Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/811845
10 Religion as an identity totem THE Maltese are split right down the mid- dle on a proposal to teach Islam in state schools, but the majority disagrees with the teaching of Islam in Church schools, and would not vote for a Muslim or atheist candidate in a general election, steadfastly wanting to uphold Roman Catholicism as Malta's official religion. These views were shared by both church- goers and non-churchgoers who responded to MaltaToday's Easter survey, based on a sample of 450 respondents contacted by tel- ephone last week. Respondents were asked whether Muslim students attending state schools should be given the opportunity to attend classes on Islam during the same time allocated to the teaching of Catholic religion to other stu- dents. The proposal came to the fore follow- ing the announcement of the closure of the Mariam Al-Batool Islamic school and the probable influx of its students in state schools, and has been backed by both gov- ernment and Archbishop Charles Scicluna. But the survey shows the Maltese split in half over this issue. The survey shows a higher level of support for the teaching of Islam in state schools among those with a higher level of education, those who have attended independent schools and those who do not attend Sunday mass. But despite declarations by Archbishop Scicluna advocating the same treatment for Muslim students attending Church schools, 63% oppose the teaching of Islam in Church schools. In this case opposition to the teach- ing of Islam is strong even among those with a higher level of education and respondents who have attended Church schools or pri- vate schools. Opposition among those who attended a Church school grows to a staggering 67%. The survey confirms a mistrust of the Is- lamic religion to the extent that only 20% said they would vote for a Muslim candidate in a general election compared to 30% who would vote for an athe- ist candidate. Signifi- cantly among respond- ents under the age of 34, while 65% would vote for an atheist can- didate, only 38% would vote for a Muslim can- didate. Majority want compulsory ethics The survey shows a relative majority of respondents (48%) agreeing to making the teaching of eth- ics compulsory. The subject, which helps students recognise right from wrong from a perspective based on universal values, is currently only offered to students whose parents exempt their children from learn- ing religion. Most of these (40%) still want children to learn religion as a separate subject. 32% agree with the present system through which ethics is only to be taught to students whose parents opt out of the teaching of Catholic religion. Only 8% would like ethics to replace the teaching of religion. But when asked directly how religion should be taught to their children: 44% re- plied that they want their children to learn only about the Catholic religion, 32% would like their children to learn about different religions but mostly about Catholicism, while 6% would like their students to be only taught ethics. A further 4% would like their children to learn about different religions, and to be given equal treatment. This suggests that while the Maltese are disposed to see chil- dren learning ethics from a universal values perspective, they also want children to learn religion mainly from a Catholic perspective. Only a small minority want religion to be learnt from a more universal or ecumenical perspective. 87% want Catholicism enshrined in constitution Despite indications on various fronts that Malta is becoming a more secular society, the survey also shows strong support for re- taining Roman Catholicism as Malta's offi- cial religion among all age groups and levels of education. This suggests that in a time of change, Catholicism is becoming more a mark of identity than a way of life, which defies ra- cial and ethnic stereotypes. It also suggests a tension between the more open Catholicism preached by Pope Francis and Archbishop Charles Scicluna and a resurgent tradition- alism, which might accept more civil liber- ties but defends symbols of identity. While 87% of the general population sup- ports retaining the Roman Catholic religion as Malta's official one, support is also strong among those who do not attend Sunday mass (82%) and is lowest among respond- ents under 34 (74%). Only 30% of younger generation attend mass The survey shows that 65% of under 34-year-olds do not attend Sunday mass compared to just 12% of respondents over 55. Respondents aged between 35 and 54 years of age are split between 52% who at- tend mass and 46% who don't. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 2017 MaltaToday Survey JAMES DEBONO The Maltese are split on teaching Islam in state schools, will not vote for Muslim and atheist candidates, and want Catholicism to stay in the Constitution, MaltaToday's latest survey reveals Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+ All repondents University Post-Secondary Secondary Primary Attends Mass Doesn't attend Mass Attended church school Attended a state school Attended a private school 18-34 35-54 55 All University Post-Secondary Secondary Primary Attends Mass Doesn't attend Mass Would you vote for an atheist or muslim candidate? ATHEIST MUSLIM Yes No Don't know Should Muslims have the opportunity to attend lessons in Islam at same time when Catholic students attend lessons in Christian religion? In Catholic schools should Muslims have the opportunity to attend lessons in Islam at same time when Catholic students attend lessons in Catholic religion? 64.7% 32.4% 20.9% 67% 10.2% 80.3% 30.5% 60.7% 48% 48% 26.1% 60.9% 12.2 77.7% 6.4% 85.6% 9.9% 81.5% 35.4% 51.5% 38.2% 55.9% 16.5% 73.6% 8.5% 80.6% 20.4% 71% 28% 60% 17.4% 67.4% 9.6% 80.7% 7.2% 83.2% 8.6% 82.8% 22.2% 63.6% Yes No 52.9% 44.1% 36.3% 53.8% 43.5% 41.5% 45.2% 45.4% 60% 36% 52.2% 34.6% 41.8% 46.6% 31.2% 50.4% 40.7% 45.7% 49.5% 41.4% 47.6% 50% 42% 43.5% 57.1% 28.6% Yes No 29.4% 67.6% 25.4% 63.7% 34% 52% 30.7% 58.9% 28% 68% 30.4% 63% 32.5% 56.3% 27.2% 53.6% 29.8% 56.3% 31.3% 62.6% 31.7% 67.1% 31.9% 54.2% 28.6% 57.1%