Malta (CHAKRA) – The Holy See website just published the program of Pope Benedict’s “Apostolic Journey to Malta”, for April 17-18, which has left minority, non-catholic religious leaders disappointed because of no mention of any interfaith dialogue.
Acclaimed Hindu statesman, Rajan Zed and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich—a prominent Jewish leader in California and Nevada in the US, said in a statement in Nevada Today that it seems as though the Catholic Church of Malta is not serious about sharing the minority religious viewpoint. The statement further explained that it is sad to see that the Catholic Church of Malta does not want to discuss the issues of religious equality with minority religions/denominations. The Malta Archbishop had been requested earlier, to organize the meeting of leaders of various religions and denominations with His Holiness Pope Benedict, during the visit.
Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, and Rabbi Freirich both argued that since the Catholics held a majority in Malta, it was the Popes moral responsibility to take into consideration the minority views from different faiths/denominations and backgrounds. Aside from the Catholic majority, Malta consists of minority communities of Protestants, Orthodox, other Christian denominations, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Baha’is, Wiccans/Neo-Pagans, and people with “no religion”.
The Pope’s published program of this “Apostolic Journey to Malta on the occasion of the 1950th Anniversary of St. Paul’s Shipwreck on the Island” will be broadcasted live from Vatican CTV. A welcoming ceremony at Luqa Airport will commence the program, followed by visits to the following people and places by the Pope: The President at Valletta Palace, Saint Paul’s Cave in Rabat, Holy Mass at Floriana Granaries, Regina Caeli, a luncheon with Malta Bishops and Papal Entourage at the Rabat Apostolic Nunciature. The Pope will also meet young people at Great Port of Valletta which includes five addresses and one homily. The Pope will pass by 40 parishes during his visit, according to the Archdiocese of Malta website.
Jonathan Frierich and Rajan Zed urged Malta to treat all religion and denominations equally in front of the law. According to the Malta Criminal Code, one is liable to imprisonment for up to six months for publically belittling “Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion”, while a deprecation of “any cult tolerated by law” makes one liable for imprisonment for only up to three months.
Furthermore, Zed and Frierich said that under the subject of “religion”, Malta should allow a “comparative religion” class in its public primary and secondary schools, in which the basic teachings of all world religions including the beliefs of non-believers are taught. According to the Constitution of Malta (Chapter I, Article 2, Item 3): “Religious teaching of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Faith shall be provided in all State schools as part of compulsory education.”
This will be the Popes third visit to the island of Malta, who was invited by President George Abela and Archbishop Monsignor Paul Cremona. A DVD and official book will be released along with two silver coins to commemorate the Pope’s visit.
Maltese islands were first settled in 5,200 BCE. There are hardly any other European countries that have such concentrated architecture, beaches and history in so small of an area.