Archbishop emeritus Joseph Mercieca and Gozo Bishop emeritus Nikol Cauchi made two interesting contributions in the local media in the space of three days. Mgr Cauchi wrote an excellent article in The Times of November 2 entitled 'Is the school alarm-bell ringing?' In his scholarly style, the bishop made a very objective and accurate study of the progress registered in Maltese and Gozitan schools, but stressed that just as one must not take this progress for granted, one must not ignore the important area of moral and ethical values. He makes it very clear that Malta - especially after joining the EU - is definitely no longer an island.
On November 4, Il-Mument reported a very studied speech delivered by Mgr Mercieca during the national conference of the Cana Movement, Caritas and the Family Commission. He spoke at length on the indispensable need for families to keep God alive in their families so that married couples will always remain committed to their marriage promises.
The family is the universal school of life and of love. If the family is weakened, then the whole quality of life within our society is impaired, and the individual finds it even more diifficult to learn how to love and to form mature and healthy relationships.
It is encouraging to see both bishops so very active even after having passed the retirement age of 75. They are both deeply aware of their episcopal vocation in the field of the Lord and they do not become part-timers when they turn 75.
It remains the bishops' task to preach, to write and to teach the Gospel and to point people in the direction of Christ. At any age they are expected to teach the faithful that religion is always personal, but never just a private affair. The deepening of the spiritual life must go hand in hand with practical concern for our neighbour, and hence with social action. One can understand better the spirit that guides Mgr Cauchi if one re-reads the most inspiring interview entitled 'Food for Thought' that he gave to Steve Mallia, published in The Times on February 24, 2004.
In answer to Mr Mallia's first question "How did it feel to submit your resignation as bishop?", Mgr Cauchi replied that he had submitted his resignation on January 24, "though I don't know whether the Pope is going to accept it... but I hope that in retirement I will have more time to myself, more time to read, to pray - because I feel the need to pray more - and even maybe do certain other things that are useful to others".
Mr Mallia's last question was "If you had a word of advice for the Gozitans as their departing spiritual head, what would it be?" to which Mgr Cauchi's answer was very meaningful and clear: "I would try to explain to them Gabriel Marcel's saying: "There is a distinction between to be and to have. In other words, people should not try to have more in the material sense but they should try and be better themselves. To be is more important that to have."
It is in this very perspective that our retired bishops keep teaching us all, that the foundation of the Church's teaching is the dignity of the human person. In virtue simply of our shared humanity, we must respect and honour one another. Each individual has a value that can never be lost and must never be ignored. This is the bedrock of our civilisation.