1.  “Dan il-fqajjar sejjaħ u l-Mulej semgħu,” (Salm 34:6). Il-kliem tas-Salmista jsir tagħna kull meta aħna niġu msejħa biex niltaqgħu ma’ sitwazzjonijiet differenti ta’ tbatija u emarġinazzjoni li jgħaddu minnha ħafna minn ħutna li aħna mdorrijin inlaqqmuhom bħala “l-fqar”. Is-salmista mhux sajjem mit-tbatija; imma bil-maqlub. Hu għandu esperjenza diretta tal-faqar u minkejja dan jittrasforma t-tbatija f’innu ta’ tifħir u ringrazzjament lil Alla. Illum, Salm 34 jippermettilna, imdawrin kif aħna b’diversi forom ta’ tbatija, li nagħrfu lil dawk li huma tassew foqra…

The two-day symposium which ended Friday has been organized by the Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation. Among those taking part is Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal, Pietro Parolin, as well as, Princeton Professor Robert George, and Harvard Professor, Mary Ann Glendon. In an address to the meeting on Friday, Professor Glendon spoke on the “universal dimension of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its effective application.”

Pick and choose attitude to rights

During her speech, the Harvard Professor spoke of a “pick and choose attitude to rights” and said that Human Rights ideas have become a victim of their own success…

Housing, affordability and poverty are becoming more pressing issues, with increasing signs that Malta’s economy is growing asymmetrically. As a result, many families are being marginalised and impoverished because they cannot afford appropriate housing that allows them to live with dignity. This is not only true for vulnerable family units, but also for young couples planning to form new families.

Catholic Voices Malta is organising its first public seminar on this topic and will focus on the effect the rapid rise in housing prices is having on social cohesion, social justice and families in Malta…