Much has been said of the so-called progress this country has made with the advancement of civil liberties over recent years.

For those whose mindset has been secularised to the point of ignoring the lessons of the history of civilisation, the process set in motion to enable the “freedom of all instincts” couldn’t have come about fast enough.  For others with enough lucidity to understand what has really occurred in the Maltese islands, the civil liberties onslaught has had one principal target: the traditional Maltese family.

The harsh reality is that the institution of the family in Malta has undergone a process of disintegration that has accelerated over the last few decades. The evident signs are everywhere.

One only need consider the introduction of divorce, the diminishing numbers of traditional marriages, the increasing acceptance of homosexual “marriages”, more single-parent families, more unmarried couples, more children born out of wedlock and anti-conception practices as the norm.

More recently we have been regaled by the spectacle of civil society activists promoting the abortion agenda, appealing to the “values” propelled by Malta’s membership of the European Union to justify their heinous agenda.

They will stop at nothing until the utter disintegration of the intellectual, moral and social unity instilled by 2,000 of Christianity in Malta has been achieved.

Thus with the precious assistance of successive Nationalist and Labour governments, we have sought “nature without grace, reason without faith, freedom without authority, and, at times, authority without freedom”, as Pope Pius XII correctly observed in 1952 in his allocution to Italy’s Catholic Action movement.

The recent theatrical spectacle De-terminated is a case in point.  It masquerades as a cultural tool to promote a mature debate on what is intrinsically evil, the termination of human life in the mother’s womb, versus that which is intrinsically good, namely the criminalisation of such a barbaric practice.

Within the ranks of those who wish to save what’s left of Christian civilisation in this country, the spirit of defeatism abounds

Malta’s recent history teaches us that plays, films, orchestrated chat shows and other forms of media promotion act as precious auxiliaries towards disseminating the notion that the right to think, feel and do everything that unrestrained passions demand is wholesome and good for society.  Indeed, in an age where logical thought is frowned upon and where emotional thinking is rewarded, one need not marvel over the current disordered tendency for pride and sensuality to trump self-restraint and responsibility.  Hence the crafty use of artistic devices to advance the liberal anti-Christian platform. Within the ranks of those who wish to save what’s left of Christian civilisation in this country, the spirit of defeatism abounds.  One constantly encounters absurdities advancing the notion to avoid religious arguments, or frowning on courses of action deemed “counterproductive” uttered by those who should know better.

In a secularised and  multicultural society (which nobody clamoured for), it is liberal secularism that sets the ground rules and so-called conservatives tell us ad nauseam that we may only formulate arguments, tactics and strategies on a terrain chosen by the liberal adversary.  What a perfect model of foolishness. 

What is worse, these well-meaning souls caution us to avoid being negative when objective reality shows that the negation of a negation corresponds to an affirmation.  Their failure to understand that simply explaining the truth in a manner indifferent to the correction of error has got us nowhere or worse, has led us to where we are now.   

It is high time that we engage in polemics, revive the notions of good and evil and avoid all formulations that smack of secularist or interdenominational morality. Why?  Simply because secularism and interdenominationalism logically lead to amorality.

A fine example of how the liberal mindset may be combated was given by local singer Matthew Grech on the X-Factor programme hosted recently.  This gentleman had the temerity to speak the truth about homosexuality.

Would to God that many more like him would raise their voices and, in the words of Pope John Paul II: “Learn to think, speak and act according to the evangelical principles of simplicity and clarity: ‘Yes, Yes, No, No’.  Learn to call white, white, and black, black – evil as evil, and good, good.  Learn to call sin, sin and not liberation or progress, even if the current fashions and propaganda are opposed to this.”  (Homily to university students at St Peter’s Basilica, March 26, 1981).

It is only thus that we can prevent the complete de-Christianisation of Maltese society.

Philip Beattie is president, Maltese Society for Christian Civilisation – Pro Malta Christiana.

This is a Times of Malta print opinion piece