What does John Paul II have to do with the price of eggs?
The Nationalist Party really needs to get a grip on itself fast. Yesterday it announced that it will not be marking Workers’ Day (1 May) this year to “avoid a clash” with the beatification of John Paul II.
I’m sorry, but I don’t get the connection. What I do get, however, is the creeping sense that the Nationalist Party is taking leave of its senses.
Under its present stewardship, and with its current crop of cabinet ministers, it appears unable to distinguish between that which is Caesar’s and that which is God’s, and appears desperately keen on merging the two.
I am entirely for freedom of religious worship and so I have nothing against the Roman Catholic beliefs of our politicians. On the contrary, I respect them. But even if I were the most fervent Roman Catholic and passionate admirer of John Paul II (which latter I am – he was an astute politician and instrumental in the destruction of the Iron Curtain), I would have serious problems with a political party which refuses to commemorate 1 May so as not to distract the public from beatification ceremonies at the Vatican.
The Nationalist Party should commemorate Workers’ Day in public and then its various members can privately do what they wish about the beatification of John Paul II. That is the way it works – or rather, the way it should work but clearly does not.
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I can understand why the Nationalist Party has taken this decision.
More people will stay home and watch the programmes aired by PBS or NET on the beatification of John Paul II.
Something tells me that the programmes will be loaded with subtle and direct messages against the introduction of divorce.
The advert appearing on PBS about one of the programmes that will be aired tomorrow includes a clip from an interview with an Italian Cardinal, and behold, this Italian chap, states that the Vatican considers Malta to be one of its last stsrongholds with respect to the family, bla bla bla
I think that one is a Polish cardinal, not Italian, although he speaks in Italian. He goes something like this:
Malta e’ importante per la vita…(wait for it)…la vita matrimoniale…la famiglia….
I am surprised the pro-divorce movement did not protest about that sound bite.
Perhaps the PN’s real concern is that just about everyone’s attention will be on the beatification, and nobody will give a hoot about their workers’ day activities.
On a serious note.
The PN is the party that created work in Malta. And often, in their slogans, they use the word “xoghol” – “Xoghol, Gustizzja, Liberta” from 1987, for instance.
The occasion of 1 May 2011 would have been the best opportunity to celebrate 30 years from Pope John Paull II’s Laborem Exercens, the encyclical letter about work, which in turn was written 90 years after the famous Rerum Novarum of Leo XIII.
The friends at the Curia should have told them so.
Gurnata ohra misruq lil haddiem missek ghidt, ciccio, mhux il-PN l-aktar li kkreja xoghol fil-pajjiz.
I wish to belive this… But I think that Pierre Farrugia’s comment is more valid. Some indirect anti-divorce campaigning against divorce won’t go to waste on such a day! After all the PN decided to ignore its new core voters and take the stance it took.
In times of despair, man turns to religion.
Not me ……………….. S*x and dr*gs I’m afraid.
Only to despair even further.
Mitt bniedem, miljun fehma.
Or, as they also say, and to stick to the spirit of the article’s title…
Mitt bniedem… mitejn bajt…
OnlyInMalta
I agree with you 100%, Daph. What is happening to the PN? They are all becoming (or maybe always were) ‘santoni’. Why should not the PN commemorate Workers’ Day just because it clashes with the beatification of John Paul II? Some people are just not interested in John Paul II and it is about time that once and for all religion is kept out of politics completely.
Is it true that Lawrence Gonzi has a nickname “The Saint”?
Leslie Charteris must be turning in his grave.
I was listening to one of the radio stations this morning and heard former Archbishop Mercieca describe Pope John Paul II as a great politician, a term that struck me. So I am impressed that you have referred to him on the same lines, and I agree.
As for the PN’s position that you describe above, I am realising, as time passes, and as our administration and leaders are put to the test, that our leaders are not up to being the leaders of an EU member state at all.
The thing that worries me most is that John Paul II was possibly the man who defeated communism in Europe. And yet, despite the PN position above, I see a lot of policies taking shape in Malta which show that we are on the road to communism.
The inability of the state to separate itself from religion, and hence from individual rights and freedoms, is only one of them.
