The Church is unhappy with the government’s decision to allow commercial establishments to open on public holidays that fall on a Sunday.

“Sunday is the day of the Lord, a day of rest, a day to spend with the family and a social day,” the Church’s Pastoral Commission on Work said yesterday.

As a result of this decision, the commission said, public holidays would for many workers become normal working days.

While acknowledging changes in society, the commission said values, culture, traditions and beliefs should be treasured and not sold out. It said work was important but public holidays existed for workers to find time for themselves, their families, their beliefs and their social lives.

“Sunday is a right and not a privilege. It was a right which had been safeguarded and which workers had fought for and is now being denied to so many employees,” the commission said.

“Why are we taking away Sunday as well? This is a day that has a special meaning for the Maltese, not only from a religious perspective but also from a social dimension.”