Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1494132
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 MARCH 2023 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Changing Malta AT the prompting of Humanists Mal- ta, the 2021 census was the first in Malta to give the option of having "no religion". Its findings record that 83% of the population identify as Roman Catholic; this is significantly lower than previous surveys which put the figure at 94%. In addition, it seems to us that iden- tifying as Catholic – perhaps often as much a cultural as a religious affiliation - is not the same as a commitment to all the church's teachings. In fact, vari- ous recent surveys have suggested that nearly half the population of Malta are not actually practising Catholics in any real sense. Significantly, according to the census, the next most populous group (5%, or more than 23,000) do not identify with any religion. This is noticeably higher than the 3% or 4% who usually identify as "atheist". We believe that the "no re- ligion" option, phrased in line with UN guidelines, enables the census to gain a truer picture of the state of religion in Malta, and should be followed in future. The reality of cultural diversity, and of people without religion, is expected to accelerate in the coming years. Such changing demographics must be ac- knowledged and addressed, particularly in how religious services are offered in state institutions, such as religious teaching in schools being the default option, and exclusively religious chap- laincy teams in state hospitals. It also underlines the inequity of the constitu- tional requirement for Roman Catholi- cism to be the religion of Malta. Christian Colombo Malta Humanists Association Faith when calamity strikes EVERYONE knows that along with heresy, we can expect calamities any moment. When an earthquake flat- tens a region in India or a tornado rips through a city this is no more than barometric or climatic change. The universe is passing through the final hours before delivery because nature is a pregnant creature. All these are the beginning of birth pain and fearful con- tractions are in the forecast. Each sunrise seems to bring fresh rea- sons for fear. Fear, it seems has moved next door and set up shop. But what if faith, not fear was our default reaction to such calamities and pandemics? This is impossible for anyone to understand and leaves us all in horrified incompre- hension. Well before the advent of Jesus, the Ecclesiasticus revealed the miseries of mankind: "Great labour has been cre- ated for all men and a heavy yoke has is upon the children of... Adam from the day of their coming out of their moth- ers' womb until the day of the burial into the mother of all." (Ecl-0:1) We have been warned in the Bible 14 times of such calamities (Matt. 24:6-8, 25:13). As we live in a broken world, Jesus was honest enough to tell us we'd have trials and tribulations. Sure, every- body likes to understand more about why but who dares interpret God's will? In our times, the reading of the eve of the first day of Lent goes: "My son, when you come to serve the Lord, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials, be sincere of heart and steadfast. Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, etc." (B.Sirak 12:1-12). This is when Christian faith comes in. When suffering, sadness and continu- ous calamities wrecked hearts, nobody wants a theory to explain it. What one needs is something to make him feel better – like faith, hope and charity. Atheism may have a better explanation for evil and suffering, but it provides no consolation for them. Theism, which doesn't have a good explanation, never- theless offers a better way for people to cope with their consequences. In reality only one person bore the burden of the deprecations and sins of all humanity – Jesus Christ – whose marvellous power of the Cross helps us go forward to the promised land of the living. In such tragic circumstances "keep your head and don't panic. Be faith- ful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev.2:10) That is the promise of God. John Azzopardi Zabbar