Almost a year to the day (August 17), I titled my commentary ‘Ecclesiastical blood transfusions’. My concluding paragraph about the situation of leadership in the Church had gene­rated some discussion and controversy, to put it mildly. Other important issues raised were bypassed. Therefore it is time to revisit the themes mentioned then in the light of circumstances now.

That particular commentary had taken its cue from a homily deli­vered by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech when a relic with the blood of St Lawrence was brought to the parish of San Lawrenz.

Grech had then lamented the feeling of tiredness and sloth in the Church which necessitated strong blood transfusions.

Grech rightly lamented the fact that the Church sometimes gives the impression that it reaches unacceptable compromises with contemporary culture while religion is relegated to a ‘tradition of our fathers’. The Church’s relationship with contemporary culture is one of the strongest challenges it faces.

Several strategies could be adopted, but as Grech says, we cannot let our religion be relegated to a tradition; nor, I add, can we accept that religion is excluded from public discourse or be treated as simply the domain of the individual’s private life. The globa­lised culture that we form part of is relentlessly pushing in that direction as it is immersed in the spirit of relativism. The notion that desires are considered to be rights – if I wish it then I have a right for it – is strongly embedded in the contemporary psyche.

Individualism has undermined the true spirit of solidarity. Individual good is considered to be more important than the common good. The cynical attitude of ‘What’s in it for me?’ is rampant. Moreover, it is very evident that this philosophy is influencing the government’s public policy, particularly regarding the concept of marriage and the family.

Unfortunately several individ­uals occupying different positions along the ecclesiastical food chain have moved from a combative/ crusading kind of reaction to contemporary cultural and policy challenges, to an inert stance of silence or hushed remarks in private. Their pendulum recognises only these two extremes.

The middle ground, on the other hand, should be assertive advocacy. This is a duty the Catholic community should possess towards the basic mission of the Church and the democratic nature of a pluralistic society. A silent Church is a betrayed Church, and this eventually leads to a poorer pluralist society since an important voice would be missing.

A silent Church is a betrayed Church, and this eventually leads to a poorer pluralist society since an important voice would be missing

Neither a triumphalist nor a silent Church are on the agenda of Pope Francis. He has just sent a message to the Knights of Columbus, US, which can enlighten the strategy the local Church should take. The Pope noted that the institution of marriage, which he defined as “a life-long covenant of love and fidelity between a man and a woman”, is under attack from powerful cultural forces. The reaction should be the bearing of witness to the basic truths about marriage and the family, as such witness (by definition a public action) is also “essential to the wise and just ordering of society”.

Pope Francis says that American Catholics, precisely as responsible citizens, should as “individuals and institutions, speak and act in accordance with the dictates of their conscience”. He says that when faced “by invasive public policies, or by the growing influence of a culture which sets alleged personal rights above the common good, there is need for a mobilisation of consciences on the part of all those citizens who, regardless of party or creed, are concerned for the overall welfare of society”.

Ecclesiastical jargon such as ‘bearing witness’ and the ‘mobili­sation of consciences’ is the equivalent of what I referred to as assertive advocacy, one of the blood transfusions the local Church urgently needs.

Grech had also proposed blood transfusions that are needed if the Church wants to renew its inner life. The renewal of the liturgy is one of them, and parish management is one I added in my commentary.

I repeat some tangible suggestions I had made last year which perhaps can help in a discussion about the way forward for the Church:

Since Mass on Sunday is still by far the most patronised Church activity, concrete plans should be made so that Sunday Mass would be both an edifying and gratifying experience. In many instances it fails on both counts. Besides, as Grech had said, on special occasions the liturgy is more akin to theatrical presentations than an experience of the sacred.

A pastoral policy should be adopted obliging every parish to donate to charitable projects within and outside the parish as much money as it spends on the parish feast or on a new ‘opra’ or similar material project. Charity is at the core of being a Christian.

We can never give enough as we can never be Christians enough.

Instead of considering parish budgets as an accounting exercise they should be seen as important pastoral instruments outlining the main pastoral initiatives that the parish would embark on that year.

The parish budget should have three main three headings: diakonia (works of charity helping the vulnerable particularly the new poor), the liturgy (the celebrations that enable us to live our hope in the kingdom to come) and the ca­te­cheti­cal/evangelisation dimension (the initiatives and projects which enlighten our beliefs). Everything else is of secondary importance.

Furthermore, there are two things that I believe cannot be left unsaid by anyone animated by the love of the Church.

In the coming months I hope Archbishop Charles Scicluna finalises, as soon as humanly possible, the reform of the Curia; sets up his pastoral team, and clearly outlines to all pastoral operators his vision for our archdiocese for the coming years.

Finally, I hope that our two dioceses really work in tandem. The main pastoral challenges that face the Church are not separately directed towards the archdiocese of Malta or the diocese of Gozo.

They are challenges that affect both territories. They are either solved together or not solved at all. This is the most important blood transfusion we need.

joseph.borg@um.edu.mt

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