The Church voiced its opinion about the government’s proposed intention to build a university at Żonqor Point because of the impact on the environment this would create. Immediately, voices were heard – albeit not official voices – protesting that we are back to the 1960s and that the Church should stick to spiritual matters.
Before arguing either way we need to keep in mind that ‘politics’ has two meanings. We use politics referring to ‘party politics’, in which an individual or a group promotes a particular political party and its ideology. Those who are critical of the Church whenever it makes a statement that may be critical of a particular stand of the government (or of the Opposition, for that matter), limit themselves to the above definition of ‘politics’.
However, ‘politics’, or things of the polis, the city (in Grecian times, the city was the State), has another meaning. It is not about political parties but about issues of the State and/or of society that impact on the life of the people.
When the Church (or whoever) criticises an issue, it does not necessarily follow that they are against a political party or the government. Those who recently wanted to abrogate the derogation of spring hunting were not against the government but against spring hunting. Nor were the hunters’ associations against any political party. They were simply in favour of the derogation.
Next we have to question how much truth there is in saying that the Church should stick to spiritual matters. Actually, what is necessary is to define ‘spiritual’. Unfortunately many exaggerate the distinction between the human and the spiritual.
If we read the Gospel carefully we soon realise that Jesus, most of the time, spoke of human values and defended those who were marginalised or made victim by society. The message we get is that what is genuinely human is also spiritual because it is backed by God. The Church believes that none better than the Gospel can teach us what is genuinely human.
The Church needs to denounce choices judged to be detrimental to humanity
In the footsteps of Christ, the Church needs to denounce choices judged to be detrimental to humanity. Jesus taught us to ask that God’s Kingdom may come. The ‘Kingdom of God’ has been interpreted in various ways. While it has other meanings, a good way of rendering this prayer would be ‘May the world become as God would want it to be’.
This prayer is a mission for the Church because it was Christ’s mission: making the world as much as possible a place where peace, justice, solidarity among people and nations flourish. So, the Church not only has a right to prophetically make its voice heard about issues that impact on the life of the people; it also has a duty to do so.
Of course, everything happens in a context, and although many years have passed since the 1960s, the relationship between the official Church and the Labour Party in Malta may not have healed completely on the level of emotions.
The happenings of the 1960s – although complex – were not mainly about issues but about the relationship between Church and State. Interventions by the Church on issues like same-sex marriage, abortion and the environment are a completely different matter.
On the other hand, truth always needs to respect third parties; it is not enough for it to be objectively so. It is necessary to build mutual trust. It is the onus of the Church in Malta to gain the credibility of every section of the population. This needs to be taken into consideration whenever statements are made.
One way of earning this credibility is by being promptly critical of anything that goes against the principles of the Gospel, irrespective of which quarters it may be coming from. The Church also needs to be prophetic by example, that is, by living according to what it preaches.
When this is done, the onus of liberating oneself of prejudice will no longer be with the Church. Ultimately, as the Gospel puts it, only those who have ears will hear.
ajsmicallef@gmail.com
Fr Alfred Micallef is a member of the Society of Jesus.