Think-tank proposes divorce law

Joe Zammit

Nov 25th 2010, 10:05

BORG IN-NADUR: 17 ta' Novembru, 2010:

Uliedi, illejla tajtkom prova ċara. Iva wliedi, għalhekk Ibni Ġesù qed jibgħatni hawn, fuq dil-gżira. Għalhekk għażilt dil-familja kważi ħames snin ilu. Għalhekk ridt lil Angelik u lil Catherine. Iva wliedi, Ibni Ġesù ma riedx jara żwieġ imfarrak. Għalhekk ħames snin ilu bagħatni hawnhekk, nerġa’ ngħidilkom. Ġejt inħabbrilkom minn qabel x’se jseħħ fuq dil-gżira. Kien hawn min fehemni u oħrajn lanqas biss taw widen.

Ftit taż-żmien ieħor se jkollkom għażla f’idejkom intom stess. Oqogħdu attenti x’tagħżlu wliedi. Iġġibux il-gwaj fuqkom.

Fejnhom fil-familji l-imħabba, l-għaqda, il-maħfra, is-sinċerità u t-talb flimkien? Fejnhom? Għalhekk illum kulħadd qed ifarfar minn fuq spallejh mal-ewwel intopp li jinqala’.

Iva wliedi, il-qalb tiegħi u l-qalb ta’ Ibni Ġesù muġugħin minħabba fikom. Jiena muġugħa għax jiena omm li nħoss għalikom.

Akkost ta’ kollox uliedi, jiġri x’jiġri, ibqgħu għidu: “LE GHAD-DIVORZJU, LE GHAD-DIVORZJU!"

U għidu r-rużarju u ġiegħlu lil ħaddieħor jgħid ir-rużarju.

Grazzi talli smajtu s-sejħa tiegħi.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 17th 2009, 14:27

Since the Civil Marriage act 1975 Maltese courts recognise not only foreign divorces between foreign citizens married, divorced and remarried abroad but also the divorce decree of a foreign court regarding a marriage between Maltese spouses, celebrated in Malta also if it were a church wedding. Maltese courts are bound to recognize the competence of foreign courts if one of the parties has established a domicile in its jurisdiction.

Other persons are allowed to divorce if they have the opportunity and the funds to establish a domicile abroad, there is no justifiable reason to prevent any citizen from doing the same simply because he or she does not want or cannot afford to go abroad. The situation is completely illogical for persons who are not, who have never been or no longer are bound by the Roman Catholic church of Malta not to remarry.

A small addition to the Act is all that is needed for this church built house of cards to come tumbling down and the nation will move away from the Middle Ages and join our european brothers and sisters in the 21st century.
Amen to that !!

Joe Zammit

Jun 16th 2009, 22:31

Divorce legislation is not needed at all. On the other hand, cohabitation does not in any way make divorce necessary. Divorce is evil and cohabitation is evil. Two evils do not make a good.

Since divorce is evil, it can never be a right. No one has the right to evil. In case of broken marriages, there are only two solutions: either the healing of the marriage or separation. We have had cases of separations that have been healed and the couples are now living happily together again.

If divorce is evil when one party or both are at fault, how much more wicked and unjust it is when there is no fault. Irretrievably broken marriages do not qualify for divorce either, because the spouses enter marriage to remain faithful to the end, otherwise their marriage will be invalid.

Divorce: NEVER

Catholic Malta first and foremost == Malta Kattolika l-ewwel u qabel kollox

Joe Zammit

Jun 16th 2009, 22:03

Divorce lowers marriage to the miserable state of cohabitation. In cohabitation the partners can leave each other whenever they want, and cohabitate again with someone else.

If divorce is available, married couples can resort to divorce whenever they want, leave each other, remarry (sic!) with the possibility of leaving each other again.

Divorce: NEVER

Catholic Malta first and foremost == Malta Kattolika l-ewwel u qabel kollox

Joe Zammit

Jun 16th 2009, 21:28

The inadmissibility of divorce was ordained by Christ Himself according to the testimony of the Apostles and Evangelists: "Whoever shall put away his wife and marry another, commits adultery against her. And if the wife puts away her husband, and be married to another, she commits adultery" (Mark 10:11, 12 -- Cf. Matthew 19:9; Luke 16:18).

In like manner, St. Paul asserts: "To them that are married, not I but the Lord commands, that the wife depart not from her husband. And if she departs, she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife" (1 Corinthians 7:10, 11).

In these words Christ restored the original indissolubility of marriage as it had been ordained by God in the Creation and was grounded in human nature. Thus divorce goes directly against natural law.