What communism? The country is dominated by a few big business men who would gladly see Maltese earn low wages rather than having their profits reduced. They have won the war and employ immigrant workers from EU and Non EU alike who are willing to work for low wages and compete with Maltese nationals. That is not communism. As for the Church they are happy with the status quo and are not troubled so long as they are not challenged by a Muslim majority which may come if a large number of immigrants come from the African basin. Anyway don’t worry ciccio2011 so long as we have our bread butter who cares. Things will sort themselves out in the end.
It might be taking leave of its senses, but far more worrying (for those desperate to have a party they can feel a tad comfortable voting for – and therefore the slightest impression that they can have a say in how their country is run) is the ‘creeping sense’ that this is all part of an intentional realignment to a more religious right, à la the Republicans in the US, who invoke their faith more often than a delirious Tonio Fenech.
Clearly, say Gonzi’s minions, the Republicans and others like them do okay as a party, so why can’t we mix God and politics as a strategy, considering we have the numbers?
I mean, this whole divorce brouhaha is just the first of many to come – gay marriage, euthanasia and abortion will pop up sooner or later – so why not lay our cards on the table (altar?) and nip all that nonsense in the bud before they become real issues we have to deal with?
If faith-based policy is where we’re headed, some of these clowns need voting out for a generation or so.
Taking a leaf out of Kev’s book, it seems that we have a secret sect of ultra Catholic Christians belonging to a sort of masonic Templar lodge forming the core of the PN. Now that is downright devious and leaves a smell of conspiracy .
I liked the cartoon of the Times today:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110430/local/Tonio-Fenech-defends-his-values.362937
It is sadly missing Gonzi’s reply, though:
“And thank goodness, you’re sounding more and more like your Prime Minister.”
Well they cannot be in two places at the same time. Probably our dear Catholic PM has been invited to the Vatican to attend the ceremony in person, together with his two disciples Monsignor Tonio Borg and Cardinal Tonio Fenech.
On NET TV last night they said that many foreign heads of governments are attending without mentioning of course that our PM will be there as well, but I am ready to bet my bottom dollar or should I say euro that he will be there together with his better half and the above mentioned ministers.
[Daphne – There’s nothing wrong with that. It would be rude and stupid not to accept the invitation. The Nationalist Party is perfectly capable of commemorating 1 May without the presence of its leader.]
What about the remembrance of Malta officially joining the EU in 1 May 04?
Everyone’s trying hard to efface that memory, lest we realise how far we’ve come in the last seven years – downhill all the way.
You said that “I am [a passionate admirer of John Paul II] he was an astute politician and instrumental in the destruction of the Iron Curtain”
It’s interesting you should say this. His attendence to religious education classes was terrible. Goes to show that there is an inverse relation between attendence to religious education classes and analytical abilities. Your own have, in fact, blinded me with brilliance once again.
[Daphne – Maltese doctrine classes are not religious education classes, Reuben. I sat through 10 years of RE and never went to a single doctrine class. In those days, tal-Muzew was literally tar-rahal and not mandatory for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The effects of doctrine classes (tal-Muzew) must be fought off by parents at home (“No, it’s not actually like that. Miss X is wrong.”) and that in itself – the push-pull between parents and ‘teachers’ – is very damaging.]
Nothing of the sort happened to me, fortunately. I can be quite objective whenever I need to assess something.
I must be the one that got away, then.
[Daphne – No doubt.]
Agreed – too many issues and incidents which make you question what, who and why. Unfortunately it looks like a typical management by crisis scenario.
Why does the divorce referendum keep coming to my mind? Seems like we are going for desperate measures. Our government is so holy (or is very keen to seem so).
Agreed. But why does it seem as though you are surprised by this? It’s no secret that many in the PN fold are staunch Catholics and yes, sometimes, find it hard to grasp the concept of secularism.
PN are more capable than the other lot (track record to prove it) when it comes to most things – but all this religion-talk is the price we pay for it I guess. In this regard we must be one of the most backward of the EU states
Indeed, PN may never have been secular. But its reaction to a society which is developing into a more secular one has been the exact opposite, that of becoming staunchly theocratic.
