The editorial ‘Amputating the crucified Christ’ (April 18) dwelled mainly on the recent issue of doing away with religious symbols. 

Unfortunately, with the Labour Party in government one would expect a religious issue to pop up, whether the subject is Church schools, abortion and, now, the removal of religious symbols from health centres.

A recent staff circular informed health centres that all religious symbols, statues, crucifixes, holy images etc. should be removed. Health Minister Chris Fearne immediately reacted and asked that the circular be revoked.

People of goodwill who do not see anything wrong in  having religious symbols exposed in health centres were angry but then heaved a sigh of relief when the circular was withdrawn.

It is amazing how, in this day and age, there are those who seem to enjoy stating they are non-believers, do not attend Sunday Mass or do not pray. Believing in God is not obligatory; by no means is it cool. 

It is a personal thing which is felt and which we  should safeguard.

The editorial mentioned above really hit the nail on its head when it said: “A society that loses its connection with religious tradition loses the roots of its morality and culture.” Sadly, this is precisely what is happening in Malta. But, then, what should one expect when those hundreds who accompanied the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows are referred to as hypocrites? 

In my humble opinion, the hypocrites are those who grab every occasion to criticise the Church left, right and centre and then rush to sit in the front rows during the village feast or for some important religious function at St John’s Co-Cathedral.