Divorce: NEVER

Catholic Malta first and foremost == Malta Kattolika l-ewwel u qabel kollox

Joe Zammit

Jun 16th 2009, 21:09

The difference between civil and religious marriage is just in the person before whom the bride and the bridegroom give their word of faithfulness to each other. In a religious marriage they vow to each other before a priest, as a representative of the Catholic Church, and in a civil marriage they do it before a government representative. Besides, In a religious marriage the bond is a sacrament, while in a civil marriage the bond normally is not a sacrament.

Also civil marriage has the characteristics of Unity and Indissolubility, i.e., the marriage must be between one man and one woman and for ever. Neither a religious marriage nor a civil one can be rescinded. So no divorce is possible because also in civil marriage God is uniting two together and no one, no State, has the power to put asunder what God has united.
If a married person tries to deceive the authorities, whether civil or religious, by pretending to be single and takes steps to marry another person, he or she will be charged with bigamy and if found guilty, the punishment is imprisonment.

Divorce: NEVER

Catholic Malta first and foremost == Malta Kattolika l-ewwel u qabel kollox

Joe Zammit

Jun 16th 2009, 20:28

Par. 1616 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church has the following to say about marriage: This is what the Apostle Paul makes clear when he says: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her," adding at once: "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one. This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the Church."

As Christ and his Church are always one, so in marriage the husband and wife are always one. This applies even in case of broken marriages. In broken marriages the marriage remains valid and still subsists. The only possible positive cure is to revive it, but not destroy it through the evil of divorce. Since in marriage the spouses are one, one they have to remain and to remain one they exclude divorce from their lives. They vow to each other “till death do us part”, not “till divorce do us part”.

Divorce: NEVER

Guze Xerri

Jun 16th 2009, 13:43

> J. Zammit, this church thing sure seems like a sweet money making machine for the church, time for it to stop and get the people of Malta in the 21st century.
>T.L Mizzi, I did not realize that civil marriage is that old in Malta,
We will have to wait till Labour is in government, as GonziPN is too cozy with the jesuits for us to get a divorce law in Malta.
It will be about time too.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 16th 2009, 00:55

@ Joe Zammit,

"When they die, they will be taken in a Catholic church to receive the eternal and spiritual benefits of the Mass,"

They are dead, they are a corpse and no one is home.
What good is the act of bad sorcery to them?
Since no one comes back from the dead to ask for a refund of their money for services not rendered, then this has to be the ultimate in bare faced con jobs !!

Raymond Cachia

Jun 15th 2009, 23:43

@Joe Zammit

Your endless repeating of Catholic dogma by rote does not inspire much confidence in your arguments, since you have never managed to answer coherently one single question or rebut one critique made by the many bloggers here.

Instead, everything goes over your head and you just repeat your own mantra. Are you sure you are not an automaton that someone programmed and set loose?

Of course we will have Divorce in Malta and we will also have Gay Marriage and Gay Divorce!

Joe Zammit

Jun 15th 2009, 17:37

Thank God the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans believe what their Church says and approach their Church to be guided by her. These months, thousands of children have received the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist for the first time in their lives and are very happy to be one with Jesus, given to them by the Catholic Church. All these children have been led to their Catholic Church by their loving parents. Later on these children will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and as adults they will marry in the Catholic Church. When they are seriously sick they call a Catholic priest to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. When they are dying they call a Catholic priest to hear their confession. When they die, they will be taken in a Catholic church to receive the eternal and spiritual benefits of the Mass, during which the bread and wine is changed into the body and blood of Christ. This is the truth and this truth will continue to echo far and wide till the end of time.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 15th 2009, 16:52

@ Joe Zammit, In January 2000, it was announced that Thomas Easton and Jonathan Levy, lawyers in San Francisco, USA had filed a lawsuit against the Vatican and the Fransican Order for complicity in war crimes in Yugoslavia during the Second World War. The press release from the firm states: "More than 700,000, Serbs, Jews, Roma and former Soviet Union citizens were murdered by the Nazi puppet regime of Croatia during World War II. The Croatian Nazis, known as the Ustasha, burned villages and churches, operated slave labor and concentration camps, and committed atrocities that shocked even hardened German observers. In a scenario shockingly similar to today's Yugoslavia, genocide was committed to cleanse Greater Croatia of non-Roman Catholics. Hundreds of millions of dollars of gold, property, and money was looted by the Ustasha from their victims" Hmm.. certainly NOT a church Jesus would have started Their deeds say it all. Civil Marriage arrived in August 1975 in Malta, so will a Civil Divorce law. No organization can stop it. That is progress.

