Archbishop Paul Cremona gets questioned on the ‘interdett’

Archbishop Paul Cremona says the Maltese Catholic Church closes its doors to nobody but refrains on answering questions on 1960s interdiction.

8 August 2010, 12:00am
by Julia Farrugia

Cremona is asked by sister newspaper Illum on his views of priest Fr Colin Apa’s claims that a historical apology is still in order for the interdiction of Labour party supporters and members of the party’s executive in the 1960s.

The interdiction meant the sidelining of Catholic Labour voters, who were eventually buried in an unconsacrated part of the Addolarata cemetery, nicknamed the ‘mizbla’ (lit. dump).

Read what the Archbishop said on the infamous ‘interdett’ in Illum, out today

Julia Farrugia is a former editor of Illum newspaper.

More from Julia Farrugia

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Serolfa re your concluding sentence: I think it is Mintoff who should get that credit.

COLIN GALEA •

I think Mon Gonzi is paying in hell for what he did in the 60s

Frederick Cutajar •

If I am not mistaken excommunication means being denied the right to receive sacraments and burial in consecrated ground, therefore the article is right. The older members of my family have countless tales on this piece of Maltese history - usually involving confession. The priest would first ask the confessant whether he/she read the Labour newspaper, and if he/she were a child would ask after his/her parents' reading habits. The absolving of sins would not take place if that particular newspaper was bought and read within the household. It must have been quite difficult for believers in those days, and it was an extremely arrogant move from the Church authorities. It abused of its power and intimidated even the humblest of its followers, rather sinful if gauged by the Church's own teachings. I believe the Church would not dare do it today, possibly it would not have such a devastating effect on those which call themselves Catholics. I think some good came out of it though. The 60's were a revolutionary era in the rest of the world, whilst in Malta, its relationship to religion was still somewhat medieval. I think it helped to release some of the hold of the Church over the State - ironically thanks the Church's own doing.

Donella Agius •

Interdiction by the Church means that one cannot receive the sacraments. It is by no means excommunication (which means that one is totally cut from the church). So this article is totally false, and the person who has written it should correct it and be better informed before writing.