Separation of Church and state

John Azzopardi's letter (January 9) touched upon a rarely discussed issue in Maltese politics, namely that of the separation of Church and state. While this principle is taken for granted in practically all European countries and in North America, the same cannot be said for Malta.

Because, in 2007, Malta is still a country where persons whose marriage has ended are not allowed to marry again. It's still a country where the marriage annulment process of the Catholic Church takes precedence over that of the Civil Court. It's still a country with one of the strictest censorship regimes in the EU. It's still a country where state schools teach the doctrine of one particular religion only. It's still a country where one religion is granted special status in the Constitution.

I do not wish to be labelled anti-Catholic or anti-clerical. I am not. For example, I do not agree that members of the clergy should be barred from standing as candidates in elections or from participating in the political process. They are Maltese citizens and should be guaranteed the same rights as the rest of us. It's just that I feel that the laws of the state and their application should be free from any religious interference or influence.

I don't think I'm alone. Many are waking up to the fact that the status of civil rights and civil liberties in this country is inferior to that in our northern neighbours, and they resent it. Many are realising that, seven years into the 21st century, we are still the western equivalent of Iran or Saudi Arabia, and they don't like it!