Joe Zammit

Jun 15th 2009, 08:09

Marriage signifies the bond of fellowship between God and His one Church in Jesus Christ. God binds each member of his Church personally and the entire body of the Church to Himself by the Holy Spirit on the basis of the redemption of the cross that we are united with God by becoming one flesh with Jesus Christ. God and His church are no longer two parties, but one party. We are His companion, very really the "wife of his covenant." God has married us. This is the real marriage.

In His own marriage, God is faithful. He is faithful to His own marriage-vow, to be a Husband to this wife. He is faithful to His wife, to us. He will not, He does not divorce His wife. He never divorces her in the sense of breaking the bond, so as to marry another. He never divorces her in the sense of separating her from Himself forever. He does not divorce His wife even though she has given, and still gives, Him ample and just cause by her spiritual infidelities.
His covenant is unbreakable.

So marriage is unbreakable. Divorce: NEVER!

Raymond Cachia

Jun 15th 2009, 01:55

Joe, nothing that is man-made will last forever. And the fact that the Church, as are all other religions, is man-made is something you can count on.

Please explain, how Jesus, Jewish rabbi, would found a Roman Church? If anything, the Romans were the deadly enemies of the Semites, including the Phoenicians and the Hebrews. We all know the story of Hannibal and of the Jewish zealots’ last stand at Massada.

And the Church’s infallible teachings are not so infallible after all - the doctrine that the sun revolved around the earth, the existence of Limbo, which now turns out not to exist at all, the mortal sin if you eat meat on Fridays, saints of dubious existence that were struck off the list of saints. Even the theory of the Immaculate Conception only became as dogma a few hundred years ago. So the Church is always changing its mind.

And why is the Church referred to as “Mother Church’, when it is a wholly male hierarchy and priesthood? It is the same as calling a transvestite man a ‘mother’ just because he wears skirts with lacy frills.

Joe Zammit

Jun 14th 2009, 21:22

The senseless arguments of those who are against the Church will convince no one.

Christ has been with his Catholic Church for 2000 years and will remain with her for ever. That is guaranteed and so the Catholic Church will never come to an end. The Catholic Church is found partly in heaven, partly in Purgatory and partly on earth. Those on earth are on their way to heaven only if they follow the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church. Christ commanded his one Church: to teach all nations and those who would believe and be baptized, i.e., lead a life according to his teaching, will be saved.

Divorce is a grave sin and the divorcee is separated from God and is on the path to hell. That is the truth and no one can deny it. Whoever somehow helps others to divorce, including MPs who would be in favour of divorce, are committing grave sins. Speaking in favour of divorce is a great scandal for which the offender needs to make public reparation.

Thank you again Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi for asserting that the Catholic Church is 2000 years old, i.e., she is the one true Church founded by Christ.

Emma Xerri

Jun 14th 2009, 16:35

@Joe Zammit

People who have Celiac disease or gluten intolerance cannot take Holy Communion as the wafer will make them sick as will anything that is made from wheat. This irrefutably proves once and for all that the host was made of wheat at the beginning of the Mass and remained so after consecration.

Therefore, this is conclusive proof that there is no such a thing as 'transubstantiation'.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 14th 2009, 01:43

@ Joe Zammit,

"With this declaration you have confessed that Christ founded one Church which is the Catholic Church."

I admit to nothing like that !
Just because a false and ruthless organization is 2000 or 1700 years old does not mean it true or its claims are to be believed.
Seniority does not turn a lie into the truth.
It tells me that the Roman church took off were the Roman Empire left off and both were and are just as cunning and ruthless & it cannot stand competition.
If your Roman church was so benign, why did it slaughter the Cathars then?
Why did it have the bloody Inquisition and confiscate the property of the accused?
Why did it have the council of Trent and the counter reformation?
Why were the notoriously cunning Jesuits formed?
They are organized on a military system, who are they fighting and for whom?
Why does your church interfere in government in this day and age?
Evil is as Evil does.
And nothing lasts forever.
If it had a beginning it also has an end.
The same will apply for your church.

Raymond Cachia

Jun 14th 2009, 00:15

@Joe Zammit

So, what you are effectively saying then is that you are a cannibal.

If you really believed that each time you go to communion you were eating the body and blood of Christ, ipso facto you are a cannibal, And so are others who believe like you.

