Priests who were “less than compassionate” with the plight of asylum seekers would find themselves in hot water, Archbishop Charles Scicluna warned as he underlined the need for a culture of multiplicity which exists in harmony.
“Anyone who is less than compassionate will find themself in my office the following day. If you have names and surnames of any priests who have done this, then pass them along,” he told Times of Malta’s editorial team during a question-and-answer session last Thursday.
Sitting forward to make the point in the modest wooden chair he took with him to the newsroom in Valletta, the new Archbishop had assumed the role of guest editor of Times of Malta for the day.
The Church does not have a right to be listened to
Between penning a spirited editorial on raising environmental awareness and assigning a number of different stories to reporters, Mgr Scicluna found time to let journalists probe into some pressing questions.
Mgr Scicluna was asked what he would do to ensure the Church did not shy away from weighing in on sensitive issues, something for which it has long been criticised.
Mgr Scicluna nodded affirmatively and tried to put concerns to bed saying: “That season is closed now. We can’t sit in silence”.
He said he was committed to stating his position on national debates, “regardless of their sensitivity” and was already working on doing so.
Illustrating this point further, he pointed to the upcoming organ donation reform, saying a team of experts had finalised a position paper on the matter and he would be speaking about it after discussing his position internally.
“Of course, we are looking at such issues and we will speak out. Not in the language of conflict, but in a way that puts human dignity above all other things,” he said.
True to his word, Mgr Scicluna was not coy on the matter and, when asked about his personal position on organ donation, said he agreed with introducing an opt-in system. Such a method would see potential donors register for organ harvesting before going under the knife.
Edging forward in his seat, Mgr Scicluna said his position was based on the belief that consent should not be assumed but clearly given.
However, he also understood the wider implications of the legislation, and said he was aware that turning Malta into an organ bank would have positive economic repercussions, primarily through health tourism.
Mgr Scicluna was also asked how he hoped to attract new followers to the Church and how he intended to reconcile social progress with its core beliefs.
His solution was simple. He believes adhering to the Gospel’s central message of compassion and tolerance did not require it to be in conflict with progress. He added that he knew the Church had to wake up to the reality that it was “just one voice among many”.
Church schools provide education together with the Catholic ethos. If I am not able to maintain that, I would rather close the schools
“We need to be realistic about our position in Maltese society. The Church does not have a right to be listened to and the situation has changed tremendously. We have to earn listeners by speaking in the language of compassion,” he said.
Mgr Scicluna emphasised this further by referring to Pope Francis, who, while remaining loyal to the Gospel, had managed to introduce “fresh” language that was attracting people to the Church, he said.
“When I meet young people I ask myself ‘What language am I going to speak to reach them?’” he said.
Mgr Scicluna later stood firm when asked about perceptions of liberal values being “imposed” on the Church.
Asked for his views about a government activity held in a State school to mark one year after the contentious Civil Unions Act was introduced and how he would react if an attempt were made to hold such an activity in a Church school, Mgr Scicluna was categorical:
“Church schools provide education together with the Catholic ethos. If I am not able to maintain that, I would rather close the schools,” he said.
‘This is an invasion of the poor, an invasion of the desperate’
The Maltese are not racist, but have been “taken by surprise” by the migration crisis, the Archbishop believes.
“This isn’t a question of ignorance or racism. This is a situation that unfortunately can bring out the worst in people,” he said.
Probed about the migration issue, Mgr Scicluna said he understood the response of many people, who instinctively feared for their own “self preservation” when faced with news of a migrant influx.
This, he said, did not make the Maltese less compassionate people, but was simply a human reaction.
“You can think about this sort of thing. But in practice, when the knock comes at your door, then you never really know how you are going to react,” he said.
“This is an invasion of the poor. It is an invasion of the desperate who are fleeing for a better life,” he said.
Asked what he thought could be done to help, he said the narratives used played a major role in influencing society’s reaction.
“I must commend the President [Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca]. She has spoken out about this and is spreading a positive narrative that is important,” he said, also commending the work done by the Migrant Offshore Aid Station.
Asked what could be done to counter racist sentiments more concretely, Mgr Scicluna said this would take time. He said an “organic integration” of migrants into the Maltese and the wider European community would require efforts to establish a shared culture.
“We will require a culture of multiplicity that exists in harmony,” he said.
Mgr Scicluna, however, also said that migrants would have to do their bit to integrate.
“People have to understand that they are coming to Europe for a better quality of life. But, if in Africa you wear certain clothes, in England [or anywhere else in Europe] you must adapt. Nature itself tells you that that you need to adapt,” he said.
Asked if he felt the EU was doing enough to help migrants, both in terms of promoting integration but also in terms of saving lives, Mgr Scicluna’s reply was a stern “no”.
While acknowledging that EU leaders faced their own political pressures, Mgr Scicluna said the migration crisis could not be ignored.
Asked about his solution to the problem, Mgr Scicluna paused, and said Europe would have to move away from a colonial view of Africa.
“An unstable Africa is best for those who want to rape Africa and steal its resources. We cannot look at this as colonisers but we must help it become the country we all want it to be,” he said.
Foreign judges consulted to cut Church tribunal backlog
When Mgr Scicluna was appointed to head the Maltese Church, he said institutions such as the Church tribunal desperately needed to be revamped.
Asked what was being done to address the situation, Mgr Scicluna said he had already rolled up his sleeves and was seeking help from experts.
The Archbishop said he had contacted foreign Church tribunal judges, who had agreed to assist in cutting down the backlog of long-overdue cases.
The tribunal is responsible for deciding whether a broken marriage qualifies for an annulment, a procedure that allows both parties to remarry in the Church.
The lengthy process, however, has come under harsh criticism in the past, as many cases waited several years before a decision was taken.
Mgr Scicluna said he was aware of the problems, which were “not limited to personnel”.
He said he also wanted to change the tribunal’s approach to dealing with people and called for more compassionate listening.
“When people come to the tribunal they are [emerging from] traumatic experiences. We are talking about broken marriages, each with its own sad story. We need to offer pastoral and compassionate listening to these people too,” he said.