Gozo Bishop Mario Grech. Photo: Jason Borg

While charitable donations are one way of overcoming poverty, the abuse of social services, corrupt practices and tax evasion are indirectly leading to an increase in poverty, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has warned.

Speaking during Mass celebrating the feast of St Anthony of Padua, Mgr Grech said that while it was proven that Malta had some of the most generous citizens, it was important to be aware of other ways through which poverty could be battled.

Tax collection, Mgr Grech continued, was one of the means available to the State to collect funds, which could then be directed to a variety of services, such as health, education and security.

“Those who evade tax would be weakening the financial strength of the State to carry out vital projects. Perhaps the wealthy would not be impacted as much by a reduction in services but the poor, who have no other ways of seeking alternative help, suffer.”

The same, Mgr Grech continued, occurred in the case of the abuse of social services.

“When there is waste or exploitation of social services, we would be stealing bread from the mouths of the hungry. Such irresponsible use of social services increases poverty.”

Corruption – in every aspect of human activity, such as the sectors of salaries, education, commerce, justice, the awarding of promotions – was not only another means of theft, but could also be a dangerous weapon.

“When someone obtains something which does not belong to him through foul means, this means he would be snatching it away from the person to whom it rightfully belongs.

“Those with no conscience who descend into the mire of corruption not only would be becoming wealthier unjustly, but would be riding other people.”

Such people have the duty to return what they had obtained wrongfully, the bishop concluded.