Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has insisted that the Christian community must take an active role in the nation’s socio-political debate.

Delivering homily during High Mass to mark the feast of St George, Mgr Grech said Christians could contribute to the public debate on issues such as human life, the protection of the family based on a marriage which could not be dissolved, the defence of minors, freedom from new forms of slavery such as drugs, and the sort of economy which the people deserved.

Faith and politics could collaborate. Normally man used reason to establish order. But reason was often ethically blind and faith helped human reason to achieve its aims without risks, the bishop said.

It was a pity that in this country some considered religion as being a personal and private experience which should not have a bearing on public life. There was no threat to the secular state if the people expressed their beliefs in the public debate and thus contributed to political and legislative decisions, he stressed.

“The Catholic faith cannot be neutralised and eliminated from the public debate” Mgr Grech said. Indeed, it has a right, like other sections of society, to participate in it.