Michael bans Elvis the Pelvis

I just love this pastoral letter penned by Archbishop Michael Gonzi in 1957. No matter how often I read it, it's quaint hysterical tone (forgive the pun) remains hilarious. Note how the Archbishop b'ghafsa ta' qalb does not refer to rock & roll but to iz-zifna tar-rock & roll. The poor guy probably did not even know that the words rock & roll were originally black slang for sex.
Then there's the delicious fire and brimstone bit. Archbishop Gonzi warns organisers that the moment Elvis sings 'Jailhouse Rock' the souls of the faithful would instantly perish. And the responsibility for sending them to eternal damnation would fall squarely on the shoulders of the ballijiet organisers. He even threatens them that ignoring his warning would be a direct affront to catholic sentiments.
Finally, turning to the faithful as if they were morons, he casually orders them to jahirbu these ballijiet and to ban their offspring from shaking their hips to this diabolical music as well.
I thought of this pastoral letter when I heard Zucchero slamming the Azione Cattolica in song last Saturday, with a couple of ministers and their shadows dancing along.
Poor Archbishop Gonzi must have made a couple of turns in his grave. Without moving his pelvis.