We do not want a Church that sits on a fence, but one that speaks and listens, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this afternoon as he exchanged New Year’s Day greetings with the Archbishop.
Together with Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona and Vicar General Joseph Galea-Curmi, Mgr Charles Scicluna was exchanging greetings with the country’s leaders at the Archbishop's Palace in Valletta.
Flanked by members of his Cabinet, Dr Muscat said the Church should express its opinion about what was going on in society and he looked forward to more discussion in the coming year.
In his address, Mgr Scicluna noted that the current environment permitted dialogue between the Church and the State.
Mgr Scicluna also greeted Opposition leader Simon Busuttil who said 2015 was an annus mirabilis for the Church, following several changes that included the Archbishop’s installation.
“When you speak, people stop and listen,” Dr Busuttil told Mgr Scicluna, wishing that the Archbishop kept this up in the coming year.
In reply, Mgr Scicluna noted that the Church needed to lead by example, and in following Pope Francis’ appeals for the protection of the environment, the Church itself was also responsible in safeguarding the environment.
Meanwhile, when addressing the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who greeted the Archbishop with MPs from both political parties, Mgr Scicluna referred to the recent tabling in Parliament of the Church’s position paper on the Embryo Protection Act.
Speaker Anglu Farrugia noted that as with all such documents, MPs had a copy of the paper as this would help them reflect on the act during debates.
Another delegation that met the Archbishop this afternoon was that from the judiciary, headed by Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, who spoke of a society that was putting aside Catholic values, without replacing them with any point of reference.
President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca also received the public, the authorities and constituted bodies.
When receiving Dr Muscat, President Coleiro Preca emphasised the need to continue addressing problems faced by early school leavers and who found themselves in emotional, social and health problems.
When receiving MPs, she encouraged university authorities to develop a degree in political science and said Parliament should consider the setting up of an academy for politicians and potential politicians.
The President also received, among other, Dr Busuttil. She encouraged the Opposition to be more positive and constructive in the interest of the country.
The Prime Minister and the Opposition leader also exchanged greetings with the countries' authorities, constituted bodies and the public.