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'We are priests, not puppets'
"The fact that the Church is not democratic does not mean it should be dictatorial" – Fr Rene Camilleri
18 August 2012, 12:00am
Raphael Vassallo
Raphael Vassallo
1 min read
Fr Rene Camilleri
"I am a priest. I know I have a vow of obedience. But it does not mean we are puppets. Many people believe we should keep our mouths shut at all times. But that is not obedience..."
Following his refusal to read a pastoral letter on IVF, theology professor Fr Rene Camilleri is perceived as a ringleader in an ongoing ‘priest's revolt'. But in an interview in tomorrow's edition of Maltatoday, he insists that ‘internal dissent' is not only acceptable within an institution: it is necessary and healthy.
"You should have internal dissent; it is not something to be afraid of... Many might not be aware of this, but without internal dissent there would be no Church at all. It would be dead. There was dissent among the original 12, who were chosen directly by Christ Himself. Look at the history of the Church, with its heresies and its persecutions... what was this, if not dissent?"
He also shares popular suspicions that the Bishop's authority has been usurped, though not necessarily in the direct way suggesting by some media commentators.
On the subject of his own outspoken criticism of the Church, Fr Camilleri admits that he considered whether to keep his mouth shut. "But the fact that the Church is not democratic does not mean it should be dictatorial. Vatican Council Two makes it clear that even bishops should listen..."
Read the full interview in tomorrow's edition of MaltaToday
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Fr Rene ahjar tghidilna ma liema punti ma taqbilx. Jien ma hiniex qassis pero zgur li fejn hemm hjiel ta' qtil, specjalment ta innocenti (embryos ghalija huma persuni innocenti) allura jien kontra dan il-qtil.
Kieku kellek xi clinic u tghid minn issa il quddiem ma tistax tibqa vijabbli allura nghid hemm raguni pero tinsiex li ghadna kif rajna li l-business hu l-ewwel prijorita ghas-socjeta tal llum.
Nghid biss li ahna nemmnu li l-isqfijiet huma dixxdendenti tal-Appostli u nies bhalek kull ma ghandek taghmel u li tghidlna min ghandu jmexxi halli jekk hemm bzonn it-taghlim nigu ghandek; pero nerga nistaqsik x inhuma l-punti li inti ma taqbilx ma l-ittra pastorali.
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Was the Pastoral letter vetted and approved by the Vatican? If, as it appears, in the affirmative then on what grounds did FR. Rene, the priest-politician-journalist and some others refuse to read this letter by the Archbishop to his flock?
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It's a pity you are few open mindet Priest father Rene.
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and in the sixties??????????????????
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Priest must adhere to church doctrine. And the government should enact laws in the interest of the citizen. That is why there should be a separate church and state agendas. Priest have no say - whether pro or against - in government.
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Keep it up Father Rene,the majority of Maltese people are in favour of your argument.
