The Archdiocese of Malta is disappointed to note that today It-Torċa published a front-page story riddled with inaccuracies regarding a proposal that had been made in 2020 to erect a monument honouring those affected by the interdict issued by the Church in the 1960s.
The newspaper – which relied solely on the information provided by the Chairman of the Valletta Cultural Agency, Jason Micallef – claimed that the Church had failed to respond to a request made by former minister José Herrera for a monument to be placed in the garden of the Archbishop’s Palace in Valletta which would subsequently be opened to the public.
The facts are very different:
On May 18, 2020, Archbishop Charles Scicluna had written to the then minister stating that the Church supported the erection of such a moment in a spirit of national unity.
However, since the Archbishop’s Palace in Valletta houses the Church’s Ecclesiastical Tribunal, which handles delicate matrimonial cases, the Archdiocese did not wish to risk compromising the high degree of confidentiality required for such sensitive procedures.
The Archdiocese, therefore, suggested to then minister that such a memorial should be located in a public space and welcomed Dr Herrera’s proposal to use the Mall Gardens in Floriana for this purpose because it is both central and accessible. (This letter is attached).
The Archdiocese never received a reply to this letter but continues to welcome the proposal with open arms and is fully supportive of such an initiative, as well as any initiative for a monument dedicated to all victims of physical and moral violence both by the Church and the State.
It is also pertinent to note that on November 2, 2019, Archbishop Charles Scicluna had blessed the tombs at the cemetery within the area known as ‘Il-Miżbla’, including that of former Deputy Prime Minister Ġużè Ellul Mercer, and – on following the example set by archbishops Michael Gonzi, Joseph Mercieca and Paul Cremona – had asked for forgiveness for the Church’s actions at that period in history.