Last week, a group of individuals held a press conference on the steps of the Curia at Floriana to ask to have themselves formally stricken from the register of baptized Catholics – in other words self-excommunicated. Addressing the press conference were Andrew Galea, Reuben Zammit and Daniel Schembri. The group intends to organise a mass-excommunication event following the pattern of similar events that have taken place in Italy, Austria and Ireland.
The group enumerated a list of grievances against the Church, including child abuse by members of the clergy; the Church’s position on condoms in the fight against HIV/AIDS, hostility towards persons of LGBT sexual orientation and lately the Church’s vocal campaign against the introduction of divorce in Malta.
The MHA considers the decision to formally and explicitly sever all ties with the Catholic Church as being a very personal one which individuals should make for themselves. We however urge anyone who is considering taking this step to attend an information meeting to be held by the Group on Sunday 10 July, 4pm, at 60 A Strait Street Valletta to explain what the process of excommunication entails. Queries may be addressed to notinournamemalta@gmail.com.