Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/442526
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 7 JANUARY 2015 2 TIM DIACONO EDUCATION Minister Evarist Bartolo has suggested that the Maltese Catholic Church should reflect on Pope Francis' message of inclusivity when discussing new recruitment policies for top teach- ing staff who, the Church has said in a document, must be 'practising Catho- lics'. In a comment to MaltaToday, Bartolo said that the Church had to abide by labour laws as an employer, but added that discussions on its recruitment of teachers should reflect the Roman Catholic pontiff's "teaching on inclu- sivity, on a moral basis". According to the document, which is still under discussion, the Curia wants heads of Catholic schools that fall un- der its Catholic Education Secretariat to discuss new terms of employment that will guarantee that schools' head teachers and other top staff can be safely considered to be "practising Catholics" – or face disciplinary action if their "life choices give scandal or run counter to the ethos of the school". The document has been sharply criti- cised by the Malta Union of Teachers and the Malta Humanists Association, who voiced concern that the Church's proposal could discriminate against teachers who are gay or divorced, among others. "Pope Francis said himself that the Catholic Church should be open to everyone, in particular those on the fringes of society," Bartolo said. "He said that he isn't one to judge homo- sexual people and divorced people who want to form a part of the Church." Bartolo also called for a reform in the way morality is taught in schools. "There is no room for fanaticism in schools, but children today are leaving school without a concept of morality," Bartolo said. "Parents say that they have no time to teach their children morality while school education is inundated with education syllabi. However, society nevertheless expects these children to have a moral compass when they leave school. Morality education needs re- form just as much as language educa- tion needs reform." Asked whether such morality educa- tion should be based on Catholic teach- ings, Bartolo replied that it shouldn't. However, he insisted that the Church has its own responsibilities, and that in its separation from the State its liberty had to be fully ensured. "I don't see the Church as some sort of static, homogeneous bloc whose mem- bers all walk in the same direction," Bartolo said. "Bishop Charles Scicluna has said that the Church isn't attempt- ing to interfere in everyone's lives but that it would continue to influence so- ciety, even those at its margins." News COOK YOURSELF INTO A BETTER CHEF gourmettoday @GourmetMT Sean Gravina teaches Moira Delia a few tricks in the kitchen to make simple recipes fabulous. Don't miss Gourmet Today on TVM, every Friday at 18:50. Follow us on www.gourmettoday.recipes Malta's favourite food magazine is now on TV Bartolo calls on Church to abide by Pope's inclusivity message Pope Francis himself said that the Catholic Church should be open to everyone, in particular those on the fringes of society Elderly man seriously injured after a fall at home A 79-year-old man sustained serious injuries after falling down the stairs at his home in Siggiewi. In a Facebook post, police reported that at 9 yesterday morning, they were informed that the elderly man required assistance. Neighbours called the police after noticing that the man had not stuck to his usual routine of going to the village square and then returning home. Their suspicions were confirmed when they went to his house to check on him and heard his calls for help from within. They then called the po- lice. Officers entered the man's house, accompanied by the victim's brother, and discovered the man lying on the ground. It appears that he fell down the stairs and could not get up as a result of his injuries. The man was taken to Mater Dei hospital for treatment.