Archbishop defends Church against sensationalism

The archbishop yesterday defended the Church against sensationalism of priests' wrongdoing, including child abuse, and said that one motive for exploiting the situation could be that those responsible for the exploitation were envious of the Church's influence.

Mgr Mercieca said that while justice had to be done and be seen to be done, it was not fair for the mistakes of individuals to be used to tarnish the Church as a whole.

He was speaking during Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral to celebrate the silver jubilee of his Episcopal ordination.

He did not specifically mention child abuse, but said the members of the clergy were human with the same weaknesses as other people and all could make mistakes or be a bad example to others.

"If a priest, a religious or a pastoral operator makes a mistake, especially if this is a scandalous abuse, such behaviour should be condemned unequivocally.

"And when such a mistake has its victims, especially when children are involved, we as the Church have a duty to show compassion and help the victims as best we can.

"The right to information as understood by society should be respected and, furthermore, justice must be done and be seen to be done with everybody.

"Nonetheless, it would not be fair for the mistake of an individual or of a few to be used for mud slinging at the Church as a whole to possibly tarnish the credibility of those within it."

Mgr Mercieca said it would be wrong if the mistakes made by priests were exaggerated or sensationalised by the media.

This could lead to an unjustified undermining of the people's confidence in priests, religious and pastoral operators and the Church itself. Those who carried out or permitted such things would also be unfair on the thousands of priests who worked tirelessly in the service of the Church and society, and the many who benefited from such work.

Fortunately, Mgr Mercieca said, people knew the truth and knew that priests and religious were among them and at their service. Nonetheless, the people should be careful not to fall victim of those who exaggerated, stressed and repeated the wrongdoing of priests, possibly because they were envious of the people's confidence in the Church.

Mgr Mercieca urged the clergy to always bear witness of Christ, to be of service to everyone without distinction and never to act in a way which led anyone to suspect they did not treat everybody in the same way.

This could happen, for example, through some remark or act which could lead people to suspect partisan politics. The clergy should always promote unity, protect the weak and always be inspired by the Gospel.

Earlier Mgr Mercieca thanked God for having chosen him to serve as priest and bishop. He also thanked all those who had worked with him, and said Malta had a treasure in that the number of priests, compared to population size, was higher than in other countries.

The priests, religious and many lay collaborators were, without any blaring of trumpets, being of great service to society, something which the people realised and appreciated.