Religion and ethnic identity in the Maltese Australian community

Abstract

The Roman Catholic religion - its beliefs, practices, institutions, and localized adaptations or manifestations thereof- has long characterized Maltese culture, as moulded by historical experiences. In their long and geographically spread out emigration movements to the Mediterranean littoral and the Americas, Europe, Australia and Africa, Maltese have carried their religious beliefs and practices with them, and as a rule they have clung steadfastly to them with a tenacity that has surprised other Europeans who were more accustomed to anticlericalism, irreligion and secularization.