“Tax collectors were hated because they used to collect tax on behalf of the Romans, foreigners, and because they got rich off corruption. It’s just like when someone who cannot even read or write suddenly become a millionaire and develops airs and graces, leaving his wife for someone 40 years younger, buying ten Ferraris and organising parties with escorts dancing on poles.”

“After his conversion, Zaccheus agreed to pay back what he stole, which is what needs to happen when you convert. If a developer builds an apartment with weak concrete and then confesses to me, it won’t be enough for him to confess and say three Hail Maries but he must make amends for his theft, because what will happen to the building if an earthquake occurs?”

Fr. Muscat agued that asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean should be saved (“they’re God’s creatures after all”) but that the high rate of foreigners travelling to Malta for work is problematic.

“There are Serbs who have taken over criminality…JobsPlus wants to bring 10,000 more next year. Where will they come from? Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal? We don’t even know how to pronounce the names of the countries.”

Despite his endorsement of Lowell, a white nationalist, Fr. Muscat said patriotism shouldn’t be based on arguments of racial purity but that it should tackle the “spider”, the crux of the problem.

“This isn’t immigration but an invasion by people who are being exploited, and we are suffering with them,” he said. “This is all so that people with one Ferrari can now buy ten of them while the working class cannot afford a house and will be in debt for 60 years if the bank ever gives them a home loan and will probably still have to fork out money to fix the faulty concrete in their homes.”

“Meanwhile, Maltese people are leaving the country as soon as they graduate. Why would I work here? I want to buy a house in the heart of the village, with a bit of a yard and a view of the procession when it passes, but now village cores are reserved for wealthy people.”

After criticising several planned luxury real estate projects, he warned that Malta risks ending up like Dubai, where 90% of its residents are foreigners.

“Now [the government] will do something about equality and we’ll vote for them and it will be goodbye freedom. Go for the spider and don’t fixate on boat migrants… we obviously need to save them from drowning, the poor guys, they’re God’s creatures. I can’t understand how people still keep calling me a racist.”

“Attack this economy of smoke, I spend €200 euro on a shopping trip and have to return to the supermarket after two weeks. Theres no spending power anymore.”

Finally, he urged his supporters to channel the mentality of Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.

“Who supports Liverpool here? You’ll never walk alone! I support Arsenal but Liverpool are the best right now and who is their boss? Jurgen Klopp, and Klopp means ‘hammer’ in German. How are Liverpool winning? By not being afraid.”

“You need to be Klopps, hammers of God, and say ‘mur ixejjer’ to those big shots who created this economy of smoke. This is a holy and spiritual fight. What untied the foreign Knights and the Maltese in the past was our shared faith, and when you believe in your faith, you will reach your goal.” 

What do you make of Fr. David Muscat’s sermon?

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