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Feature Sunday 04 September 2005 Maltatoday 07 07 10/7/05 12:16 Page 1 feature Sunday 04 September 2005 maltatoday 07 The two protagonists: Archbishop Michael Gonzi (L) and a young Dom Mintoff (R) addressing a mass meeting outside a parish church. Inset (L) Church supporters and women from the MUSEUM hissing at a Labour gathering in 1961, and (R) the Hal- Ghaxaq MLP club during the 1962 election The unholy war The notorious ‘interdett’ is part of a tragic episode in Maltese history when the island was split between the competing aspirations of the Malta Labour Party and the Catholic Church for the future of the island beyond colonialism. IN JANUARY 1961, the diocesan com- would be recommended to the village The churchÕs decree fragmented society on bikini-clad tourists, for fear of com- mission issued a circular which was read contractor by the parish priest. The to such an extent, that a parallel society promising MaltaÕs reputation as a in all churches condemning the MLPÕs priest was the village ÔpsychologistÕ. was created. Alternatives to mainstream tourist destination. affiliation with the Socialist International In a decade where progressive cultural activities were organised. Labourites had In the parallel, Labour society howev- and the Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity revolutions were taking place across all their own carnival of flowers, their own er, Labourite girls felt protected to freely Organisation. In a bid to wield its power western societies, the regressive actions snooker tournaments, and their own put on their bikinis during beach parties, over the god fearing masses, it declared a taken by the Maltese church remain a Labourite brigade as opposed to the an acceptable practice in the world of sin the reading of Labour newspapers historical irony. Whilst Pope John XXIII scouts. the ÔotherÕ political party. and the attendance of MLP meetings. opened up the Vatican to a new spring Both Gonzi and Mintoff can be MaltaToday will be analysing the diffi- The events of the sixties would re-carve with the Vatican Council II, moving away described as men of vision but whilst cult relations between the Malta Labour Maltese society as GonziÕs Ôholy soldiersÕ from biblical literalism and absorbing Archbishop Gonzi wanted to keep the Party and the Church during the tumul- battled MintoffÕs ÔevilÕ 51,000 Ôsoldiers of the liberal influences of the times, Gonzi status quo, Mintoff envisaged a country tuous sixties in a five-part series that steelÕ (suldati taÕ l-azzar), the total num- wanted to sustain his archbishopric as a unshackled by archaic values. starts today. The series will feature inter- ber of people who had voted in favour of feudal prince who had free reign over Whilst Mintoff wanted to shake up a views with leading politicians at the time LabourÕs proposal for integration of the Malta. rigid society so as to catch up with the and personal accounts of people who Maltese islands with the United And as the pope declared it no longer a times, Gonzi was simply enraged by lived and suffered the brunt of the Kingdom. mortal sin to vote for the communists, it tourists sunbathing in bikinis Ð even the ChurchÕs controversial decision to Malta always lagged behind the times. was Mgr Gonzi who was declaring it a usually accommodating Nationalist gov- impose the interdict, and those who wit- The church still played an important mortal sin for socialist material to be ernment fended off his lordshipÕs nessed the feud from the other side of the social role in society. An unemployed son read and propagated. requests to get the police to clamp down political divide. 08 10/7/05 12:17 Page 1 08 maltatoday Sunday 04 September 2005 feature Backdoor marriage Michaela Muscat speaks to Joe Micallef Stafrace about his marriage with Yvonne in the sacristy of the St Paul’s church in Rabat at the height of the politico-religious battle in the sixties TYING THE knot during the had to enter the church from the interdiction is not the only thing side entrance and endure their former Labour ministers Joseph wedding rites to be celebrated in Micallef Stafrace and Lino a dimly lit sacristy. Spiteri have in common. ÒThe witnesses at our wedding ÒBoth Lino and I got married had no qualms about being pre- at the same sacristy Ð that of St sent as Guze Muscat Azzopardi PaulÕs because our prospective was a left-wing writer and wives were both from Rabat,Ó Magistrate John Formosa was a says the 72-year-old Micallef member of StricklandÕs consti- Stafrace, the obstreperous tutionalist party. That made him Newly-weds Joe and Yvonne Micallef Stafrace, accompanied by their two witnesses, writer Gino lawyer who can still be found a veteran of religious persecu- Muscat Azzopardi (on the