On 29 February 2024, at least 118 hungry Palestinians were killed and 760 injured in Gaza City. Instead of food, they found death. Instead of bread, they encountered violence. Since then, the levels of hunger and suffering endured by Palestinians in Gaza have worsened, whilst countless thousands have lost their lives in the violence which was unleashed as retribution for the horrific 7th October attack on Israel… Read more »
Last week, just as people in Valletta were celebrating the arrival on our shores of St Paul, another person who landed on our shores was unwillingly removed from our midst.
The story of Kusi sheds light on the harsh realities faced by many. In a world rife with complexities and contradictions, one of the starkest injustices lies in the treatment of migrants who are violently uprooted from a place they have settled in and call home… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
