Archbishop calls for serious debates

Graduates had to give their professional service generously as witnesses and teachers of all that was true, beautiful and good, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca said yesterday.

Delivering the homily at a Mass of Thanksgiving at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, for university students who graduate this week, he advised the congregation to keep away from individualism, excessive ambition and greed for money or prestige.

He encouraged them to take part in the debates going on in the country on issues which mattered in life. The country and society required the contribution of people prepared to speak with competence, responsibility and sincerity, he said.

The Archbishop said the country would greatly benefit if competent people contributed when certain subjects were debated. This became even more necessary when there was the risk that public opinion was misguided by people who were more interested in promoting their agenda rather than to help realise the truth, he said.