"The referendum is a good thing"

Just over three years ago the Maltese bishops took a very clear, definitive position on the referendum. In December 1999, the bishops of Malta and Gozo had this to say on the referendum: "We note the commitment of the Maltese government to let the citizens have the last word in a referendum on whether Malta should join the European Union or not. This is a good thing."

It was Fr Vanni Xuereb himself, the bishop's delegate for EU affairs, who reminded us of this statement in a letter he sent to The Malta Independent on Sunday on the third anniversary of this declaration.

"This clear and unambiguous statement by our bishops," Fr Xuereb said, "leaves no doubt in my mind as to where they, and hence the Church in Malta, stand on the EU Referendum."

Fr Xuereb was reacting to a comment which the paper made about the memorandum released by the Maltese Jesuits about the referendum that will soon take place on EU membership. Fr Xuereb noted that the Bishops had taken a position on the subject three years before the Jesuits.

This brings us to the memorandum of the Jesuit Faith and Justice Centre. Due to a number of circumstances, we did not find time to comment on it. A lacuna on our part which we hope we will atone for today. In our opinion it will be very unfair if anyone tries to depict "a free, democratic and responsible choice" - as the memorandum is titled - as a document in favour or against accession. It is not. In this document the Jesuits apply the social teaching of the Church to enlighten us about the process that should lead to our joining or not joining.

They spoke clearly and with determination. They consider the holding of a referendum on the matter as a positive thing and urge everyone to vote in the referendum warning "abstaining could lead to very serious and long-lasting consequences for our country". The memorandum also calls on the political leaders to respect the will of the majority once the result of the referendum is out and to refrain from acting in a way which hampers the will of the majority.

This is not the first time that the Jesuit Faith and Justice Centre is speaking about the EU. Two years ago they presented a document proposing seven ethical criteria, which it felt should be adopted in negotiations with the EU.

In its five-point document the centre is insisting that the choice which has to be made in the referendum should not be between political parties or their electoral manifestoes. "The choice on the EU goes far beyond any proposal or pledge made by a political party."

In the first point of the document the Jesuits urge all Christians to properly weigh how their vote will strengthen solidarity in Malta and beyond its shores.

The second point states that Christians should decide in the light of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church. It appeals to one and all not to base their decision on personal interests or feelings. The interests of the country preceded those of all political parties and other institutions, and the decision should attach great importance to the common good.

The third point looks at the pre-referendum campaign. The memorandum says, and says with emphasis, that all Maltese should have access to factual information. This was vital for citizens to form an informed opinion. It insists on the need that this information should not be deceptive or manipulative.

Everybody's duty to vote forms the content of the fourth point. It emphasises that it is very important that everybody votes, because through their vote the Maltese could give a clear direction to both the Maltese parliament and the EU.

The Centre for Faith and Justice asks: "How much do we appreciate the fact that because we are a democracy, we have the right to vote freely and the duty to choose with a great sense of responsibility towards our fellow Maltese?"

In its fifth and final point the memorandum urges the political leaders to respect a free, democratic and responsible choice - even if they disagreed with it. It says that it is natural that some will be happy and some disappointed at the results. It calls on those who will be disappointed to refrain from doing, or saying, anything that hampered the choice of the majority.

The final appeal of the memorandum is worth repeating:

"Whatever the result of the referendum, the political parties should respect it. They should avoid positions which arouse polarisation, bring about economic instability or else make Malta lose the prestige it enjoys with other countries," it says.

"Instead, they should ask themselves how they can think out policies and strategies according to the result and in favour of the common good."

The Jesuit memorandum is a very valid contribution to the debate. One hopes that more segments of civil society will make their voices heard.