I read with interest the article about The Today Public Policy Institute (The Sunday Times of Malta, March 12). The institute “aims to develop sound public policies, stimulate public debate and inform public opinion on issues of national importance”. It also affirms that it seeks solutions that are “just, fair, equitable and workable for the common good of Maltese society, regardless of background, gender or political affiliation”.

To have a think tank independent of politicians, that advises the government on good governance and proposes public policies, is not only encouraging but also recommended. But, I ask, how representative of society are the members that form part of this think tank? I can’t see why, for example, the Church, which is an integral part of society and whose social teaching deals with the dignity of the human person and the common good, is not represented.

The social teaching of the Church contains precious information that needs to be consulted. Society concerns man and the doctrine of the Church has the human person, made in the image of God, at the heart of its doctrine. The problems we are facing today, whether social, economic or environmental, are mainly the result of policies that ignore the ethical and moral dimension in man.

However sound and skillful the individuals forming part of The Today Public Policy Institute are, we do need someone representing the social teaching of the Church, not to dictate but to enrich and widen the debate.

Today, when we speak so much of freedom of speech and thought, I don’t think anyone is so narrow-minded not to realise that consulting the social doctrine of the Church when debating public policies is showing one and all how unprejudiced and open we want the debate to be.

Let the Public Policy Institute consult a wider spectrum of society, including the Church, whose social teaching is a guiding light for all those who seek to enact and implement social, economic and public policies.

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