In this, my last letter on the issue of responsible divorce legislation in The Malta Independent on Sunday, I state my final comments on the referendum campaign which, unfortunately, has been turned into a “ Crusade “ by the Church’s Curia – or certain Monsignors within the Curia, notwithstanding Archbishop Cremona’s commitment, that the Church was not going to embark on such a crusade, but wanted only to take part in the debate!
In my view, whatever the result of the referendum, that result will not truly reflect the free expression of the people’s will, as the campaign has been grievously tainted by “ fundamentalist” religious messages, billboards (such as the ‘Kristu iva. divorzju le’), distribution of holy pictures of Our Lady allegedly appealing to voters to vote ‘No’ (!), denial of absolution and Holy Communion etc., etc.
As regards the campaign conducted by the anti-divorce movement Zwieg Bla Divorzju, the messages used on their billboards were deceitful. For example: “Flimkien ghal-Uliedna” (Together for our children) and “Nghozzu dak li jghaqqadna” (Let us cherish that which unites us) are cases in point. Everyone in Malta would wish families and couples to remain together united in love and marriage. But the issue of responsible divorce is all about families and couples whose marriages have broken up completely, and have remained so for at least four years!
Their other billboards convey similarly deceitful messages because they do not reflect reality, but are intended to scare voters about what they imagine to be negative repercussions in the future! Also, their main “civil” argument, that of “The common good”, was well and truly annihilated by the Moviment IVA ghad-Divorzju. IVA ghaz-Zwieg (the pro-divorce movement), when it explained very clearly that the common good means the interest of each one of us, who, together, form Maltese society. Hence, if a sector of society is ignored or forgotten – as would be the case of thousands of separated people if the ‘No’ vote prevails – the “common good” would have been ignored, instead of protected!
This is why a ‘YES’ vote on 28 May would be a truly fair and just vote because while it does not impose one’s values or opinion on those who disagree with divorce, it offers those in need of such legislation another chance to find happiness, dignity and stability in their life which a second marriage could bring them after the enormous trauma of their first marriage! Do you really want to deny them this chance by voting ‘No’? Decide after listening to your own conscience and no one else’s!
Eddy Privitera