The Prime Minister's stand on divorce

The official PN position on divorce remains that of the Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi who, during his long tenure of office as Social Policy Minister, was reported to have said he would vote against divorce in Parliament as he considered himself a Catholic. He added that, if people wanted divorce, they would have to vote for someone else, for his religion did not allow him to support divorce.

Dr Gonzi is unlikely to have changed his mind on this issue despite his recent statement that his government is prepared to kick-start a national debate on the introduction of divorce. Nothing short of a spiritual revolution, similar to what Saul experienced on his way to Damascus, would make him change his religious orientation on this highly emotive moral issue.

First, a U-turn would be anathema to Dr Gonzi who cynically keeps taunting and belittling the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Muscat about his EU credentials. He would be the last person to acknowledge that Dr Muscat is now a genuine Europhile and that he has rendered sterling service as an MEP.

Secondly, a U-turn by Dr Gonzi would be tantamount to defiance of Rome's moral teachings. Opting for the legalisation of divorce would undoubtedly put him on a head-on collision with the Church and bar him from receiving Holy Communion. The US Catholic bishops have officially banned all Catholics (including Catholic politicians) from receiving Communion if they violate the Church moral teachings.

In 2003, guidelines for Catholic politicians were issued by the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, headed at that time by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope. The document said Catholic politicians cannot vote for a law that "contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals" - the phrase refers not only to life-and-death questions like abortion and euthanasia, but also to divorce and cohabitation.

The Maltese bishops and moral theologians have to date refrained from declaring their position on the issue of the role of the local Catholic politician on moral issues. A statement from the bishops would certainly contribute to a more balanced, albeit, heated debate on divorce. Silence on their part is betrayal of Church teaching. There are a number of persons with a broken marriage behind them, with a history of high-level and persistent conflict and with severe emotional and physical abuse. Some of these persons seek to remarry to experience a fresh bond of love. For Dr Gonzi to turn a deaf ear to their plight is simply immoral. They have a moral right to turn over a new leaf in their lives. He bears responsibility in conscience to determine whether legislation sanctioning divorce is required to protect the right of re-marrying of these persons.

Moreover, Dr Gonzi's role as Prime Minister must be seen in the context of the head of a democratic state under a Constitution in which the will of the people is the rule of law and in which freedom of conscience is as far as possible upheld. He was elected to represent a wide cross-section of people of many religions, moral convictions or none, and he is bound to respect their stand.

His responsibility is not to seek to impose his own religious views or personal convictions on the community but to ensure that any restriction of the freedom of his community is required by the demands not only of the common good but also of public order.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli's comment: "But if divorce encourages couples to embark on the road to understanding each other and reconciling as much as possible, then, yes - we should seek that path. In my opinion, if divorce offers couples the opportunity to seek other social ties where relationships are irreconcilable, especially where children are concerned, then it is a positive thing." (The Sunday Times, July 13).

Mr Dalli's statement must have left Dr Gonzi dumbfounded and with no option but to publicly hide the rift and to put his weight behind him by declaring that he is planning to propose a discussion to Cabinet colleagues.

For Dr Gonzi, only these five options remain:

1. Try to conform to the Church's moral teachings.

2. Dissent, and abstain from Communion, knowing that his stand in the Church is compromised.

3. Compound the problem, by receiving Communion, in direct violation of the moral teachings of the Church.

4. Resign from the Church.

5. Resign from politics.