MALTA
Malta Independent
In a way, Malta is not that important for the Universal Church. But the Church is important for Malta. At least, so far.
The Catholic Church is an important part of Malta’s DNA. Even without taking into account the shady years until the 11th century, the Christian faith, and later the Catholic faith, became so intertwined with Malta’s real essence they were for a long time one and the same.
That, we all agree, is slowly changing, glacier-like. The recent divorce referendum has shown a disaffection that has finally erupted into open defiance. Prior to that, there was a steady falling-off in church attendance. The monolith began to crumble.
That may have been the run of things, the normal course of evolution as a small insular island opens up to modern times and catches up with the rest of Europe.
But, as happened in other countries as well, this process is developing faster and perhaps irretrievable by the appearance in the public forum of scandals involving people associated with the Church.
There is today a new consciousness and awareness that was simply not there in past years. People are no longer ready to turn a blind eye to sins and mistakes just because those who committed them are, for instance, priests. People today have a heightened sensibility where sins of the flesh are concerned, especially where children or people with needs are involved. There is also increased encouragement for people who have been victims, maybe many years ago, to speak up and demand justice.
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