Archbishop Charles Scicluna has insisted that freedom of expression has limits, and that nobody has the right to insult Christians.

Speaking during Mass at the Mosta parish church on the occasion of the feast of Santa Marija, Mgr Scicluna said the Christian religion and believers should be respected.

In a reference to the proposed law to decriminalise the vilification of religion, the Archbishop said: “Please do not insult us, such insults offend us. We do not give you the right to offend us.”

Mgr Scicluna said Pope Francis was right when he said that if someone offends one’s mother he would be asking for trouble.

“If the law does not protect Our Lady then we will defend her,” he said.

He added: “Parliament can do whatever it wants, but we too will do our own thing.”

The Archbishop also referred to the proposed new pornography law, saying this was an abuse of freedom of expression. Human dignity, he said, should always be safeguarded.

He said Malta should have the courage to defend its saints and mentioned the statue of Christ the King in Floriana, the work of renowned Maltese sculptor Antonio Sciortino, which commemorates the International Eucharistic Congress of 1913. Besides the imposing figure of Christ, this artistic bronze monument includes the figure of a lady representing Malta, kneeling in honour of Christ.

Mgr Scicluna was warmly applauded by the congregation when he announced that he will celebrating the Santa Marija Mass at Mosta every year.

“From now on, my Santa Marija Cathedral will be here in Mosta,” he said

Mgr Scicluna also referred to the humanist trainers brought over to Malta to instruct members of the Malta Humanist Association on how to celebrate humanist funerals, weddings and other ceremonies. The Archbishop said: “What do these people say at funerals? They only look backwards”.