What is even more worrying is that Tonio Fenech sees nothing wrong with his article in The Malta Independent. When you start invoking Our Lady of Sorrows and whatever else to sustain your arguments, you are reaching only a specific sector of the population which is far from being a majority nowadays.
Il-PN jidher li nesa dak kollu li twieled ghalih. Bhalissa mohhom qed ihaddmuh biss fuq il-kwistjoni tad-divorzju u jhalltu knisja ma’ stat u vici-versa.
Nahseb il-parti l-kbira tad-deputati tal-PN plus uhud mill-PL ahjar kieku komplew biex isiru qassisin.
Jahasra ma jistghux jifhmu li ghandu jkun hemm distinzjoni bejn knisja u stat.
Il-funzjoni tal-Beatifikazzjoni tal-Papa Gwanni Pawlu 11 ser tkun filghodu u tispicca qabel is-1.00 pm u allura l-kommemorazzjoni ta’ Jum il-Haddiem setghet saret filghaxija imma nahseb hemm xi haga ohra li qed izzommhom milli jikkommemorawha.
It is, most probably, the lack of support/popularity the N.P. enjoys, for the time being, at least, that kept the Party from holding any events and not the beatification of John Paul ll at all.
Jekk tqis minn nies li kellu fil-meeting, il-Labour Party m’ ghandux xi kwantita ta’ supporters, jew huma ukoll qaghdu jaraw il-beatifikazzjoni ta’ John Paul II?
I am under the impression that May 1st was the national and international yearly event of the Socialist/Communist ideology. That ideology is now dead and so should its trappings be.
To think that you have been cheer-leading for 2 decades and never knew what they are really like….
[Daphne – Grow up, Edward. You are as tedious now as you were as a child. Yes, I know exactly what ‘they’ are like, which is why I am able to make the observation that this kind of behaviour, which started as an anomaly, is now becoming a pattern. It does nothing to change my support for the Nationalist Party on matters of policy other than divorce over the last 20 years, most especially the EU membership which members of your family, or so I understand, were so very much against.]
Sometimes, I think we’re lucky eating meat on holy days is not punishable by death.
That’s OK because the ALE would be in charge of enforcement :-)
According to Joseph Muscat, we are lucky to be able to eat meat in the first place.
I have come to think that the Nationalist Party is hell-bent on losing the next general election.
I get the feeling that it is reacting to PL tactics, as disorganised and short sighted as they are, by retreating into an over-defensive mode. This it is doing by stupidly trying to appeal to the conservative, Catholic voter, who constitutes a large part of the Maltese electorate. But it is the much smaller cadre of liberal voters who are the king-makers. These are troubled by the erosion of state-religion separation.
I like to think that I am one of the liberal PN voters and I feel disquiet at the way the PN is acting lately. To my own surprise, I am starting to think that this stance makes it ever more unattractive. The PL still wins hands down in the unattractiveness stakes, but the PN seems to be trying its damnest to reach those depths.
Ironically, this pandering to the hardcore conservative PN vote is reminiscent of the PL’s mistaken over-reliance on its core PL voters in the past. This got the MLP an extended sojourn in opposition and it will get the PN a sound thrashing at the next elections.
The PL is aware of the importance of the liberal vote, hence the occasional rhetoric. So why is the PN doing its best to drive its liberal voters into its opponent’s arms?
“PN liberal” is fast becoming as oxymoronic as “Catholic liberal” (always makes me chuckle when I see it on Facebook profiles).
Speaking about Facebook… when I mentioned sabam’s point to Peter Darmanin as a comment to an over-religious statement he made regarding divorce, he said that “he will pray for me to find the truth!”… (Bang!, bang! bang!)… Where has democratic political debate gone?
Sabam, I share your views. I have always voted PN based on policy but now my choices are nil. Can AD pick up any muscle here and offer a choice like the liberals in the U.K.?
No, they are just a pack of sour commies.
There is a good chance that the divorce referendum will tell us if the movement of the liberal voters will shift to Labour to create a possible ground for a new majority in the country. This should be interesting.
The last I checked the world Liberal never features in the PN manifesto so do not create a section that is not there.
