Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has emphasised the importance of keeping a clear separation between the State and the Church, when meeting Archbishop Elect Charles Scicluna. However, why bring up this topic in the very first meeting with the new Archbishop of Malta? Why not, rather, insist on the need of greater cooperation for the good of society as a whole?

Today, more than ever, the need of the Church’s guidelines and direction is felt due to the fact that our society has become secularised and is discarding all ethical and moral principles. Who is going to set rules and decide what is ethically correct or not correct in a society guided mainly by economic growth and material progress?

We all know that the role of the Church principally lies in the realm of morality. It is the Church that, through its social doctrine, deals with the moral order of things in all areas, be it the social, economical, political or environmental sphere.

Yes, let us, by all means, insist on the separation of powers between the Church and State. But let us not, under the excuse of such autonomy, silence the Church and stop it from guiding us or correcting us when the State commits mistakes.

When referring to this autonomy, Catholic social teaching affirms that this distinction “is a value that has been attained and recognised by the Catholic Church and belongs to the inheritance of contemporary civilisation”.

However, the Church has emphatically stated that “Catholic moral doctrine... clearly rejects the prospects of an autonomy that is understood as independence from the moral law”.

Let us treasure the role of the Church and its social teaching. Let us not be shy to heed to its doctrine. Let the State cooperate, dialogue and consult the Church on social issues for it is a champion in the pursuit of human dignity.