Church tells separated MPs to keep their partners away from Pontifical mass
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Cohabitating Members of Parliament have been barred from attending the Pope Benedict XVI high mass on the Granaries in Floriana next Sunday with their respective partners.
The decision was taken by the Curia, which has apparently invoked “moral” protocol for the Pontifical mass.
MPs Michael Farrugia, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Chris Cardona, Marlene Pullicino and Alfred Sant have been issued personal invitations, in contrast to their other colleagues in the House who are married, and whose invites read ‘Mr & Mrs’.
Contacted yesterday, Mgr Charles Cordina, who is the main local Church representative for next weekend’s Papal Visit organising committee, told MaltaToday that “should partners be invited rather than legitimate spouses, then it would mean that the Church would be condoning cohabitation.”
He added that the invitations for the Papal mass were issued by the Church which “must uphold moral authority” under any circumstance, especially during an event that is led by the Pope.
“This is protocol and the Church cannot issue invitations on the same basis the State does,” Mgr Cordina stressed.
Asked if the same protocol also extends to members of the Diplomatic Corp, Mgr Charles Cordina explained that the “Church has conducted diligent research,” adding that “it recognises matrimony under different denominations.”
Cordina however stopped short of explaining how the Church obtains such information.
Meanwhile, not all cohabiting MPs are impressed by the news. Contacted yesterday, Michael Farrugia expressed surprise, as only a week ago he was present at the Vatican in Rome for Easter Sunday Mass, celebrated by Pope Benedict, together with his partner.
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