On the occasion of the feast of St Francis de Sales, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said that while it is correct that the media are used to promote the interest of a particular group or a particular community, it would be wrong if the media are employed to create confrontation and stir antagonism between one group and another, one community and another.

Thus it would be wrong when the media in their coverage fail to use the same criteria when they focus on what is going on in the south or in the north of the country, like for example, Malta and Gozo, he said.

Neither is it correct when religious groups are discriminated against. At times the impression is given that one is promoting a lay religion and in the process weaken the Catholic faith.

One appreciates the fact that the political groups do not allow their media to serve as a tool to dilute the unity among the people, Mgr Grech said.

The Bishop compared the mission of Christ with those people involved in the communications media.

Like Christ, journalists, broadcasters and writers attract people's attention. Like Christ, these people have a lot of influence on the people who read them, listen or watch them. One expects that the written or broadcast word would interest the public because it would make sense and would instil a greater sense in those that partake of these words.

The aim of journalists is the common wealth of the person and of the community. Communication is carried out among people in order to enhance the development of the individual. Every person ought to have the chance to strengthen their physical, intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual needs.

That is why journalists have to contribute so that each individual would be able to move ahead in the process of becoming more mature on a human and social level. Journalists would be failing in their duty if through their intervention, instead of stimulating the individual to become a better person, would thwart this process towards a more dignified life built on the search for truth.

The needs of the individual should never be sacrificed for the needs of the community. If this ensues, the person would be reduced to a mere object that will be manipulated through the agenda of whoever is in charge of the newspaper, the TV or radio station.

When this happens, as in the commercial or political sphere, whoever runs the media would be creating a new form of slavery.

The wealth of the individual cannot be achieved independently from the wealth of the community.