When I read the scriptures, what Christ is saying is symbolic, i.e. the bread and wine being a symbol of his suffering and death and in fact, in his own words, Jesus said, "Do this in memory', which means in remembrance. Nowhere does he say that he would be there alive ready to be eaten (by the way eating of human flesh and drinking of any blood is strictly prohibited by Judaic Law, always was and still is).

And the fact that the Church has been around for 2,000 years does not mean it is because it was founded by Christ. How on earth can did you come to that non sequitur? What I infer from it is that the RC Church was the most cunning (such as preventing priest to legally marry and have legal descendants) and was very effective in brutally suppressing opposition, much like modern day dictators.

Joe Zammit

Jun 13th 2009, 21:40

Dear Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi, thank you for recognising that the Catholic Church has been in existence 2000 years, i.e., since the time of Christ. You said it yourself in your last comment: "In 1215 AD: this is almost 1200 years AFTER the Roman Catholic Church was established."

With this declaration you have confessed that Christ founded one Church which is the Catholic Church. All other Christian Churches were established afterwards, the first one being the Orthodox Church which was set up 1000 years after the Catholic Church.

Thus you have demolished all the flawed building of your previous comments.

Joe Zammit

Jun 13th 2009, 21:21

So this report has been criticised for its flawed statistics and for a slipshod compilation of its references.

Martin has just put the cart before the horse. Instead of seeing what the reality is to come out with a realistic report, he let his imagination take the upper hand and tried to present statistics not as they are but as he imagined them to be.

That is why what he said cannot be taken seriously and the people of Malta and Gozo, especially the intelligentsia, are ignoring his thinkless-tank.

Divorce is evil, Martin, and if you are against evil, you MUST be against divorce.

Joe Zammit

Jun 13th 2009, 21:12

In the Gospel we find the four Evangelists mention in detail the institution of the Eucharist by Christ. St Paul speaks as well about the institituion of the Eucharist and says that whoever receives the body and blood of Christ unworthily will be seriously guilty before God for the body and blood of Christ.

Thank God, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans believe indeed in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. That is enough, notwithstanding what non-believers say. The Sacrament of the Eucharist has been among us through the Catholic Church 2000 years and will remain among us till the end of time. Non-believers will come to an end but the Eucharist and the Catholic Church are already guaranteed by Christ to remain among us till the end of the world.

This encourages us to remain faithful to Christ and his Catholic Church for our own spiritual and material good. The devil and sin are our greatest enemies. But Christ has already won the devil and sin and we will win if we continue to be one with Christ and his Catholic Church

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 13th 2009, 16:41

@ Joe Zammit,
The false & pagan Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation was not declared a Roman Catholic Article of Faith until 1215 A.D., by the Fourth Lateran Council! This is almost 1200 years AFTER the Roman Catholic Church was established. I wonder why, if they believed and practiced this doctrine, all of the "infallible" popes (who claim to speak ex cathedra) during the time period before 1200 A.D. didn't declare Transubstantiation an Article of Faith?The Roman Catholic false doctrine of Transubstantiation violates the commands of divine Scripture found in Acts 15:6-30. The Gentile disciples were commanded to "abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication & from things strangled, and from blood." (Acts 15:20,29) So, according to this false doctrine, Jesus commanded what His inspired apostles forbade, thus pitting scripture against scripture.
This & including your bloody fingers yarn is proof that your pagan Roman Church has no legs to stand on and cannot and should not interfere with any legitimacy in matters of pure civil law& human rights.
Divorce Law in Malta Should not be held back by a decrepit and deceitful worldly organization that has NO business sticking its nose in Civil Legal matters.
Give her a slap!

Joe Zammit

Jun 13th 2009, 08:36

This week the Catholic world celebrates one of its defining feasts, Corpus Domini. In 1264, Pope Urban IV instituted this holiday in the wake of the miracle at Bolsena, one of the most famous Eucharistic miracles of all time.

Peter of Prague, a priest troubled by doubt in the Transubstantiation (the doctrine that at the consecration the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ) prayed to God for help in believing. The Lord responded with a miracle. As Father Peter uttered the words of consecration, the host in his fingers dripped blood. This astonishing sign helped to bolster the faith of an age assailed by doubt and heresy.

There are many documented Eucharistic miracles all over the world. In 2005, The Real Presence Association produced a catalogue of the Vatican exhibition “The Eucharistic Miracles in the World” to illustrate how the Real Presence in the Eucharist has manifested itself around the globe.

Joe Zammit

Jun 13th 2009, 08:35

Christ told Simon: From now onwards you will be called 'Kefa" which means 'rock' which is "Peter' in Latin. And Christ told him: On this rock, i.e., Simon called Peter, I shall build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.

