Fr Mark Montebello said this afternoon that he was not happy, but not angry, after the Dominican Province issued a statement dissociating itself from statements he had made. ( http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091126/local/fr-mark-montebello ) .

Fr Montebello said that a letter he had received from the Province raised three issues: his article in it-Torca about divorce, his participation in a programme on One TV where he said he disagreed with a paedophile register, and his comments about the crucifix on The Times, Xarabank and Net TV.

He said he had been told to give his superiors prior copies of contributions he made to the press and to inform them beforehand of invitations to participate in TV programmes.

Fr Montebello said that in his views, opinions that were alternative to official opinions were still not acceptable in Malta. Again - the Church was back to where it was under Archbishop Joseph Mercieca and there was only one way of being Catholic, one way to understand theology and Church philosophy.

Fr Montebello said he would continue to work within the Church and the parameters it set.

In its statement earlier today the Dominican Province said that it regretted any confusion and anger caused by the views aired in the media and elsewhere by Fr Montebello OP and dissociated itself from them when they were not in line with the official teachings of the Catholic Church or with any of its policies.

"Unfortunately, on various occasions, his views tend to offend the sentiments of many, particularly, but not only, of practising Catholics, either because the views expressed do not always conform to the official teaching of the Catholic Church or because of lack of sensitivity shown when dealing with certain issue," the Dominicans said.