The Leone Philharmonic Society of Victoria is insisting that outgoing archpriest Mgr Joe Vella Gauci terminates his post in an honourable way and not in the humiliating manner in which he was replaced, society president Michael Caruana said yesterday.
The society also wants to meet the new archpriest, Mgr Guzepp Attard, to ensure that the spirit of cooperation that existed under Mgr Vella Gauci will continue under his successor. Dr Caruana told The Times yesterday that the society promised to cooperate with the new archpriest at the Cathedral parish.
However, until an agreement is reached, a set of five directives given to parishioners of the Cathedral parish during a meeting of the Leone Philharmonic Society on Sunday remain in force.
"The directives will remain in force until Gozo Bishop Mgr Mario Grech meets the Leone Philharmonic Society and a compromise is found," Dr Caruana said.
In a statement, the society said it refuses to accept the arbitrary decision by Bishop Grech to replace Mgr Vella Gauci with Mgr Attard as this move went against the wishes of the community.
The society's directives urge parishioners not to take part in functions by Bishop Mgr Mario Grech at the Cathedral or in the activities of the new archpriest.
Moreover, the society is urging a boycott of the installation ceremony of the new archpriest.
Parishioners were also urged not to take part in radio programmes put on by the Gozo Cathedral or in meetings with the new archpriest.
The controversy arose last week following a controversial reshuffle in the Gozo diocese, particularly the replacement of the archpriests of the Gozo Cathedral and St George's Basilica which are traditionally rival parishes.
The Leone Philharmonic Society was up in arms against the decision to replace Mgr Vella Gauci with Mgr Attard as archpriest of the Cathedral.
Both Mgr Attard and Mgr Pawl Cremona, who replaced Mgr Guzeppi Farrugia as archpriest of St George's parish, had been working in Rome for several years.
Sources close to the two Victoria parishes said the changes in the parish leadership and particularly the bringing over of two Gozitan monsignors from Rome was a courageous effort to control parochialism.
In a statement, the Gozo Curia said yesterday that in the light of the present circumstances, Bishop Mgr Grech felt the Church in Gozo had to continue to mature in the recognition of Jesus Christ and the Gospel as well as in the understanding of the real meaning of what the Church represents.
In these last two years, changes had been made in the leadership of nine parishes and the parochial communities showed maturity and unity with the Bishop, the Curia added.
"This attitude encouraged the Bishop and his collaborators, the parish priests, because it showed that the Bishop's teachings were being understood," the Curia said.
Dr Caruana said he had been seeking an appointment with the bishop to discuss parochialism. Following incidents during the feast of Santa Marija last month, he had contacted the Curia requesting a meeting but was told he should take the steps he deemed fit.
In fact, Dr Caruana said, he had filed a judicial protest over the incidents.
Dr Caruana said Mgr Vella Gauci's successes and the cooperation between the Cathedral and the parish and the Cathedral Chapter and the Leone Philharmonic Society over the past 12 years were unprecedented.
The society held nothing against the newly appointed archpriest. It did not, he added, want to be seen as interfering in Church affairs, but it did not believe in a dictatorial system whereby the Bishop imposed decisions.
After the announcement of the changes, the Gozo College of Parish Priests said its members accepted the decisions of their Bishop because they believed such decisions were taken after lengthy consideration and prayers.
The council of the cathedral parish also welcomed the appointment of Mgr Attard as the new archpriest, promised him its full support and urged parishioners to help Mgr Attard in his mission.
It also thanked outgoing archpriest Mgr Vella Gauci.