And to confirm what he has said, Christ continued: "I shall give YOU, i.e., Simon Peter, the keys of the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loosen on earth, shall be loosened in heaven.

Christ founded one Church: the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church. This is the truth, notwithstanding what the enemies of the Church of Christ might say. History proves the authenticity of the Catholic Church. Miracles prove the authenticity of the Catholic Church.

Christ spoke clearly against divorce as a grave evil that separates the divorcee from God and put the divorcee on the way to hell. This is the truth, notwithstanding what the enemies of Christ and his one Catholic Church might say.

Thank God the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are Catholic and listen to what their Catholic Church infallibly teaches them about marriage and the wickedness of divorce.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 12th 2009, 14:49

@ Joe Zammit,
Catholic authorities claim that the Roman Catholic Church was built or founded by Christ on Peter as its foundation. If we will examine the Holy Bible, we will learn that the true Church founded by Christ was not built on Peter but on Christ Himself.
When Christ said, "and on this rock I will build my church", the rock mentioned by Christ here is not Peter but Christ Himself. That's the reason why Apostle Paul adviced his brethren in the true Church of Christ, as it was stated on the Colossians 2:6-7.
" As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7, .
Let us not forget that Christ is the cornerstone, not Peter, so the Roman Catholic church was NOT built by Jesus Christ !!
The claims by the Roman church over divorce in Malta also have no legitimacy, just like many of her other preposterous non biblical claims.
The clock is ticking and every day we are closer to a divorce law in Malta.

Joe Zammit

Jun 11th 2009, 19:56

God is all-powerful, infinite, eternal, omniscient, just and immutable. God is love. We know all these qualities of God because in his love and providence for us he has revealed himself to us.

His only Son, God made man, came to live among us to save us from hell and lead us to heaven for ever. In his love and providence Christ founded his one Catholic Church to enlighten us about God and the WAY to salvation. She is infallible in her teaching, notwithstanding what her enemies might say. Her enemies end, but the Catholic Church will subsist for ever.

Among other things, God has created us and HE HAS CREATED THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE. So God has the supreme power to regulate this marriage among humanity and he has the right to tell us what to do and not to do for our own good.

So marriage is between one man and one woman, for ever, i.e., it is indissoluble. So no divorce. Divorce is evil. Divorce is evil for all people. It was evil yesterday, it is so today and will remain so for ever. No one and nothing will ever change this truth.

Emma Xerri

Jun 11th 2009, 13:13

How do you, Joe Zammit dare to presume to know the mind of God?

That omniscient, omnipresent all-knowing creator of the Universe with its billions of stars just in our Galaxy alone, including at least a million earth-like planets that contain life, and in turn the billion of Galaxies in the Cosmos, including the Dark Matter that permeates the Universe and which is still a big mystery to scientists, the formation of life with all its variety here on Earth and in Universe, just to name a few things.

You happen to know and speak for this God and what he wants. But most importantly that this God cares what is happening here on earth to only one of his creations, this great ape – the human animal.

Please read something like Carl Sagan or Stephen Hawking if you wish to understand a little of, for want of a better word, some call God. Read these and be humbled. It is embarrassing to read your contributions.

Raymond Cachia

Jun 11th 2009, 12:46

Marriage is not made by God, for first one has to prove of that God really exists. Something that no religion will ever manage to prove conclusively, including the Catholic Church.

Many animals in the Animal Kingdom mate for life, so is their 'marriage' ordainained by God too?

For many animals, including homo-sapiens, one of the primate group of animals, 'marriage' was a biological necessity to ensure that the offspring had a better chance in life, for offsprings with two parents had better odds to survive and leave descendants. There is nothing mystical or godly about this, it is pure Darwinism.

Science has always been the death-knell for religion, as it can prove cause and effect and use mathematical equations to prove its case, among other things, while religion is based on what? The fanciful imaginings of pious individuals, mingled with the cunning manipulations of the priestly class? The Priestly Class had in the past vied with kings for earthly power and dominion over the masses, until they reached the symbiotic arrangement that we see today, Church and State cooperating out of mutual interests.

For the Church, Heaven is here on Earth - just visit the Vatican and see.

Joe Zammit

Jun 11th 2009, 09:32

We must all keep in mind what God intended by marriage. Marriage is not man-made but God-made and no man can interfere with it. This remains valid whether the marriage is successful or not. Unless we conform our minds to the mind of God, we are grossly mistaken.

No reason can go against God's loving commandments. God has made us not the other way round.

