Priests and politics

The recent public statement by the bishops that priests should keep away from any form of political involvement raises many questions that I feel should contribute towards a constructively critical debate on this issue.

To understand the present situation one must be aware that throughout Maltese political history there have been different perceptions of what ecclesiastics' role in politics should be. The first referendum held in Malta concerned precisely this thorny question.

In 1870, the electorate was presented with the question: "Are ecclesiastics to be eligible to the Council of Government?" Out of a total of 1,473 votes cast, a staggering 1,409 voted yes, only 58 voted no and there were six invalid votes.

The 1920s and 1930s were the heyday of political involvement by ecclesiastics in local politics, with such heavyweights as Ignazio Panzavecchia, Michael Gonzi and Enrico Dandria. But even then, the politico-religious dispute of the late 1920s and early 1930s had people debating about the wisdom or otherwise of having ecclesiastics involved in politics. The 1958-69 politico-religious dispute so rocked the foundations of Maltese society that it seemed that the question of having ecclesiastics involved in politics was settled once and for all. The answer was a resounding no.

This view has been predominant in Maltese society right up to the present day. However, the impact of post-modernism on Maltese society has raised various questions regarding this thorny issue. Are ecclesiastics not citizens like everybody else and, as such, entitled to active participation in politics? Is it not the duty of ecclesiastics to speak out when a government fails to deliver and when such social ills as unemployment become rampant?

On the other hand, there are those who argue that an ecclesiastic cannot fulfil his religious role if he takes sides in political controversy or becomes publicly involved with a particular political party. This would alienate those citizens with different political opinions, such critics point out.

The question of political involvement by ecclesiastics forms part of an even wider issue, the involvement of ecclesiastics in public affairs, especially the media. During the last few years, it has become common to have television and radio programmes hosted by ecclesiastics and to have their photographs splashed across the front-page of magazines in full colour. We have had ecclesiastics writing their weekly columns in local newspapers and participating in local television and radio debates on a variety of issues, sometimes even politics.

The Church has to be very careful in the way it approaches such developments. It has to be consistent in the way it issues public statements on this matter.

It must not censure the behaviour of a particular ecclesiastic and ignore the same behaviour on the part of another, especially when one is involved with a particular political party and the other with the opposing one.

We have had more than enough of politico-religious disputes in this country and it is hoped that these are a thing of the past.