Rekowski’s non-research
In religious studies today, research goes far beyond theology. It incorporates history, sociology and often social psychology.
The dedicated, objective scholar of religion today cannot simply be a ‘holy’ person – of whom there are too many already among the sporadic pen-pushers’ confraternity and, in any case, what does ‘holy’ mean? His level of academy must be up to standard and at par with the level of academy in other subjects. To a large extent, the student of religion must also be a researcher, an objective examiner and analyst of opinions – an intellectual who pauses and reflects before emitting his/her own resultant opinion.
In Malta recently, we had the kind visit of the Reverend Manfred Rekowski, President of the Evangelical Church of the Rhineland. I was eager to learn about his research and reflected opinions. The following short quote from among these opinions is Reverend Rekowski’s call to governments “not to violate international law”. This ambiguous appeal could mean that governments are not yet violating international law, though possibly that they already are. It is the Rev Rekowski himself who can tell us what he means, especially since convinced Christians do not usually speak in hypothesis, ambiguity or law of probability. Obviously, if he means that governments already are violating international law, Rev Manfred can tell us which laws and who is the ‘culprit’.
I believe that Rev Rekowski’s “call to governments” includes the Maltese governments over the generations. Now, since the dawn of self-government in Malta – and especially after the important event of Independence in 1964 - Maltese governments have striven to respect international law. This is also a result of the fact that a very old law faculty at the University of Malta produced research in this field guided by brilliant lecturers. Beyond academy, law research in Malta has succeeded in influencing government policy though not sufficiently, in my opinion.
If any Maltese government over the generations has breached international law, Rekowski must explain when and how in the clearest of terms. This style of explanation is part and parcel of religious studies and attitude even before one became a Reverend, especially a President of the German Evangelical Church. Even better than this, he must draw a comparative study of breach of international law by governments, including Malta. And preferably make suggestions for international law to be better safeguarded.
Unless he comes up with this, is the Reverend Rekowski shooting from the hip, making hurried, ad hoc statements without sufficient research, contemplation and reflection? In matters of such international legal import, one must put one’s research where one’s mouth is. I am convinced the Reverend will find this easy, as his motto is: “Willingness to listen.” He also likes to say: “With my God, I can jump over walls.” I do not agree with “my” before “God” as God belongs to everyone – pastors, priests and all other common sinners. Secondly, he does not say how high the walls are. For example, if the walls are only knee-high, he can simply pull up his cassock and swiftly sail over a wall – without ‘his’ God’s help.
It is possible, during Rev Rekowski’s proselytising presence among us, that he impresses us sufficiently as our present church leaders. He may even convert some Maltese to Protestantism, especially some of the 60% who have abandoned Catholic religious practice, maybe, to some extent, following the sad resignation of a muchloved Archbishop. This conversion experiment has been tried before and is not easy. Indeed I am told that British Protestant pastors had long ago tried to convert Maltese Catholics to Protestantism after Muslins tried and failed with Islam. Those who attended the Protestant sermons, unless this is just an unkind joke, were promptly given two shillings and sixpence even if the sermon was in English – which was at the time understood by a tiny percentage of the population - and thus congregation. But what the heck, with two and six, one could buy more than a ħobża biż-żejt u ż-żebbug and a glass of wine or two before singing the praises of Protestantism and its brilliant Pastors whose sermons were fully understood – especially ‘”Good morning” and “Good-bye” with slumber in between.
It is also not uncommon for persons claiming camaraderie with God in Malta (I mean persons in Malta, not God in Malta since Malta and Rhineland have the same God) to shoot from the hip. This must be the reason why the Maltese government has spent millions to organise a shooting range to satisfy an urge and talent by many to aim with solemn reflection.
I usually see more credibility in Protestant Churches as they allow pastors to marry and ladies to become pastors. My suspicion has always been that Catholic conservatives are scared stiff of seeing lady intellectual theologians deliver their sermons with such knowledge, such relish, such savoir-faire. But not to worry, Catholic priests can do as well as female theologians if they tried really hard to reach the standard. It won’t be that easy, however, since Catholic priests are not used to real competition as they project sermons in competition with men only i.e. half the world’s population. So they have a 50% advantage, unlike the Protestant Reverend Rekowski, who has to compete with one and all and will certainly produce the results of his research on international law so we may be convinced that governments must not breach international law and are not doing so already.
It is very welcome to see religious leaders shed tears about the vulnerable immigrants coming from real and imaginary wars taking place in countries with economic, employment and touristic success. (May I suggest at this stage that religious leaders addressing the whole nation discard dialect and express themselves in standard Maltese). It is shocking to read statistics stating that 80% of Europeans claim to be atheists. My suspicion is that more Catholics than Protestants have abandoned religion, also due to the fact that women are refused priesthood and feel discriminated against – which they are. It is useless for zig-zaggers to state that, though women may not be allowed to become priests (not to give the male priests a hard time competing), they still have a very important role to play in the Church. Is this “very important role” not a defence mechanism, a subtle case of sardonicism to cover a guilt complex?
Present Catholic Pope Francis apparently gave the impression, before being elected (by male cardinals only – obviously as there are no female ones) to Pope, that the possibility was not totally excluded for women to become priests. Now, before I am challenged to state when and where he gave this impression, I must say that, to my knowledge, he never expressly said anything directly of the sort. However, as soon as he was elected (by male cardinals only) a group of lady staunch Catholics went to see him expecting him to say: “Dear ladies, welcome to Catholic priesthood”. But, instead, he said: “the Church’s doors to female priesthood are closed”. So they went away very disappointed (though not swearing, as they were theologians), but something must have made them hope of priesthood in the first place.
Shedding tears for genuine and artificial refugees is well and good. But shouldn’t we start by shedding tears for brilliant female Catholic theologians who are not allowed to become priests – if we wish to impress with our great love for tolerance?
And wouldn’t female priests perhaps better suggest solutions to the immigration traffic problems, which would be acceptable to all - including the all-male confraternity of cardinals? I don’t suppose you thought I would make the lapsus of saying ‘all-male sorority of cardinals’ for which I would deserve excommunication apart from the Inquisitional, anatomical experimentation of the Mdina dungeons?
“It is possible, during Rev Rekowski’s proselytising presence among us, that he impresses us sufficiently as our present church leaders. He may even convert some Maltese to Protestantism, especially some of the 60% who have abandoned Catholic religious practice, maybe, to some extent, following the sad ” resignation of a muchloved Archbishop