(Daphne – If you mean my column, it was either The Malta Independent on Sunday or The Malta Independent, but I post them all here.)

Christianity is typically held to higher standards in financial matters, because Christ preached poverty.

If Christ were to come to earth, nowadays, will he go to our over-dressed churches, or to the mudhuts of the third world countries?

Will he go to the upper-class prayer meetings, or to a war-torn country?

Will he be distributing leaflets and badges to over-weight, over-stessed children at duttrina classes, or will he be handing out survival rations in disaster areas?

I was baptised as a Catholic, but until the church practises what Christ preaches… I won’t be setting foot near a church. Weddings and funerals are excepted, as I attend those functions as respect to the families involved.

It is a pity that such incidents cast doubts on similar actions by other people who are inspired by genuine motives.

People who behave in this way are abusing of religion and worse people’s sentiments. Anyone who is collecting money for whatever cause must be held accountable for it as well as for the way it is being allocated in the organization falling under his/her responsibility.

Such issues cropped up even in the early stages of Christianity however today we are in a better cultural position to expose these abuses. Since Religion and issues dealing with it, its ministers (or whoever is professing a religion as is the case of these so called healers) are no longer considered untouchable and unquestionable.

I agree with Daphne, this person’s name should be made public for the sake of the people who through some mishap or mishealth cling to such activities and such persons (healing services and the healers)in the hope of improving their situation. When they put their entire faith in such a person they are vulnerable for abuses.

I used to take part in voluntary work in a foreign country. Our spiritual director always used the analogy of the moon and the sun. Just as the moon reflects the sun we had to reflect God’s love and providence to the children of the camp. Unfortunately the impression I get from these “healers” is that they are trying to take the centre stage either for protagonism or for some sort or feeling of a holier status. If you have the gift of healing good luck to you but please don’t try to play God or the saint. Just use it to draw people to God but do not try to make a show for yourself out of it. Back in the gospel Jesus himself deplored such behavior.

(Daphne – I love your first name. I hope it’s real.)

“For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give — large or small — will be used to measure what is given back to you.” {Luke, 6:38}

I’m no religious freak, I admit that I did have to search that quote, but hey, someone’s in dire need of re-reading the Bible and start practising what they preach {or setting a good example, you got the point anyhow} instead of wasting their time working out on new ways in which they could double their income or choosing the most expensive car off the latest catalogues !

Speaking on the behalf of the younger generations {I’m 18 years old},
I’m utterly disgusted by the behaviour of such people,
whom I personally consider to be inhuman … nonetheless, I don’t want to sound immodest … “ghax daz-zghazagh tal-lum arroganti wisq u ma jifhmu f’xejn” {quoting my mother}
I mean … having been made aware of these immoralities [and these individuals really NEED to revise their set of morals, if they’ve ever bothered to shape some up ~niddubita~], how could I not have an antagonistic opinion?

Funnily enough, this post reminded me of two people ;
(1) my aunt. She saves up money so that she can book a place on a Lourdes tour *annually*, her agenda is filled up with prayer group meetings, whenever we argue about religious issues she’s always rephrasing their words (instead of coming up with a valid argument), ah yes, and she says I’m the one who’s materialistic … what a blind follower they have made her turn into !
(2) il-kappillan ! Last time I went to church, during mass, just before the sacristan started collecting money, this parish priest appeared out of nowhere, qisu xi harry potter, and he yelled in the microphone : “Misskom tisthu titfghu dac-centezmi biss! Il-knisja dejjem fil-bzonn … u mintkomx generuzi bizzejjed! Mohhkom biss fl-affarjiet materjali … l-ispiritwalita’ fostkom qed tghib, gheziez huti!” [Back to the inquisition era aren’t we? … I’d better start thinking about buying an empty slot in heaven … good spaces are always the first ones to be taken, hmpfh!]

Sorry if my reply has reached the borders of ‘boredom’, but I had to let it all out somehow.
Way to go Daphne!
I’m a fan of yours.

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