'We can do without cultural and political support' - Bishops in Pastoral letter

In a Pastoral Letter written “after moments of silence and reflection,” the Maltese Bishops have hinted at surrendering to the privileges enjoyed over the years by the Church through a Concordat with government.

“The Church can do without the cultural and political support as she has an inner spiritual power,” Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said, adding that “the Church must continually look to purify itself from all that is just an external support to that which is the strength in conviction of the faith and of the Holy Spirit.”

The Bishops went on to say that “these are strong moments of rising up when who gives his part in the Church, will have no support of social privileges and so will need the faith to entrust himself or herself in the hands of God.”

Currently in the midst of public outcry over its refusal to accept legal responsibility for the convictions imposed on two clergymen found guilty of sexually abusing a number of young boys entrusted under their care in a Church orphanage, the Bishops say that they feel “humiliated” in front of the victims of abuse.

“We feel humiliated in front of the victims of abuse, as well as in front of the Church and the society to which we have been sent to be witnesses.” The Bishops made no further reference to the abuse except the passage: “Every kind of abuse brings about enormous suffering.”

In their Pastoral letter the Bishops also referred to the introduction of divorce legislation, and said that “the introduction of divorce wounds every marriage, both the civil one as well as marriage as the sacrament.”

Archbishop Cremona and Bishop Grech lamented the powerful and fast changes of society and culture, saying that it is difficult for a Christian to identify himself or herself in all that pertains to this culture.

“It is a culture that helps us live better some values such as the environment, the acceptance of persons with a different cultural background, the openness to the global reality including opportunities and risks that this involves. But on the other hand it has become difficult to live Christian values such as: respect for the individual from conception to the last moment of life, permanent marriage and stable family life in which children can grow in security, an experience of God that through prayer brings about commitment in the Church and Christian commitment in society,” they said.

“The second reality results from the introduction of divorce in our country, as we now have a society that can be more vulnerable in the context of marriage and family context. These have a very important part to play in the network of society and the Church.”