Opinjoni

Fix-xbieha ta’ Alla li jħobb u jħenn

In the last days much has been written about comments made on the national station with regards to disabilities as fruit of original sin. I, myself have struggled with this Biblical narrative for several years. However, the Church’s teaching shows us that such an approach provides a shallow reading of what is meant by ‘perfection/imperfection’ in the creation story.

When we view people with disabilities as “unperfect” or inferior, we risk embracing a utilitarian view of humanity… Kompli aqra »

Mhux biss ħajja, imma ħajja bil-kotra

Fl-evanġelju ta’ San Ġwann, Gesu jesprimi b’mod ċar l-għan tal-missjoni tiegħu li jkollna l-ħajja u l-ħajja bil-kotra. Għaldaqstant, biex tkun taqbel mal-pjan u l-ħolma ta’ Alla, l-ħajja ta’ kull bniedem għandha tmur lil hinn mis-sempliċi sopravivenza. F’dan l-aspett it-Tagħlim Soċjali tal-Knisja joffri viżjoni koerenti u konsistenti: Ir-rispett lejn il-persuna u d-difiża tal-ħajja ma jiddependux mill-età, l-ħila, l-abiltà jew il-kontribut finanzjarju tagħha. Il-pedament ta’ etika konsistenti favur il-ħajja huwa d-dinjità tal-bniedem, li l-ebda ċirkostanza u l-ebda liġi umana ma jistgħu qatt idgħajfu… Kompli aqra »

Ma nistgħhux naqtgħu qalbna

Fid-dawl tal-vot li ttieħed il-bieraħ fil-parlament dwar il-bżonn ta’ inkjesta pubblika li titfa’ dawl fuq il-mewta traġika ta’ Jean Paul Sofia, il-Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi tappella lill-awtoritajiet biex jisimgħu il-karba ta’ omm u tal-poplu għall-ġustizzja. Huwa ta’ diżappunt kbir li kwistjoni daqshekk sensittiva, għal darb’oħra, qed tispiċċa ballun politiku.

Quddiem din ir-reżistenza għall-inkjesta pubblika li diffiċli tifhimha, tispjegaha u tiġġustifikaha, niftakru f’dawk l-għexieren ta’ ħaddiema li fl-aħħar snin tilfu ħajjithom fuq is-siti ta’ kostruzzjoni… Kompli aqra »

Ħwejjeġ bl-irħis: Min qed iħallas il-prezz?

On 24 April 2013, 1,134 Bangladeshi garment workers were killed and at least another 2,000 injured in the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory, where clothes ware being made for international fashion brands. Pope Francis condemned the conditions under which these garment workers worked as slave labour.

Ten years later, the fight for a safe and fair work environment continues. Unfortunately, the way we currently make, buy, use and discard our clothes, has not only led to a “business model” that demands that workers work for a pittance in unsafe conditions but is also contributing to the kind of ecological degradation which is destroying our common home… Kompli aqra »

Riforma fl-ippjanar u mudell ekonomiku ġdid: X’opinjoni għandna?

On Saturday 27th May, environmental organisations are calling on the public to participate in a national protest. The demands of the protest include a change in planning policies, a radical reform of all institutions responsible for the environment, planning and lands, as well as a new economic model that seeks a better quality of life for everyone instead of endless economic growth based on the profits of the few… Kompli aqra »

Ekonomija għas-servizz tan-nies u ta’ l-ambjent naturali

Over-reliance on particular segments of the economy such as construction, which has caused growing harm to our communities and wellbeing over time, is increasingly being recognised as problematic even by top politicians. Minister of Finance and Employment Clyde Caruana recently pointed out that we urgently need to rethink and recalibrate Malta’s economic model, which has favoured rapid GDP growth at the expense of workers’ rights, people’s quality of life and our natural environment… Kompli aqra »

It-tfittxija tal-paċi

Today marks the 60th anniversary from the publication of Pacem in Terris, an important encyclical written by Pope John XXIII in 1963 at a time when the world was undergoing significant changes and facing numerous challenges.

The cold war was at its peak and the world was divided into two ideological camps, with the threat of nuclear war constantly looming. At the same time, many countries struggled to overcome poverty, inequality and social injustice… Kompli aqra »

Flimkien

About 60 delegates from various church backgrounds met in Rome from 12 to 15 March to prepare the event “TOGETHER | Gathering of the People of God”. This ecumenical gathering will take place on the weekend of 30 September in Rome, in advance of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will discuss the theme of Synodality.

Daniel Darmanin, President of the local Justice & Peace Commission and member of the Executive Committee of Justice & Peace Europe took part in this preparatory meeting which ended with a private audience with Pope Francis… Kompli aqra »

L-ospitalità u l-barrani

Dan l-aħħar iltqajt mal-istorja ta’ Najib Nasary, refuġjat mill-Afganistan li ħalla art twelidu biex ifittex bidu ġdid fi Franza. Ma kellu xejn, ma kien jaf lil ħadd, u ffaċċja t-theddida ta’ deportazzjoni. Imma meta n-nies ta’ raħal fil-muntanji Cévennes ta’ Franza laqgħuh, fl-aħħar sab dar ġdida u skopra fih ukoll passjoni ġdida għall-ħajja.

It-triq ma kinetx facli ghal Najib. Wara li wasal Franza, Najib iffaċċja ħafna sfidi hekk kif ipprova jibni ħajja ġdida għalih innifsu f’pajjiż barrani… Kompli aqra »

In-numri u r-reżistenza għall-bidla

“Humanity is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it. Obsession with a consumerist lifestyle, above all when few people are capable of maintaining it, can only lead to violence and mutual destruction.”

(Pope Francis, LS. 23. 204)

Numbers are not everything… Kompli aqra »