A Public Challenge to Archbishop Scicluna: Let Us Meet for a Public Debate on the Truth and Facts Behind Manuel Delia’s Story

Charles Scicluna chose to use the house of God to attack me personally. He did not dare to mention me by name, but he made it obvious that he was referring to me. He used the university’s pulpit at a moment when no one could respond to him or contradict him. I am using this blog to reply. Whenever he wants and wherever he wants, let him tell me to meet him, and I will come with the facts so that he can tell me where I was lying or not telling the truth.

I remind him that the same story, for which I was found guilty by our courts, was told by its protagonist, Keith Schembri, in a podcast with Ricky. I remind Scicluna that Manuel Delia neither asked Ricky for a right of reply, nor filed a libel case against Schembri for what he said. On the contrary, Keith Schembri revealed another detail, even more important at a national level, about that story. He told Ricky that it was because of this story that he decided to involve himself in politics, to stand behind Joseph Muscat, and to help him achieve that historic victory in 2013.

I humbly accept the court’s judgments. But Scicluna’s words remind us how much greater the era of the Inquisition was. The era of the Inquisition was a time when the accused could not speak and were burned alive by the Church because, according to the Church, they were not telling the truth. I recall that the Church crushed Mikiel Anton Vassalli because, according to it, he was not speaking the truth. It crushed and starved Manuel Dimech to death because, according to it, he was not speaking the truth. And it waged war against Mintoff in the 1960s because, according to it, he was not speaking the truth.

If Scicluna wants to debate this story and the libel case I lost, we can do it wherever he wants — even in the house of God. And again, I will speak with facts.

If there is one institution that cannot preach about truth and freedom of speech, it is the Archbishop’s Curia, because it has always been against social reformers. In his sermon, Scicluna showed just how strongly he opposes freedom of speech.

He can attack me as much as he wants. I will not be afraid. But if you truly believe, Mr Archbishop, use other forums and not the house of God to attack people.