In a world where spiritual guidance is increasingly dismissed by self-proclaimed champions of “equality,” Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma has become the latest target of politically motivated outrage.
During a recent address, the Bishop highlighted a concerning trend: parents treating their newborns as mere “objects” by shuttling them off to childcare centers simply because they “have something to do.” He urged families to prioritize bonding with infants under the age of two, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of parental presence in those formative years.
This wasn’t a decree or a mandate, far from it. It was sound advice rooted in his role as a spiritual leader, drawing from centuries of Catholic teaching on family and human dignity. Yet, in Malta’s hyper-secularized political landscape, such counsel is branded as scandalous by those who claim to preach tolerance.
Enter Rebecca Buttigieg, the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, who couldn’t resist injecting herself into the fray. Buttigieg lambasted the Bishop, questioning his “authority” to comment on family matters and labeling his views as “out of touch” and “unfounded.” She defended parents who rely on childcare, insisting they deserve support rather than criticism.
Fair enough on the surface, but let’s turn the mirror around.
What authority does Buttigieg, a politician whose portfolio is equality, have to condemn a religious leader for offering moral guidance? Is she now the arbiter of what the Catholic Church can or cannot say in a nation where Catholicism remains the dominant faith?
This Prima Donna’s response reeks of hypocrisy. Buttigieg postures as a beacon of tolerance and equality, yet her knee-jerk attack on Bishop Teuma exposes a deep-seated intolerance for any viewpoint that doesn’t align with her progressive agenda.
Where is the equality in silencing a bishop’s voice on family values? Does her version of “reforms” include muzzling the Church whenever it dares to question modern conveniences?
The Bishop didn’t oblige anyone; he advised, as it’s his sacred duty. Bishop Teuma’s words aren’t an assault on working parents. They’re a reminder of biological and emotional realities. Studies have long shown that early attachment in infancy shapes lifelong well-being, something the Bishop echoed without apology.
In contrast, Buttigieg’s retort smacks of political opportunism, pandering to a voter base while undermining the very institution that has guided Maltese society for generations. Is this the tolerance she preaches? Or is it the true face of a government official who views the Church as an obstacle to her “reforms”?
Malta deserves better than this selective outrage. Bishop Teuma should be commended for his courage in speaking truth to a culture that prioritizes convenience over connection. As for Buttigieg, perhaps she should practice what she preaches: true equality means respecting diverse voices, including those from the pulpit. Anything less is just performative politics at its worst.
