The sword of Damocles

If John Guillaumier who wrote on priests' ordination (July 8) is the same correspondent who a few weeks ago quoted writers denying the historicity of Christ's resurrection and in 2001 gave us quotations denying Christ's very historical existence, I am not in the very least surprised that he is not happy when such papers as The Times "carry write-ups on the ordination of priests"!

But, perhaps, it would not be out of place if one were to point out to Mr Guillaumier that The Times, even if it is a "secular newspaper", is always one catering for a predominantly Catholic population in a country where Catholicism is entrenched in the Constitution.

Albeit Mr Guillaumier may not be, I still believe the majority of the Maltese are happy to learn of new "young men" who have decided to dedicate their lives for their spiritual welfare. That is how I look at the message carried by pictures of newly-ordained priests and "write-ups on the ordination of priests". I am likewise happy when I see "write-ups" on graduation ceremonies of such people as doctors, lawyers, etc., as I remember these could be of service to the community!

Far from holding it as "the English edition of the Lehen is-Sewwa" and far from considering it as continuing "with its heavy dose of priests and religion", I imagine The Times is simply conscious of its role in a predominantly Catholic country. No, I do not believe that it "will lose the next generation of newspaper readers". I do not even think it could lose that insignificant number of people with Mr Guillaumier's religious feelings and mentality!

What hurts me in the circumstances is the fact that the Church does not detail one or two priests to answer objections of the type of those put forward by Mr Guillaumier. You might hear somebody saying: "Do we have to answer every single letter?" Not necessarily! But I still maintain it is wise not to forget that weeds grow and multiply very easily. But perhaps our Synods, the Maltese and the Gozitan, have discussed the matter!

When I learn of certain diatribes and certain strains of criticism in the religious field, Mr Guillaumier's contribution apart, I often remember the story of the sword of Damocles which, in the distant 1930s, featured in one of our secondary school textbooks. Only that, rightly or wrongly, my imagination supplants God for King Dionysius who had placed the naked sword suspended by a single hair! It is not only on such heads as that of Damocles that swords can hang!