Paul Mizzi (The Sunday Times, October 19) asks: "What good will the introduction of divorce in Malta bring about?" He also goes on to compare the lives of Hollywood stars as proof that money and divorce do not improve people's lives. This peculiar rationale has nothing to do with the situation in Malta. Putting the point back to him: What good has the prohibition of divorce brought about in Malta?

Divorce prohibition has not succeeded in preventing a number of marriages from failing. People who want to leave a marriage, separate (legally or practically) irrespective of divorce prohibition. Divorce prohibition has created a new family structure where couples who cannot marry, simply co-habit and have children as though they were married. Today we have a separation rate that is at par with some divorce rates in EU member states so let us stop kidding ourselves.

The only 'real' reason I have encountered to date for not legalising divorce is the religious one. I could refer to letters published in this paper quoting the New Testament to make their point. Frankly, here again, if these people uphold their faith they do not need divorce prohibition because divorce for them is not an option.

However, the real inconvenient truth is that divorce prohibition is designed to be imposed on those who reject religious imposition or do not feel bound by religious dogma (eg: non-catholics, lapsed catholics, atheists).

This sorry state of affairs will not help anybody, least of all our children now and in the future. Unless divorce is legalised, this family structure will continue to grow and change our families to a point where marriage rates will drop as co-habitation will continue to replace the traditional family. Mr Mizzi's appeal to politicians to leave things as they are "because we are the happiest and spiritually richest people in the world" is not an option any longer.

This country needs firm action by our politicians in the drawing up of a sensible divorce law. The State cannot continue to prevent people cohabiting, but should regularise their position to do so. It should not continue to deny children of cohabiting couples the right to a proper family.

This is Malta, not Hollywood, and the realities are as different as the Sahara desert and the Amazon jungle. However, the Maltese 'stars' are not affected by divorce prohibition as they are rich enough to obtain a divorce (recognised in Malta) elsewhere, maybe even in Hollywood. It is only the common Maltese folk who are denied these rights.

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