Does the Church have a role in Malta's new frontiers?

Two events have been unfolding before our very eyes - the conclusion of the Diocesan Synod, aimed to discern and renew the Church's vision of the coming years, and Malta's signing the European Union Accession Treaty in Athens on April 16.

Both are intended to guide and steer us Maltese for decades to come. In fact the faith community and the political community in Malta are wishing a new turning point for their respective communities: they are on the point of experiencing the opening up of new frontiers on the religious and socio-political spheres. This call to forge ahead into new experiences, when translated into practical terms, is to be lived by the ordinary church-going and tax-paying Maltese and Gozitan.

The EU issue has been decided democratically by the citizens and has hopefully been extricated from being regarded as "partisan" by some and has entered into the realm of a future national "common experience". The launching of the painful though salutary work of the political parties to seek a "common ground" in what belongs to the essentials of our country's political future is now beginning.

Until now the Church hierarchy in Malta has been actively impartial on the issue - lest it would have been interpreted, for one reason or the other, incorrectly. This does not mean that it refrained from indicating when necessary its pastoral guidance to the faithful.

The bishops issued two pastoral letters connected with the EU, the statement on the referendum, the pastoral letter on the elections, and another statement appealing for mutual respect of each other's dignity, respect for the truth and the maintaining of love, peace and unity among us during the election period.

Besides the bishops, other members of the People of God have voiced their opinions during the negotiation process. The Jesuit Faith and Justice Centre did so by first elaborating on seven ethical principles which were to be taken into consideration during Malta's negotiations with the EU and then issuing a Memorandum regarding the referendum.

Certain members of the clergy voiced their opinion, which included both the pros and the cons, as is well known. The laity, those belonging to the three political parties and those belonging to the different organisations, who were both for and against EU membership, have contributed to the public debate.

The question arises: What role does the Church in Malta - hierarchy and laity - now play in this new historical development of our island's history? We may start with the Pope's appeal to Malta on his first visit to the Island in May 1990: "Malta is called to continue to contribute to the spiritual unity of the Old Continent by offering her treasures of Christian faith and values. Europe needs Malta's faithful witness too!"

This appeal was remembered, it seems, when the negotiating team succeeded in including Malta's law which renders abortion illegal in a protocol within Malta's Treaty of Accession. It is within the Church's competence to speak out as 'Mother and Teacher' also to the political community and offer her interpretations, in the light of God's Word, of the secular concerns which include those issues bearing a moral and value content in the European debate.

The Church is also 'Sister and Servant' - as the Synod highlighted - and therefore is ready to accompany Maltese society, as she did in Malta's chequered history, in this new historical Exodus.

It is the Church's role in Malta also to serve as a unifying factor and help in the healing of wounds. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and the celebration of the Eucharist, which is also the sacrament of unity, when lived in depth have an overspill onto daily living - that solidarity in grace which transforms society and civilization itself.

The Church has the competence to continue voicing those authentic human and spiritual values, which when publicly lived by politicians and all those involved in public life result in that solid construction of our "common Maltese home", where all will genuinely feel involved in crossing together the new frontiers of our future.

This is part of the deepening process which the Church is called to live as a sign of her continued reform and renewal. The diocesan Synod is also providing the necessary instruments so that this renewed vision will materialise.

Both the believing and the political communities in Malta must go through a learning process vis-à-vis European issues: these will be more than ever issues of common concern. The Church in Malta is being asked to widen her perspectives.

The Maltese episcopal conference will, as a full member now, of COMECE (Commission des Episcopats de la Communauté Européenne) continue to exercise its responsibility by voicing its concerns and to give its contribution to the way European and global issues, especially those which fall within the competence of the Church's social doctrine, are tackled: the process of European integration; global governance; human rights and solidarity; migration, refugees and asylum seekers; education; social policies; truth and solidarity; the Churches, religion and society; North-South relations; the Middle East and the peace process; the relations of the EU and Africa; the EU and Latin America; family and health policies; and gender and equality issues.

The statements issued by COMECE serve as a guide to Christians involved in EU public life. In fact certain policies which the bishops adopt may include challenging European institutions when the need arises. This ethical and moral formation of the body politic through the "structured dialogue" of debate and exchanges between the Churches and the European institutions has long-term effects. It is a system that is working well, as shown recently when the European Convention Praesidium agreed to put forward for final debate, the European bishops' suggestions on Article 37 regarding the legal recognition of the religious dimension and the Christian Churches' role in society and its constitutional consequences.

Finally, the Maltese Catholic laity involved in public life, whether in politics or as civil servants in EU institutions, are called to witness to their faith and authentic human values. For many, one might add, the new situation is a challenge arising from the fact that, "the democratic impulse burst forth in history as a temporal manifestation of the Gospel" (cf. Jacques Maritain, Christianity and Democracy).

Politicians set the agenda within the European Council, the European Commission and even more so in the European Parliament - where the battles for or against values are fiercely fought out - as well as within the corridors of power. Civil servants play their part through the exchange of ideas, attitudes, groundwork preparation of significant documents lived and carried out within the whole set-up of EU institutions which involve them directly.

Let us hope that indeed a Melita Renascens, a rebirth, will emerge from within the graced hearts of the populace. Maltese Christians are called to witness Christ who is both the light and hope of peoples and nations. In this developed historical circumstance may the words of Pope John Paul II, delivered during the farewell ceremony at the Malta International Airport in May 2001, encourage us all as a nation within the European family of states:

"You therefore have a unique vocation to be builders of bridges between the peoples of the Mediterranean basin, between Africa and Europe. The future of peace in the world depends on strengthening dialogue and understanding between cultures and religions. Continue in your traditions of hospitality, and continue in your national and international commitment on behalf of freedom, justice and peace."