Malta mob abuses archbishop

ARCHBISHOP Joseph Mercieoa of Malta had to bar the door of the church of Our Lady of Lourdes in the constituency of Mr Dom Mintoff, the Maltese Prime Minister, on Friday, to escape the wrath of a crowd of 150 Mintoff supporters who were shouting abuse outside the church.
Archbishop Mercieoa, 53, and the congregation had to take refuge behind barricaded doors for more than four hours. It was the second serious incident of crowd hostility towards the Archbishop since Mr Mintoff denounced his policies and demanded his removal at a political rally on August 8.
Mr Mintoff, leader of Malta's ruling Labour Party, accused Archbishop Mercieoa of supporting the opposition National Party. Archbishop Mercieoa had spoken out against the sacking and suspension of workers who had supported an opposition backed one-day strike.
Mr Mintoff has long opposed many of the Church's positions — particularly its claims to independence in health care and schooling. The Church is a large property owner on the island.
Archbishop Mercieoa also faced mob abuse when he visited the parish of St Lawrence on its patronal feast day last week. The crowd shouted obscenities at him as he left the church.