Secularism in Malta : civil and religious tensions

Abstract

This dissertation aims to investigate the idea of secularism and Church-State relations within the Maltese context. The focus of this study is to provide an understanding of contemporary tensions arising from these relations. In order to do so, the historical context as well as the Catholic Church's view as presented in Vatican II have been taken into consideration to better understand the present situation and to provide perspective, depth and background. This work was carried out between March 2010 and June 2011 and is the result of library, newspaper and electronic research, personal interviews and an analysis of material investigated. I have done my best to provide requisite references to the sources used. I am neither a historian, nor a political scientist, nor a theologian. However, as I consider a discussion on secularism to be of urgent and paramount importance to present-day Malta, I have decided to focus on this sped fir. issue with a view of better understanding the various implications involved. I merely hope l will be able to provide an initial explanation and discussion of the themes in question. This could serve as the beginning of a challenging debate on topics that maybe are all too frequently taken for granted. Such topics could start being discussed in greater depth and with greater moral, social and political responsibility in the near future, by retaining an idea of the contributions of the past and recording the pulse of the present.