Easter Sunday was scheduled to see the start of a new much-needed era in the relations between the ecclesiastical authorities and the band clubs community regarding the celebration of religious feasts. However, two months after the signing of the December 21 agreement between the Archbishop’s Curia and the Band Clubs’ Association, the latter made a surprising announcement that it was suspending the agreement.
It would appear that the Band Clubs’ Association’s present stand has its roots in a February 24 meeting. Indeed, the day after, a section of the press reported reservations on the agreement being expressed at the meeting. It was claimed that the agreement did not reflect the members’ expectations and was signed behind their back.
Then, on February 28, the association’s executive committee issued a statement denying that what had been agreed with the Church did not reflect what was approved by the delegates following two years of discussions and five general and extraordinary meetings. It also refuted the suggestion that the agreement was made behind anybody’s back.
To support such denial, the association raised three particular points. It said that the executive had been informed about the agreement on December 14, that on the same day “a circular was sent to band clubs about the association’s intention to sign the agreement” and that “up to the day the agreement was signed no band club had in any way expressed itself to the contrary”.
It is therefore very difficult to understand what exactly has been happening within the boundaries of the Band Clubs’ Association.
On its part, as expected, the Curia was quick to say that “any agreement reached and signed by two parties should be respected by both parties”. The Church argued that the agreement in question “can only be changed through another agreement between the two” and that “the present agreement remains valid until both parties reach a new agreement”.
Much to its credit, the Curia accepted to have talks with the Band Clubs’ Association in order to assess any difficulties that may have emerged from the agreement. It also let it be known that a meeting between the two parties had been scheduled before the association announced it had suspended the agreement.
What the Band Clubs’ Association seems to be after is an assurance that, with regard to external activities and permits relating to them, band clubs would only be regulated by the civil authorities. This also seems to be the stand of other organisations involved in other sectors of the outdoor manifestations of religious feasts. Yet, according to the Curia, there is nothing mentioned in the agreement that goes against this norm.
Whatever the case, the fresh talks planned for the coming days provide an opportunity to take the bull by the horns to consolidate and reinforce the road map for proper feasts.
If this road map is to succeed, it requires full clarity regarding responsibilities, rights and duties. It also needs goodwill and a sound relationship built on genuine cooperation and coordination accompanied by methods of solid remedial action whenever and wherever this becomes necessary. There should also be an agreed structure, with clear terms of reference, to quickly deal with differences in interpretation that may arise about some part or another of an agreement.
The shared basic aim should be to ensure that the true nature of religious feasts remains paramount while, at the same time, enjoying their cultural and civil aspects in a truly Christian, orderly and dignified manner.