Ray Cachia

Jun 11th 2009, 04:26

People like to invoke God a lot as an excuse for not taking responsibility for their actions in the present and/or future. God helps those that help themselves and we make our own choices

As to the supposed Muslim converts, these are very dubious indeed. As already mentioned, Muslims are forbidden under the pain of death to leave Islam. Muhammad commanded his followers to kill apostates wherever they find them.

The only way a Muslim can convert to Catholicism is in the service of Islam. It is mentioned in the Koran and it is called “Taqiya” or deception. Anything is permissible for a Muslim just as long as it is being done to propagate the rule of Allah, his prophet Mohammed and the Koran. Their mandate is to Islamise the whole world.

It is disturbing that the Church is Islam's biggest supporter in Malta . What is going on? I once asked a Jesuit point blank if the Church was would convert to Islam once they become a majority in Europe and his calm and unconcerned reaction was alarming indeed.

I guess the Church is waiting for the big Islamic changeover before it sanctions divorce as per the Koran.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 10th 2009, 15:12

@ Joe Zammit,

A muslim who leaves his religion is an apostate who is an unbeliever and can be targeted for death and these killings do happen , so I do not believe your islam conversion to catholicism story.
Any children born to a muslim man are muslims and will be raised as such no matter what the religion of the mother is.

About 12 million Muslims live in Europe, which makes Islam its second largest religion. One of the clearest indications of Islam's rising influence there is the Muslim community's constant growth.
And again, ironically your Roman Catholic Church and the Jesuits, with their stranglehold and big influence on european governments and politicians are the largest proponents of bringing in more and more muslims to Malta and the rest of Europe.

Joe Zammit

Jun 10th 2009, 08:45

The future is in the hands of God. Time will tell. In Africa many Muslims are converting to the Catholic Faith. In Malta most of the few Muslims who married Catholics either have converted or are leaving their spouses living their Catholic Faith and raising their children in the Catholic Faith.

Threats to the Catholic Faith have been here for centuries but Catholic Faith is still growing strong in our Catholic Islands. And this after 2000 years of Catholic history!

Those wishing to denigrate our Faith will find themselves banging their heads against a rock. They will see blood on the rock, thinking that the rock is bleeding. When they faint, they realize that the blood has gushed out of their heads.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 9th 2009, 18:04

@ Joe Zammit,

Evil is as evil does, So your Roman Catholic church of Malta marriage annulments for money are A OK and not evil then?

Other than your stuck record disc so called evangelizing, you have not convinced anyone that we should not have a divorce law in Malta, to serve its citizens, no matter what religion they adhere to and do not care how useful and needed it would be.

When in the near future there will be 200,000 plus muslims in Malta, mostly from descendants of illegal immigrants that ironically, got there with the help and interference into government by your Roman Catholic Church , how is this same church going to enforce its no divorce mandate to these muslims?
They do have divorce prescribed to then in their holy book, the Koran.
How is that for a sticky wicket.

Joe Zammit

Jun 9th 2009, 08:20

What is evil will remain evil, notwithstanding any flawed arguments against. And only God can tell us what is evil or not. It's useless trying to depict evil as good. That is falsehood indeed. Picturing divorce as a possible good is a devilish deception.

Divorce is evil today and will remain evil for ever. No one who loves God can resort to divorce. Christ has spoken clearly about the wickedness of divorce. So let us be positive and consider marriage as something to be treasured with all our hearts! Let us strengthen marriage and be careful in our married life! Let us try to revive our marriage, if it has broken down, if possible, and if not possible, let us not throw our look on any other partner because God does not want!

Let us remember that life is short and we must live the way we would like to have lived while we are dying. We have only one soul and we live only once. So let us love God because the joy God gives to those who love him far surpasses all the finite and momentary pleasures of the world!

S. Calleja

Jun 8th 2009, 02:08

@ Joe Zammit - According to you:

"1. Divorce is a great injustice against the spouses themselves.
2. Divorce is a great injustice against marriage
3. Divorce is a great injustice against the family
4. Divorce is a great injustice against the children
5. Divorce is a great injustice against society
6. Divorce is a great injustice against God."

So isn't it an injustice not allowing somebody to get married again? Isn't it an injustice not to have proper legislation for legal and financial obligations that safeguard the interest of the parents and of the children when the couple breaks up? Isn't it an injustice against society to have people cohabitating because they cannot get married again? And, another thing. Some people have a different idea of a God, such as a God that is forgiving, understanding, loving and compassionate, that can understand our mistakes and failures. Others, like me, don't even believe there is a God. Isn't it an injustice that just because you are convinced that your God exists (which does not even seem to be a very Christian God), you want to decide what is best for other people you don't even know?

