Church, accusing it of “… reverting to the most oppressive and repressive employment practices reminiscent of the Middle Ages”. For good measure, they were backed by the Malta Humanist Association, an atheist organisation, and later by the General Workers’ Union. Finally, we had an article by MUT president Kevin Bonello (on December 17).
The lack of civility and logic in his article beggar belief. He calls “completely dumb or suffering of the ostrich syndrome” those who suggest that the MUT is contesting the teaching of Catholic values in Church schools. He goes on to say: “What are Catholic values and who can teach them?” In the arguments he makes in his article he draws wrong conclusions and then shoots them down.
What is at issue is not the difficulties faced by teachers in their personal life. Besides, who is Bonello to determine who is trying to live a perfect life and who is not? What is at issue is, should the Church employ teachers who would undermine its teaching?
The Church is right to be vigilant in upholding the Catholic ethos of its schools
One presumes that the Church is more competent than Bonello in determining what Catholic values are. Publishing confidential draft reports and, worse still, making sweeping statements in the press are surely not examples of them.
The Church is right to be vigilant in upholding the Catholic ethos of its schools. The Church is only respecting the right of Catholic parents who decide and want to have their children brought up in the faith.
The MUT must be also aware of the individual identity of Church schools that are run by different religious orders. This pluralism in Church schools is a heritage that has enriched education in Malta and has been a privilege for so many of their pupils.
One would have expected the MUT to cherish this legacy. After all, the State and the Church are only fulfilling their responsibilities when they support parents in the education of their children.
Needless to say, the Church has a great responsibility to employ, train and nurture teachers who are able to fulfil the mission of promoting a Christian formation. In other words, this implies something more than academic qualifications.
Those teachers who studied at Mater Admirabilis, run by Sacred Heart sisters, and St Michael’s Teacher Training College, run by De La Salle brothers, are well aware what Catholic values are.
To quote the Church document SCCE Malgré les déclarations of June 24,1977: “The nobility of the task to which teachers are called demands that, in imitation of Christ, the only teacher, they reveal the Christian message not only by word but by every facet of their behaviour. This is what makes a difference between a school whose education is permeated by the Christian spirit and one in which religion is only regarded as an academic subject like any other.”
Finally, it is a basic right of any organisation to expect and ensure that its philosophy is upheld. Would the MUT expect the Communist Party to employ dyed-in-the-wool capitalists as its activists? Would the MUT enrol as its members those who do not have a clue about trade union principles and the teaching vocation?
The shabby behaviour of the MUT makes one wonder what the real motives behind these public outbursts are. One hopes it is not part of an orchestrated scheme to further hinder the mission of the Church in Malta.