We want a Church that speaks and listens - PM

We do not want a Church that sits on a fence, but one that speaks and listens, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this afternoon as he exchanged New Year’s Day greetings with the Archbishop.

Together with Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona and Vicar General Joseph Galea-Curmi, Mgr Charles Scicluna was exchanging greetings with the country’s leaders at the Archbishop's Palace in Valletta.

Flanked by members of his Cabinet, Dr Muscat said the Church should express its opinion about what was going on in society and he looked forward to more discussion in the coming year.

In his address, Mgr Scicluna noted that the current environment permitted dialogue between the Church and the State.

Mgr Scicluna also greeted Opposition leader Simon Busuttil who said 2015 was an annus mirabilis for the Church, following several changes that included the Archbishop’s installation.

“When you speak, people stop and listen,” Dr Busuttil told Mgr Scicluna, wishing that the Archbishop kept this up in the coming year.

In reply, Mgr Scicluna noted that the Church needed to lead by example, and in following Pope Francis’ appeals for the protection of the environment, the Church itself was also responsible in...