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 6th 2009, 19:10

@ Joe Zammit,

"Everyone has the right to marry but no one has the right to divorce."

Oh that is funny, just 60 miles north of Malta, a Sicilian Roman Catholic couple CAN divorce each other.
How is that for sound RCC teaching?

"Divorce is a great injustice against society"

How are two people who hate each other living under one roof a benefit to society?

"even if that marriage is broken down; but in being broken down it is not destroyed. It still subsists. "

Imagine if one applied your logic to their motor car, if one could not fix it they are stuck with it and could never get an other one.

Get real Joe Zammit.

In the next few decades the largest growth of NON Roman Catholic persons in Malta will be people of the islamic faith.
With their high fecundity and their polygamous marriages done covertly or not, the population will be more than half muslim in numbers.
How long do you think that your Roman Catholic Church of Malta can dictate its mandate to these muslims that have divorce prescribed for them in their Koran?

Nadia Maniscalco

Jun 6th 2009, 14:02

I am still surprised to see that people still believe in ‘oh so catholic’ Malta. It’s true that the church is still very influential in Malta, but neither Religion nor the government can stop these social changes from happening. I strongly believe in God and I practice the Catholic religion, but guess what....that's reality!

Marriage is stability, that’s completely true…that is why I agree with Divorce, I will explain. After trying hard to save the marriage, separation happens, both spouses go along with their life in different directions, get in a stable relationship and maybe even have kids, yet their new family cannot have the stability marriage guarantees, a very common picture.

Thus if we look at the statistics and the common picture of seperation mentioned above, Social Stability in Malta is going downhill. Please do note:

"This means that divorce would be granted on the grounds that a marriage is "irretrievably broken down". Thus, getting Divorced is no easy task so as to avoid any abuse.

Joe Zammit

Jun 6th 2009, 06:04

Everyone has the right to marry but no one has the right to divorce. In the same way as every one has the right to life from conception to natural death but no one has the right to kill the unborn in the form of abortion.

Rights are positive. Marriage is positive. Divorce is negative = the destruction of marriage, even if that marriage is broken down; but in being broken down it is not destroyed. It still subsists.

Joe Zammit

Jun 5th 2009, 21:10

The reasons against divorce are many. The following are just a few:

1. Divorce is a great injustice against the spouses themselves.

2. Divorce is a great injustice against marriage

3. Divorce is a great injustice against the family

4. Divorce is a great injustice against the children

5. Divorce is a great injustice against society

6. Divorce is a great injustice against God.

Besides, we = the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans follow the teaching of Christ as taught to us by his one Catholic Church. Christ and the Church condemn divorce as a grave evil. This is the greatest of all the proofs and reasons against divorce. And this alone is enough to keep divorce out of our legislation FOR EVER!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 5th 2009, 20:45

@ Joe Zammit, You still cannot come up with a valid argument on why there should be no divorce in Malta. Even if 1/2 of a per cent of the population would utilize divorce in Malta it is enough to have it as you would be denying their civil rights if you do not. How can you justify Church marriage annulments for a price, yet deny legal divorce for those who want it and need it. This is hypocrisy at its worse. Has not your church, the richest corporation on the planet these last 2000 years, enough money? Or is it also a power trip with them? Time to put them in their place for good.

Joe Zammit

Jun 5th 2009, 16:51

Divorce is a great evil and this evil is recognized by the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans. Divorce is a great evil and this evil is recognized by the great majority of our MPs. Divorce is a great evil and is recognized by those who are separated as well. By God's grace, the beauty of marriage and the evil of divorce will be more and more deeply impressed in the minds of Maltese and Gozitans. God's grace will change hearts and minds to what is good and not to what is evil. The devil wants divorce. But God's grace is more powerful than the whole of hell. That's why the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans, and of our MPs are in favour of marriage and against divorce.

Joe Zammit

Jun 5th 2009, 16:43

According to The National Statistics Office (not according to Martin Scicluna's unscientific report) in Malta 62.7 per cent are married; 26 per cent single; 3.4 per cent divorced or separated or had their marriage annulled; 6 per cent widowed and 1.9 per cent cohabiting. The actual number of married people is 195,708 and that of cohabitants is 6,073. So the figures themselves DO NOT point to the introduction of divorce. Martin Scicluna’s report on re-marriage after legal separation deludes the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans. Whatever he has said is unfounded. He has no valid and serious references. How could a scientific report contain such an amateurish list of references? The only conclusion: Martin’s report is well-unfounded and unworthy of consideration by government, senior policy-makers, the broader public community and civil society as a whole.

