Bishop Charles Scicluna has urged society to ponder whether it has “boarded the speed train” to a brand of secularism that shuns God.
In his New Year’s Eve homily, the Apostolic Administrator said the country’s Christian identity was not a threat to freedom of conscience.
He asked: “Is it not perhaps opportune to ask ourselves whether in the name of secularisation we may have boarded the speed train to a certain secularism that shuns God and disdains his guidance as a perceived hindrance to our utopian dreams of liberal progress?”
Celebrating Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Mgr Scicluna said the national anthem represented “an admirable synthesis” of a nation State where faith did not hinder religious freedom and freedom of conscience. Penned by a priest, the national anthem is a prayer to God.
Taking a leaf from the concluding stanza of the anthem that speaks of unity and peace, Mgr Scicluna said striving for reconciliation would be futile if not based on the truth and social justice and if not blessed by the Lord.
It is not outdated to turn to God for our protection and for our guidance
“It is not outdated to turn to God for our protection and for our guidance. Let us recognise God as our creator and saviour. The Lord who created us loves us dearly. He will not betray us, neither will he fail us.”
Mgr Scicluna thanked God for what he described as the gift of “decades of democratic governance”, applauding the “many worthy politicians of different views” who made this possible through their “energy and prowess”.
He also thanked God for Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona’s pastoral stewardship of the Church.
Mgr Cremona resigned from archbishop earlier this year, citing exhaustion, after a summer of discontent saw priests openly criticise his leadership.
Mgr Scicluna referred to Mgr Cremona’s “humble kindness”, which brought and still brings warmth to so many hearts.
Offering his thoughts on the new year, Mgr Scicluna urged those present to reflect on the cathedral’s symbolism as a monument, which along the centuries fought for freedom and matured into resilient tolerance without betraying its roots.
“May it stand as a reminder of the Lord’s blessings that have wrought the sinews of our landscape beautiful and made our culture duly proud,” he said.