The fact that both the pro and anti-divorce lobbies have expressed fears because the divorce issue has become too politicised speaks volumes about the current levels of maturity in our society.

Let us start from this premise: Citizens vote MPs into the House to represent their interests and to legislate – this is why they are called lawmakers. Many in Malta believe that the issue of divorce should never have even been put to a referendum. Some of these believe that it should have been inserted into our Code of Laws as a civil right, while others believe that the matter should have been debated in the House and decided upon. On the other hand, there are those who believe that neither side of the House has a mandate to take a stance on divorce, because neither party had it in their electoral manifesto.

But, at the end of the day, we now find ourselves in a situation where politicians abdicated and decided to put the question to the people. Some might argue that it is the ultimate form of democracy; others will argue that it is a show of cowardice. The reality is that there is a lot of grey in between. Irrespectively, and this is the bone of contention of this article, what politicians have done is put the question to the public and, instead of allowing people to discuss the matter as one of conscience or personal values in peace and quiet, it is the politicians who have taken the lead role in campaigning.

At the time of writing, two activities were being held: Our usual Sunday sermons by the PN and Labour leaders. Although a fairly wide range of topics were discussed, both spoke at length about the divorce issue.

The state of affairs is indeed poor, and both camps are right to say that the issue has become a political one. This is wrong, especially when one considers that a third force has been brought into play, in the form of the strong-arm section of the Church.

We have already stated our case on the issue of divorce, and while we have reserved every right to discuss, analyse and even criticise the two camps in the run-up to the question, people need to be allowed time and space to think.

At the very start of the discussion, both parties agreed that the issue should be a moral one and not a political one. But the very opposite has happened. What was supposed to be a vote of moral conscience is going to be turned into one that will probably be heavily influenced by political swing.

While Malta has all the structures in place for democracy to function and flourish, it is our own blind, parochial mentality that is preventing us from truly breaking free in terms of indirect political control. This is one very issue where people need to put aside politics and allegiances, and instead focus on empathy, compassion, the greater good and the plight of individuals, the minority.

We reiterate that this issue should not be politicised and the parties – especially the leaders – would do well to remember that.

People need to keep focused, reflect on their beliefs (moral, religious and social), and make an educated and compassionate decision. If we allow the politicians to hijack this referendum, we will throw ourselves back decades. They did not want to make the decision. They handed responsibility to us, citizens, to do the job for them. Well, the least they can do now is sit quiet and let us, and the lobby groups, get on with it.