[Daphne – The Nationalist Party is elected on the strength of the liberal vote. It would do well to remember this, just as it would do well to remember that it is shored up by the ‘Strickland’ vote, another group which is alienated by the recent resurgence of Old PN.]
These people choose to vote PN because they have no other option, they do not have the will or courage to start their ideologically run party, and they cannot be bothered because the PN serves the country well. This does not mean that the PN should change to their ideologies. So I would rather a country run by a Traditional Conservative Catholic who at the end gets things done and represents the country with dignity, than…
The PN are going to alienate a substantial part of their central core voter base. The PL if it is able to play its cards right will appear to be the champion standing up against a heavyhanded church in cahoots with the the PN.
Who needs Jesus when you can have Joseph?
Would that strategy work?
There were some ugly years in our past when the church ( Bishop Gonzi ) got heavy handed due to the fear of communism , socialists were excommunicated and labor leaning people that died were buried in unconsecrated ground , this generation still exists and they are explaining now how the church and pn have always been in cahoots , so yes Joseph if he plays his cards right can come out as the savior in shining armor .
The PN cannot alienate a substantial part of their central core voter base because their central core voter base expects the PN to be “openly” on the Church’s side. Remember that the interdett (with all its implications and ramifications) is something that happened relatively recently.
Reuben Scicluna I would expect those leaning towards the central stream to be more liberal in their outlook. If you are right and the so-called centre of the PN are are so locked in church dogma then these islands are really in trouble. It is the moderates who keep the balance .
Considering John Paul II was such an “astute politician and instrumental in the destruction of the Iron Curtain” as you well said, he’s probably turning in his grave at the sight of having Robert Mugabe as a VIP for his beatification. This is just horrendous.
I was shocked, too. Robert Mugabe……he has no shame.
Well, the Pharisees and scribes (among others) were sometimes shocked at the Lord’s dining with “public sinners” such as prostitutes and tax collectors, some of which would be entering the Kingdom of Heaven ahead of those Pharisees and scribes.
As far as I know, however, while we may hope for the salvation of everyone, hypocrites (according to the Lord and the scriptures) will have no place in Heaven.
While there may be sanctions imposed upon Zimbabwe’s Mugabe that do not allow him to travel, I don’t believe that Mugabe is as yet charged with crimes against humanity [I’d welcome advice or correction on this point]. However, Mugabe is still an official Head of State, in his shared agreement or arrangement with Morgan Tsvangirai.
Jesus came to save all… and he meant ALL
Yes, Bob. Robert Mugabe, Bin Laden, Gaddafi…and me, too.
However, without being judgemental, repentance also is reguired of everyone. And, in free will and in the rejection of grace and its requirements, not everyone is saved.
Christ also warned the Pharisees and scribes, hypocrites and murderers about the alternatives to the kingdom of heaven. Salvation would not come to everyone.
Another autogoal for the PN.
That was done this evening, in Valletta. (No, Baxxter, I don’t think there’s a seven-year itch.)
Daphne, will you vote in favour of divorce even though the PN is against?
[Daphne – My goodness, what a stupid question.]
1st May:
Worker’s Day (Communist origins)
Saint Joseph the Worker (Church feast in reply for the above feast)
Malta’s entry in the EU(2004)
Pope John Paul’s Beatification(Who defeated Communism)
I see the 1st May feast part of the class struggle. The Labour Party is emphasising more on the 28th April riots and the “Labour league of Youth”.
When it was celebrated with great pomp we had less work than we have today.
I find this beatification “clash avoidance” business to be a lame excuse.
I think Gonzi wants to have a much deserved break this Sunday.
Back to Libya:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/01/libya-muammar-gaddafi-son-nato
Yes, John Paul II was a politician and a showman, that is why I didn’t really like him. His funeral was an insult to the poverty in the world …. all that gala and riches on show!
And what a rush to beatify him.
now tell us you are a catholic apart from that…
and apart from a lot of other matters that make me struggle to remain so!
Branded at birth but not gullible or obsessed with it being above all and sundry
Making Pope John Paul II a saint on the biggest satanic holiday of the year, May 1st (Beltaine) is really appropriate .
