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It is indeed a pity that the Church authorities decided not to participate in the TVM program, Bondi plus, of the 8 June. The Curia’s participation would have definitely provided the necessary enlightenment to viewers, as to why clerics are forbidden to involve themselves in politics.
I say this for one valid reason. What all three protagonists - who took part in the said TV program, and who are implicated in the current Church/politics controversy - said, remained unchallenged to say the least.
All three clerics seemed convinced that their entanglement in Maltese politics does in no way infringe on their clerical obligations.
Surely, Fr Peter was not being serious when he maintained that his private written recommendations of political figures, and which were subsequently circulated as political propaganda material, within the four corners of the island, was not political involvement. I am convinced that such a banal argument could only weaken Fr Peter’s credibility.
Fr Joe’s slots were even less convincing. His attempt to compare his clash with the Church authorities to a family argument was very poor indeed, and no doubt reflects his weak stand in his defiance of the Curia.
While I vividly recall many occasions where Fr Joe took the Church authorities to task, including his persistent calls for a change in the Curia stewardship, I do not believe that family ‘disagreements’ are splashed in the media.
As for Fr Colin I admire him for making it public that, had he known that the Archbishop would not approve of his involvement, he would have refrained from the activity concerned.
This notwithstanding, Fr Colin knows that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Not to mention that he is expected to be au fait with the Church directives and Canon Law.
Talking about directives and laws, had a Curia representative been present for the said program one could have elaborated on the Church’s prohibition of clerics from sharing in the exercise of civil power.
I do not recall that any reference to the Church’s recent pronouncement on the matter was made throughout the entire program.
John G Borg-Bartolo
Attard
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