I read with interest the feature entitled ‘I, father confessor’ with reference to an interview that Minister John Dalli. In this feature, the Minister describes himself as the ‘father confessor’ to most of the disgruntled elements on the government’s backbench.
I must admit I find it amazing that there are Members of Parliament on the government benches who feel the need to resort to one of the ministers with their confessions! And why of all people to John Dalli – is it because he was the one to contest the leadership of the Nationalist Party and presumably has never given up the desire to assume that leadership?
Confession implies that a person feels they have committed something wrong, is penitent about his sins and hopes that the Confessor will bestow mercy and grace. How many penitents are there within the Government backbench? What sins are they confessing? Or are they following the unusual practice of confessing not their own sins, but the sins of some other person – presumably some other person about whom the Confessor can agree with them that he is to blame!?
Coming to think of it, to whom does the confessor confess? Is he referring to higher authority or does he confess back with those MPs who confess with him?
Not since St Augustine was proclaimed by the Church as ‘Doctor Gratiae’, do we have a situation more deserving of profound analysis! What is the penance or grace being bestowed by John Dalli? How does his role fit within his responsibilities as Minister and within the principle of collective responsibility of Cabinet?
The interview with John Dalli is then revealing in another way: he reveals that being appointed EU Commissioner is not like being promoted to a ceremonial post, and added that he would have to see through which option he can be of best service to the country.
I would have thought that in normal politicians’ jargon, the correct response would have been: I have not been offered the post and will only make my comments if ever such an offer is made. What kind of confession is John Dalli trying to make: that an offer has been mooted, or that he is interested in the post? He is not new to Brussels and seems to know a thing or two about international networking; be it if the web-spins to our South or goes further beyond. Is he really interested in the EU Commissioner post, or would he refuse the offer if made to him, to be in a better position to re-contest the PN Party leadership at the first available opportunity? Is he giving the Prime Minister the loyalty that all Ministers should give their Prime Minister, or is he simply making one strategic move after another? Does he realise that, even unwittingly, he is undermining the Prime Minister’s authority, not least through his latest role as confessor?
If I were to apply for any job, my employer would have a close look at my CV and track record. What is John Dalli’s present track record like? What has he achieved in the health sector? Is the country any better for his confrontation with consultants and nurses? Is his only achievement that of reducing the bill for medicines from €7m to €4m – no small feat in its own right, but what about his general negotiating skills or the lack of them? What has he done with regard to Housing? Does he merely look at that sector as an accountant would examine a company’s cash flow projections? How sensitive is he to the social problems being faced by more and more people?
Finally, what does he intend to do about the Addolorata Cemetery? He placed plans drawn up by his predecessor on hold since he proclaimed that he does not want to ruin this architectural jewel? Does he recognise that the right to a decent burial for oneself and one’s beloved is more fundamental than all fundamental human rights put together?
But then, we still do not know to whom the confessor confesses, and hence, it is unlikely that I will ever get an answer to my questions. Nor will I fare any better if I send him an e-mail, since he is not known to respond much to those who write to him.
As Verdi would have put it: ‘Va pensiero sull’ali dorate’ – fly, thought, on golden wings! The thoughts that cross my mind require many golden wings to sustain their weight and the Confessor is not only keeping mum about the ‘sins’ that his penitents are referring to him, but even more so about his own.
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