The Catholic Church is facing severe challenges as a result of incidents of abusive behaviour by the clergy in the past several decades. So, when Church leaders do what is right for the community, many will be encouraged to focus on the benefits of having such leaders motivated by social values.

The decision by the Gozo diocese to set up two hostels in Malta to host Gozitan students is just one example of how the Church can be more relevant to society. The Augustinian order and the Sisters of St Joseph made available two properties that, after extensive renovation, can be used by Gozitan students while they are studying in Malta.

It is no secret that, with the escalating cost of rented property, many Gozitan students are struggling to find affordable accommodation. Sadly, as pointed out by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, some Gozitan students have to give up their studies because they cannot afford the rental charges for housing.

The Church often steps in where politicians, including those who profess they embrace social democratic values, fail to cater to the needs of the less well off in our society. The scarcity of social and affordable housing is a stain on the administration that, despite booming economic performance, has failed to cater to the have-nots in our community by investing in social and affordable housing schemes.

Gozitan students have, on several occasions, made their concerns about accommodation costs known to Cabinet ministers and even to the President. So far, not much has been done to provide these students with an affordable solution beyond expressing superficial empathy with these young people who dream about continuing their studies to better their employment prospects.

The Church owns various properties, built decades ago when vocations were plentiful and the roles of priests and nuns in the community were more prominent. Many of these buildings are not fully utilised nowadays, prompting the Church leaders to practise their pastoral mission differently.

A few decades ago, the Jesuit order made available a part of Loyola House, in Naxxar to house the elderly who could no longer live in their own homes.

The Augustinian order and the Sisters of St Joseph deserve the respect and gratitude of society for living up to their vocation to help those in need of support. If these accommodation facilities to Gozitan students are not enough to cater for all needs, then priority should be given to those whose families are less well off. This development is social justice in practice.

The government should move beyond expressing empathy with hard-pressed students and commit itself to provide suitable hostels for all students who, for whatever reason, are no longer living with their families in Malta.

The lack of investment in the social infrastructure of the country in the last few decades should be compensated with ambitious programmes – not one-off cosmetic attempts – to provide more social and affordable housing not just to those living on the fringe of society but also to young and not-so-young people who can no longer afford to rent property.

The Church has done what it can to ease the cost pressures on Gozitan students. It is now time for the government to encourage social mobility by investing more in those who have benefitted the least from the economic boom.

This is a Times of Malta print editorial

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