“which started as an anomaly, is now becoming a pattern.”
It never started as an anomaly, it was always like that to begin with. The PN was always first in line to confuse state with church and no wonder we are in this mess today.
It will take time to change this thinking pattern. Not that I have anything against our membership in the EU, but I truly wonder whether the PN knew what they were getting themselves into when we joined.
This whole charade about divorce is ridicuolous but it sends out a strong message. We are decades away from separating entirely the church from the state. Imagine if someone had the guts to suggest gay marriage in Malta … oh my.
Just thought you might be interested in a survey doing the rounds on Facebook… although you’ve probably already heard of it: “Is-sorijiet, il-qassisin, il-patrijiet etc ghandhom jithallew jivvutaw ghad divorzju Iva jew le u ghaliex?”
Interestingly, those who think priests and nuns should be deprived of their right to vote in the Referendum include such people as Josette Agius Decelis, Mosta Deputy Mayor (unless she misread the question)! I give her the benefit of the doubt because the wording of the question allows for some ambiguity (no doubt thank to the luminary who came up with it!)
Good news everybody! Obama says Osama Bin Dead-for-ages has been killed by US forces in Pakistan. Unconfirmed reports say he’s been buried at sea, but other sources say his body might be brought to Ground Zero for post-mortem justice.
With its very own Emmanuel Goldstein out of the way, the West can now pave the way for a new enemy – this time for real – something we can all see, hear and touch like a beligerent Islamic Alliance, for us to while our days fearing and fighting and accepting all the controls that our governments will dump on us for our very own security.
War is Peace, everybody. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. San GwannPawl idhol ghalina…
[Daphne – Kev, please keep us updated with the latest conspiracy theories. I’m losing track.]
You’re quite au courant, Daphne. One major conspiracy theory claims that US marines first conspired to execute Bin Laden then disposed of his body at sea. Another theory says he had conspired to perpetrate the 9/11 attacks, and yet another one says we should fear a terrorist backlash now that Goldstein, as he is affectionatley known, is dead.
Now that the bogeyman is dead, be very afraid. But trust our Western governments to keep us safe. It’s not like Al-Qaeda Inc.’s new leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is not a CIA asset as was Obama bin Laden.
Incidentally, isn’t Barack Osama a great hero?
The absolute majority of Catholics were born into their religion, as decided by their parents/guardians. That makes all this talk about the church having the right to do all that it wants regarding church matters a little less set in granite.
If all and sundry are conscripted at a VERY young age into the Roman Catholic fold then they should have some say in their church.
The situation would be significantly different if the Roman Catholic Church accepts its faithful at, say, 18. Then anybody who joins accepts club rules and knows what is in store for members.
[Daphne – I don’t agree. Conscription at birth does not give you the right to change the rules. It just means that you are under no obligation to be a Catholic. But you’re not under that obligation anyway, even if you ‘sign up’ at 18. That’s what freedom of worship means: freedom not to worship, too.]
Daphne, if one is dragged into the net of religion at a young age it is virtually impossible to leave , the indoctrination sees to that, so no obligation to stay is a hollow choice.
[Daphne – Oh that'[s rubbish. Everyone grows up and everyone goes to school nowadays, so it follows that everyone can work out for themselves whether they believe or not. And that’s all it boils down to. I’m not talking about those who see Catholicism as a badge of identity. Those are a case apart, and it’s usually they who want to change the rules, so that they can do as they please and still belong to their club.]
During the time of Christ / Romans the Roman rulers were to put it mildly cruel/ ruthless to any opposing force . When it came to dealing with Christ the Romans were more or less uninterested in Jesus. This shows that they reasoned that he was creating trouble for the Jewish religion, yet was no threat to Rome.
Jesus from within changed the Jewish religion to Christian, so on an equal understanding of this event our Church can still be subjected to change from within , all that is needed is a charismatic voice coupled with a significant number of faithful and changes can take place .
[Daphne – Yes, right, another Messiah. I think you forget that we live in very different times. Any Messiah who comes along now will end up with a few hundred crackpots living in some jungle settlement, and possibly, if he’s lucky, Tom Cruise and John Travolta.]
