Friday, 24th July 2009 - 12:24CET
Gozo bishop Mario Grech has warned the European Union that if it chose to be ethically indifferent and sceptical to fundamental values, it would be paving the way for the horror skeletons of its past to re-emerge.
Speaking during a Marian manifestation in Marsalforn yesterday evening, Mgr Grech said that the late Pope John Paul II, who greatly believed in Europe, used to say that Europeans faced a major challenge to build a culture and unity ethic and that if these were lacking the policy aimed at bringing about unity would be destined to fail.
Mgr Grech said that a campaign currently being carried out by Brigitta Ohlsson, a member of the Swedish Liberal People's Party aimed to collect a million signatures to pressure the EU to push countries such as Malta to introduce an abortion act.
This was not the first time that pressure was being made for unethical and immoral laws to be enacted.
Some months ago, Arie Hoekman, a United Nations Population Fund representative from the Netherlands, said that family breakdown was a triumph for human rights.
"Could there be a more unclear vision," Mgr Grech asked adding that it was in this context that the Pope invited Europe to have more confidence in people who could enjoy a family built on marriage.
The bishop said that it might not be fashionable nowadays to speak about sacrifice in marriage but although it was positive that there was more freedom, this brought with it responsibilities.
One of the reasons as to why families were going through difficult times was because society was lost in pleasure and did not want to know about mortification, he said.
Photo: Charles Spiteri
Gozo bishop Mario Grech has warned the European Union that if it chose to be ethically indifferent and sceptical to fundamental values, it would be paving the way for the horror skeletons of its past to re-emerge.
Speaking during a Marian manifestation in Marsalforn yesterday evening, Mgr Grech said that the late Pope John Paul II, who greatly believed in Europe, used to say that Europeans faced a major challenge to build a culture and unity ethic and that if these were lacking the policy aimed at bringing about unity would be destined to fail.
Mgr Grech said that a campaign currently being carried out by Brigitta Ohlsson, a member of the Swedish Liberal People's Party aimed to collect a million signatures to pressure the EU to push countries such as Malta to introduce an abortion act.
This was not the first time that pressure was being made for unethical and immoral laws to be enacted.
Some months ago, Arie Hoekman, a United Nations Population Fund representative from the Netherlands, said that family breakdown was a triumph for human rights.
"Could there be a more unclear vision," Mgr Grech asked adding that it was in this context that the Pope invited Europe to have more confidence in people who could enjoy a family built on marriage.
The bishop said that it might not be fashionable nowadays to speak about sacrifice in marriage but although it was positive that there was more freedom, this brought with it responsibilities.
One of the reasons as to why families were going through difficult times was because society was lost in pleasure and did not want to know about mortification, he said.
The Maltese, he said, should be proactive and send Europe a message of hope. He appealed to families to educate their children in human and Christian values to prepare for a new political generation for the future.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on Times' website.]
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Times: European environment morally polluted - Gozo bishop
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090725/local/european-environment-morally-polluted-gozo-bishopSaturday, 25th July 2009
Gozo Bishop Mario Grech warned that if the EU chose to be ethically indifferent and sceptical towards fundamental values in the name of tolerance it risked reawakening the "frightening skeletons" of its past.
Stopping short of referring to Europe's divisions that led to two world wars and their repercussions, Mgr Grech said that if the rules of life were not fixed, society would descend into relativism.
Speaking during a Marian manifestation in Marsalforn on Thursday night, Mgr Grech spoke on how the EU had the euro and common laws but there was no commitment to have ethical unity. "By this I mean working towards common ethical and moral values that are the backbone of every society," he told the congregation.
The late Pope John Paul II, who greatly believed in Europe, used to say Europeans faced a major challenge to build a culture and unity ethic and if these were lacking, the policy aimed at bringing about unity would be destined to fail.
Referring to the campaign of Brigitta Ohlsson, Swedish Liberal People's Party member, to collect a million signatures to pressure the EU to push countries such as Malta to introduce abortion legislation, Mgr Grech said this was not the first time pressure was being made for immoral laws to be enacted.
Ironically, on the day of his homily, the Church was celebrating the feast of St Brigida of Sweden, who had been proposed as one of three patron saints of Europe by Pope John Paul II.
Mgr Grech said some months ago, Arie Hoekman, a United Nations Population Fund representative from the Netherlands, said the breakdown of the traditional family was a triumph for those who had human rights at heart. "Could there be a more blurred vision than this?" Mgr Grech asked.
One of the reasons why families were going through tough times was because society was bent on pleasure and did not want to know about mortification, he said.
"In the contest of a European environment that is morally polluted, we not only have to defend (ourselves) against the current that destroys the family... but we have to be proactive and send a message of hope," he said.
He appealed to families to educate children in human and Christian values in order to prepare for a new political generation.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on Times' website.]
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