Reference is made to the letter by the Archbishop Curia’s communication officer titled Scrutiny Of Church NGOs (July 10).

The Curia’s “issues arising from the legislation” have been the subject of discussion with the government since 2008. I am not aware that “agreement was reached on a number of issues” at least not mine. Nor do I share the impression the communications officer’s letter gives that progress has been registered on these issues that concern the registration of Church organisations in terms of the Voluntary Organisations Act (2007).

The issues are fundamentally two: (1) article 4 of the law, which restricts any benefits of any kind received from “the Government or any entity controlled by the Government” to enrolled organisations with provision of ministerial discretion in providing exemptions to it; (2) the commissioner’s investigative and other powers over non-enrolled organisations included in the law.

While the Curia objects to both these elements in the law, its NGOs have continued, since 2008, to apply for and enjoy the full range of State benefits through mass and non-justified ministerial exemptions and this is the context of Deborah Schembri’s statement.