For the first time I am ashamed of forming part of this party. I value freedom more than I value religious beliefs. This is not only a political mistake. It’s disrespect for the value of respecting differences. This is a major blunder!
Then surrender your membership (tessera) to the Party and tell them this.
Well, the PN could try switching to Labor Day celebrations now to come in line with the rednecks and bible-bashers from the good ole boys from the South….And make Fox News compulsory while we are at it.
On a separate subject, did you notice that One News last night showed a picture of Osama bin Laden dead which apparently is a fake. I don’t know if Net or PBS showed it.
They have a habit of falling into scams. They spend too much time on Facebook getting the feeling of what the majority of people think.
Cannot understand why so many are antagonistic towards our Church. It seems that these would prefer a “free for all, do what you like” life. The church ALWAYS (rpt always) strives for the good of society as a whole.
I just cannot see the connection between the PN, the PL and the forthcoming vote. The Catholics will vote NO, the “I do not care” and those with a vested interest will vote Yes.
[Daphne – Actually, many thousands of devout Catholics will be voting Yes, and I would also say that there are thousands of lapsed Catholics who will vote No.]
Those who like Jesmond and Evarist will vote Yes; those who dislike them will vote NO.
[Daphne – I think those who dislike them will probably not vote at all.]
Pity is that those who vote Yes have not yet considered the harm divorce brings to society – forget religion – just ponder on the upheaval of society.
“astute politician and instrumental in the destruction of the Iron Curtain”
That’s like saying Gandhi was “an astute politician” (indisputable inasmuch as he reduced the potential for nationalist violence to almost zero) and “instrumental in the destruction of the British Empire”. The last would be pure hyperbole that is extremely dangerous as it feeds the trolls.
The biggest contributions to the destruction of the Iron Curtain were: Stalin’s destructive paranoia, the West’s containment strategy and Gorbachev’s wise handling of a very sick empire.
I have nothing but admiration for John Paul II, I and don’t need to elevate him into some mythical fable to show my respects to the man.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110503/local/snoop-dogg-far-east-movement-and-lmfao-for-isle-of-mtv-concert.363448
Tghid l-accountant ta’ Gaddafi jmur jarah?
A 40-year-old Iraqi man resident in Cospicua has been jailed for three years after he admitted in court to having corrupted a 12-year-old girl.
The police said the crimes were committed in Cospicua between 2007 and 2009.
The man had been assigned responsibility to take care of the child.
Police Inspector Graziella Muscat prosecuted.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110503/local/man-admits-corrupting-girl-12.363453
3 years for corrupting a 12 year old girl…. ???
[Daphne – Damn, you’re right. He’s Iraqi, so he should have got more.]
For a generation, the Nationalist Party has been the party of moderation and common sense, and the party that young and upwardly mobile Maltese people have turned to.
As a result, it has won election after election. I really can’t understand why it has suddenly decided to become a party of ignorant, unattractive hardliners, as Labour has been for so many years.
I do not agree.
It is a few people who have their agendas that are whispering this around and getting ppl to repeat it.
Gonzi can never seem to do anything right and when he does it is wrong… this is what they want ppl to think.
The truth is that he had not stopped getting things done.
I think the events of the Vatican were more important than any other event… short sighted ppl would not see this.
I spent the day in to see it, I atually even saw a full Bla Agenda programme on the subject and can say a really good production.
Even CNN got it live, and we know waht they are like!
[Daphne – Not necessarily, we don’t. What are they like? ]
you can be a tease at times.
Why were the events at the Vatican more important? John Paul II’s beatification has absolutely no impact on my life – does that mean I’m short-sighted?
Shortsighted to those who think it did not have an impact on a very large proportion of the people in the world. You might not have been interested, but it does not mean that a large proportion of people in the world were not!
Re Judge Sciberras and his stupid remark : The Church, since time immemorial has condemned divorce I cannot see how and why the judge passed such a stupid remark
Nope , go read a little history on Wikipedia .
Well, that depends on which church you mean – the Protestant one doesn’t, and hasn’t for centuries.