State-Holy See agreement on religious education

The government and the Holy See have agreed that the post of education officer (religion) will be a government official chosen from among the members of the Catholic Church, who can be a lay person.

The officer previously had to be an ordained minister.

They also agreed that religious counsellors in state schools will be under the direction of a coordinator for religious counsellors, who will be an ordained minister of the Catholic Church appointed by the Maltese Episcopal Conference.

The Maltese Episcopal Conference will retain the authority to withdraw the appointment of coordinator for religious counsellors at any time, at its discretion, and to appoint another ordained minister to the office.

An additional protocol to the agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Malta on Catholic Religious Instruction and Education in State Schools providing for the new arrangements was signed yesterday at the Apostolic Nunciature, Tal-Virtù.

Education Minister Louis Galea signed on behalf of the government. The Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Luigi Conti signed on behalf of the Holy See.

A complementary agreement to put into effect the new provisions was signed by Dr Galea and the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr Joseph Mercieca, on behalf of the Maltese Episcopal Conference.