Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi has warned that some Church schools could close down unless their financial situation improves.

Writing in The Times today, Mgr Cauchi says the Church's financial situation is not at all rosy and he believes several valuable Church initiatives are going to "die a natural death" if help is not forthcoming.

"A number of our schools are encountering difficulties... The long battle for Church schools, which had such a high profile in the 1980s, would have been in vain if the funds are allowed to dry up - meaning they will have to close down or be used for other purposes..."

He said these schools were being made to wait months for money due to them from the government under the Church schools' agreement.

"Moreover, the government overlooks our schools when it comes to repair and refurbishment projects being carried out elsewhere."

The bishop also says that the decisions of some local councils and some government departments have created needless headaches for the Church.

"This could have been avoided if there had been a clearer idea, on both sides, of their different roles and jurisdiction. In short, the Church should have ample room to do the things that it has the right to do without any undue direct or indirect interference," Mgr Cauchi says.