Hall of Honour (1): Philip M. Beattie

The first recipient of our Hall of Honour rightfully is Philip M. Beattie.   

Born in 1964, Mr. Philip Beattie joined the Department of Banking and Finance at the University of Malta in May 2001.  He secured his B.A. (Hons) in Economics from the University of Leeds and after securing relevant professional work experience in the UK, he graduated  MBA from the University of Glasgow in 1991.  

He has worked in local management and financial consulting for ten years with a local firm, rising to the position of senior consultant.  During the course of his professional consulting career he has acted as a consultant to the Maltese Ministry of Finance on indirect taxation matters, as well as to numerous constituted bodies including the Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Nominee Companies, and the Amusement Trades Association among others. He has also been consulted by the Malta Development Corporation and the Staff Development office of the OPM, as well as by numerous manufacturing and service entities.

During a study leave sabbatical, Mr. Beattie secured his M.Sc. in Economics and Corporate Finance from Warwick University Business School in 1995.  He has written and has issued a user-friendly guide to the financial services legislation enacted in Malta in 1994-5, a manual which is widely referred to by financial services practitioners in Malta. 

Beattie was the national secretary of Alleanza Nazzjonali Repubblikana (ANR) in 2005 - 2006. Self-styled "traditionalist and Catholic", ANR  based itself on the 'nation and the family' as the foundations of a stable and prosperous society, with a pro-life stand and a belief in national conscription. He later contested - unsuccessfully - the national elections in Malta in 2008, under the banner of a right-wing party, Azzjoni Nazzjonali (AN).

Soon after the promulgation of the motu proprio Ecclesia Dei Adflicta by Saint John Paul II, Beattie asked for permission under this Indult. Unfortunately, the reaction from then Archbishop Joseph Mercieca was that the Tridentine Mass could be used "as a banner" and be the cause of rift and schism in the Catholic Church in Malta.

Maintaining close relations with several traditional Catholic organisations and priestly fraternities abroad, Philip Beattie was instrumental in organising meetings for traditional Catholics in Malta, that led to the founding of Pro Tridentina (Malta) soon after Summorum Pontificum was promulgated. He was also a member of the Executive Committee between 2007 - 2009.

Due to his de facto emigration to Ireland in 2009, Beattie had to cease contributing in an official manner with Pro Tridentina (Malta). This was a big loss to the organisation as Beattie was undoubtedly one of the most experienced people in the traditional Catholic movement in the country.

Sources: University of Malta, Malta Today.

Disclaimer: Pro Tridentina (Malta) was at no time a supporter of ANR or AN.