Racism on pastoral agenda

The emergence of racism following the arrival of illegal immigrants to these shores is among the issues being addressed by the Pastoral Formation Institute, which was recently set up by the Church.

The main aim of the institute is to pass on the messages of the Diocesan Synod to the people.

Speaking during a press conference yesterday, Institute director Fr Fabio Attard explained that the synod had pointed to the need for spiritual formation and the aim of the institute is to provide the needed holistic formation to all members of the Catholic community.

Assistant pastoral secretary Fr Joe Galea Curmi said the synod had addressed the issue of racism two years ago and had in fact predicted what is happening in Malta right now.

The synod's document, presented in November 2003, had described racism as "a structural sin diametrically opposed to our creation as equal, in the image of our creator".

The presence of refugees and immigrants among the Maltese, it said, was a recent phenomenon which was leading to manifestations of racism.

Instead of appreciating other people and cultural diversity, "we are sometimes so tied to our outlook on humanity that we despise foreigners among us as well as the manifestation of other cultures.

"At times this may lead to verbal abuse and psychological pressure. At the tragic extreme, there may also be threats and physical violence," the document had said.

Fr Galea Curmi said the official policy on racism was clear, and through the institute, the Church would now strive to pass it on to the man in the street.

Fr Attard explained that the institute aimed to pre-empt the challenges that the Church would be facing in the near future to be prepared to address them. Among these challenges was secularism and apathy in the face of religion. The institute had looked at what other churches around the world - including Milan, New York, Westminster and Paris - were doing about these issues.

Speaking to The Times, Fr Attard said secularism in Malta was something "we know will take place and a challenge which needs to be addressed before it strikes.

"The challenge of secularism is not a problem in itself but an opportunity which we need to be prepared to face," he said.

However, the fact that Malta was an island meant that there was still a strong sense of religion among the people.

Among the formative activities being organised by the committee is the Certificate in Youth Ministry, a university-recognised course aimed at the animators of church youth centres.

The institute is also collaborating with Caritas on the organisation's needs and how these can be achieved.

"The institute is an opportunity through which we can look at the formative dimension on which our identity as Christians depends," Fr Attard said.