left) and Magistrate John Formosa (on the right). This photo was taken counselling his clients in the tion,Ó he chuckled as he pointed outside the sacristy of St PaulÕs Church in Rabat on 16 September 1961 legal office he shares with two of to the black and white wedding his three children. photo. He is of course referring Marco attended my wedding. As bishop, he saw him perched on Zurrieq Parish priest mentioned Micallef Stafrace eagerly shuf- to StricklandÕs clash with the far as he was concerned, his an elevated throne like a regent. his wife during the homily. fles through the towers of legal ecclesiastical authorities in friend Joe was getting married Only then did he realise that all Clearly protective of his family documents on his imposing desk 1930. and that was the end of it.Ó the priests were finding excuses and the private dimension of his to find the book that holds his The fervent members of the Micallef StafraceÕs will to run errands in the surround- life, the man appears pained collection of articles he had Catholic Workers Youths wait- remained strong as he resisted ing rooms in order to observe when recalling the congrega- written for It-Torca. The article ing for the newly married cou- Archbishop Mikiel GonziÕs Òthe infamous enemy of Christ.Ó tions walking by his house, titled ÔSix years of marriageÕ ple made it a point to create a attempted bribery to convince Gonzi retorted: Òyou have to insulting him just as they tells the detailed story of his rebus. ÒI remember them shout- him to convert. He was invited endure the humiliation,Ó when returned from mass. wedding ceremony. ing ÔHail Christ KingÕ and other to the Curia where he was told Micallef Stafrace asked if it was Micallef Stafrace say the ÒBesides not being able to nonsensical phrases,Ó Micallef that he could get married in the possible to get married in a Maltese people have matured as receive the holy sacraments, the Stafrace says. Mdina co-cathedral or in deserted chapel. a result of these events, certain interdiction had a direct impact ÒA good number of people did- GonziÕs personal chapel in The former Labour MP says that the people have learnt their on me because I wanted to get nÕt attend the wedding party exchange for allowing Gonzi to he ignored the priests who fre- lesson and choose with their married.Ó In an attempt Òto because they were scared their save his soul. quently made allegations about conscience: ÒThey give unto humiliateÓ them, the Micallef attendance would be interpreted Walking into Gonzi's office for his integrity during mass, except God what is GodÕs and unto Stafrace couple and their guests as political. But even Guido De a personal meeting with the for one episode when the Caesar what is his.Ó Taking politics to the grave – the undignified mizbla DYING JUST before the AAPSO He speaks lovingly of his uncle the morning of her funeral. She had conference that would spur the who always took time out of his just walked out of church and was indictment against the Malta busy schedule to entertain his on her way home when she died. A Labour Party, Labour MP Guze nephews and nieces with stories priest ran out of a passing bus to Ellul Mercer would suffer the inter- that always fascinated the children. administer her the last rites. dett anyway. The author of the clas- Vella remembers the trials and GonziÕs former PRO, Mgr sic social commentary Leli taÕ Haz- tribulations that the family had to Charles Vella says he had con- Zghir ended up buried in the uncon- endure even during Ellul MercerÕs vinced the archbishop to be more secrated part of the Addolorata burial. Like all other families moderate during the CuriaÕs dis- cemetery, infamously known as the whose relatives were about to be pute with Mintoff, by issuing inter- Mizbla. buried in the mizbla, Ellul MercerÕs diction to the MLP executive One would never suspect this family tried to persuade the curia to instead to all of the party members. tucked away part of the Addolarata allow the Labour MP, a ÒGod-fear- Although slightly sceptical about cemetery had once symbolised the ing man till his death,Ó a dignified the veracity of Liza ZammitÕs case, extent to which the Maltese church burial Ð but to no avail. he expresses his regret for the inci- would go to in order to single out Vella recalls that in the eighties dent and says: Òtell them to remove the people it feared were plotting its the church authorities contacted the her remains if they havenÕt already downfall. The ÔmizblaÕ (rubbish- family and informed them that they done so.Ó dump) was a small stretch of waste- were willing to transfer Ellul Indeed, when granted permission land exactly adjacent to the ceme- MercerÕs remains to the consecrat- by the Curia her family removed tery.
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