Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/384358
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2014 News 7 JAMES DEBONO PROGRAMMES about exorcism, occult practices and paranormal is- sues should not be aired between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m according to a new set of guidelines issued for public consultation by the Broadcasting Authority. The new rules protecting minors in broadcasting state that programmes dealing with "paranormal practices" should be carried after 9 p.m. The rule does not apply to programmes involving drama, films or comedies. Similar rules guiding broadcasting issued by Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator in the UK, specifically ban "demonstrations" of exorcism, oc- cult practices and the paranormal before the 9 pm watershed. The new rules also protect chil- dren from commercial exploitation, prohibiting the depiction of spon- sorship logos during children's pro- grammes and banning any advertis- ing inviting minors to buy products or services through distance com- munication including mail, phone, computer, e-mail or internet. Moreover, Ronald Macdonald may no longer make any appearances on children's programmes but the new rules do not explicitly ban adverts for junk food in the 6pm to 9pm bracket. The document proposes that adver- tising for junk food can be aired less than 30 minutes before a children's programme, during the programme itself and within 30 minutes of the end of a children's programme. The ban covers adverts of alco- holic beverages, medicines, vita- mins or slimming products, care and establishments, lotteries or games similar to gambling, soft drinks, fruit juice, mineral water with different flavours, energy and sports drinks, drinks with a caffeine content, food and drink containing a high content of trans fats, salt or sugar, sweet syr- ups, white rice, products made from white flour, GMOs, dyes, chemicals or artificial preservatives. Children will not be allowed to imitate adults in fashion modelling, singing or dancing. Songs selected for dancing or to be sung by children should not have any explicit or implicit sexual connota- tion, which will effectively ban chil- dren and teens from dancing to the tunes of popular singers like Rihan- na, Nicki Minage and Beyonce. The guidelines also ban beauty competitions from being held during children's programmes. The new rules also limit the participation of under-16 year olds in political activities. This ban may con- trast with the lowering of the voting age to 16, which would necessari- ly result in the politicisa- tion of people on the verge of turning 16. The guidelines ban close- ups of children whenever a political activity is be- ing shot. Minors will be banned from appear- ing or participating in programmes involving party politics. Neither will minors appear in advertisements involving party politics. Children to be protected from exorcists, Rihanna songs and junk food in the politics of the country and begin to speak louder and clearer than it has done so far on moral, ethical and civic issues (apart from the traditional issues like abortion)… and must help in the creation of a more humane and compassionate society centred on the human person, by continu- ously reminding society to reflect on certain moral goals." Partially agreeing with Fr Mon- tebello, he says the clerical domi- nation of the local Church must go. "The problem with the Catholic Church in Malta is that laymen are seen as category B to the cler- ics who are designated as category A. Also most clerics tend to as- sume a very patronizing air to- wards laymen. I would like to see a bigger involvement of the laity in the Church's decision-making structures, so long as this does not translate into a bigger involve- ment of fundamentalists. "The Maltese Catholic Church has been declining for decades and is sliding down further… but it is audacious to predict its ex- tinction. The Church is a complex social organization and not all of its parts are rotting. Some are thriving." Pace predicts that it will either survive as a small conservative group or may indeed start grow- ing again – assuming it reacts correctly to the signs of the times. "There is no real lay participation in decision-making at the top ech- elons," Pace says, comparing their situation to that of members of political parties, "herded to rallies and conferences to cheer and ap- plaud decisions already taken." He then points to Italy, land of the 'Catholic fundamentalists' as dubbed by Leonardo Boff. "To- gether with like-minded clerics, they pursue a conservative agen- da. To expect these well-inten- tioned fundamentalists to turn things around for the Church is to imagine that Genghis Khan could actually write a democratic Con- stitution." In Malta, he says, a large number of faithful view Catholicism as simply the parish saint and fire- works. "The Church's only hope for a comeback lies with a coterie of laymen, members of religious orders and clerics for whom the 'preferential option for the poor' and the refocusing of Catholics' attention on the liberation of hu- man beings is their main objec- tive." And that means challenging the fundamentalists on homosexual- ity, LGBT and the Church, di- vorcees, IVF, contraception and to create structures that give lay people, particularly women, a real say in decision-making, ecumen- ism and the dialogue of religions. The process of aggiornamento is underway therefore, but it is also still lagging behind. This is the view of retired schoolteacher and catechist Mariuccia Zammit, who, while actively volunteering in her parish, holds no official position in the church. "Montebello's arguments are not all wrong, actually some are very valid – it's the way he delivers it that rubs the Church the wrong way and increases conflict." Criticising what she describes as "the resistance to change and a culture of silence" that she says will only bring further division to the Church, Zammit had no doubts as to the source of the problem – "people today, includ- ing some clergy are scared to be seen to have an opinion – we are supposed to be fearless disciples of Christ! A Christian should not just obey blindly". Although obe- dience is a duty; there is also the duty to challenge the status quo and continuously bring about change for the better. Echoing Prof. Pace's view, Zam- mit said "we [the faithful], need a clear message from the Curia on where it stands on emerging is- sues. People need good, relevant and timely guidance but first of all, healing the existing rifts should take priority." Zammit remains positive, how- ever. Noting the fact that the Church continues to permit Mon- tebello, who is subject to a vow of obedience, publish his blog, "shows a great deal of goodwill on their part. I see change is happen- ing, but it will take time". Such is Zammit's earnestness, it is hard not to agree with her. The question is: will Maltese Catholi- cism live to see it? See also letter 'The Church in Malta is very alive' - page 22 'The Church is a complex social organisation and not all of its parts are rotting. Some are thriving'