Guze Xerri

Jun 5th 2009, 14:24

Joe Zammit wrote: "No valid argument has been forthcoming to date in favour of divorce."

NO VALID ARGUMENTS !!
NO VALID ARGUMENTS !!

You got to be kidding Joe?
There are plenty of valid sensible arguments on this blog concerning divorce law for the Maltese people of these islands.
Read and comprehend Joe !!

All we get from you is Roman Catholic dogma from a hundred years ago repeated over and over.
Get with it and have some intelligent arguments to support your claim as to why we are denied a basic civil right in our homeland that other Roman Catholic nations have as a matter of legislated law to their citizens.

One smart commentator to this blog is right, Malta will get a divorce law for its people eventually, the writing is on the wall.

And you cannot stop it, whatever archaic theocracy beliefs you have and continually espouse over and over like a broken record disc stuck on the same groove.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 5th 2009, 13:48

@ Joe Zammit,

"The Church preserved the Holy Bible. No printing was yet invented, so monks spent their lives copying all the books of Holy Scripture".




In the 1500's William Tyndale sought to translate the Bible into the language of the common people, English. He could not gain approval from the Catholic religon so he worked as an outlaw on the run in Europe, translating the Bible. He was eventually captured, condemned and executed in 1536. It is because of people like these men, Tyndale and Wycliffe, that we have the scriptures today. If the Catholic religion had its way, we'd still be in ignorance about the Bible and enslaved to the pope. Time fails me here to tell of other marytrs like John Hus, John Rogers, etc. who were killed by popish persons.

Joe Zammit

Jun 5th 2009, 12:18

Christ is with his Catholic Church for ever. He sustains her against all her enemies. The Church is in favour of unity and love. But love demands that truth be taught. The Church is against divorce because Christ is against divorce.

The Church has spoken in the past, speaks today and will continue to enlighten us till the end of time. Divorce is evil and whoever somehow encourages commits a grave sin that separates him from God. Divorce goes directly against God’s loving plan for us. Divorce is a great social disaster and injustice.

Thank God, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans follow the Church and their spiritual leaders in our Catholic islands and are convinced that Christ is against divorce for our own good.

Joe Zammit

Jun 5th 2009, 12:16

No valid argument has been forthcoming to date in favour of divorce. So the poor fellows try, but in vain, to attack the Catholic Church. This has been done since her beginning and Christ had predicted this. Notwithstanding all the attacks against the only one true Church of Christ, the Catholic Church, those who have attacked her have disappeared, and the Catholic Church is growing stronger and stronger, notwithstanding her ups and downs since she is composed of human beings.

The fact is that the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are Catholic and DO care about what their Catholic Church infallibly teaches. No attack will prevail against her. Not even the whole of hell can do anything agaisnt her. God is with her and she will continue to enlighten us with her sound teaching till the end of time. Christ is with her.

Mark Saliba

Jun 5th 2009, 07:40

@ Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Though I try to make it a habit of not pointing out discrepancies in other religions, you're pretty much spot on. Didn't Jesus say to not hold anyone else above him or pray to anyone else? If so why do so many Roman Catholic churches start their prayer with "Hail Mary, mother of God"? The Holy Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Nothing in there or anywhere in the Bible does it say to worship anyone other than Jesus and God. I realise this has nothing to do with the subject at hand nor did anyone bring her up, but just shining some insight into the machinations of the Catholic Church.

Joe Fenech

Jun 5th 2009, 01:36

Oh yes, we need a think tank to tell us about divorce law which has been around for centuries!!!
Everything on Earth has an opposite:

marriage = divorce

no marriage = no divorce.

Choose the right option!

Joe Zammit

Jun 4th 2009, 21:35

The great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are Catholic and listen to the Catholic Church. That is enough for all of us.

Joe Zammit

Jun 4th 2009, 21:32

The Catholic Church is the one true Church of Christ. First of all, Christ founded one Church. This Church is one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic. This Church teaches infallibly what Christ wants her to teach. Christ told his apostles and their successors, the bishops: "I am with you till the end of time".

Peter the first Pope. He is the first mentioned in the list of the Apostles. He summoned and led the first Council of the Church in Jerusalem. He established his 'cathedra' in Rome, the centre of the Roman Empire. After his death, the Catholic Church has continued to select the Pope to this day.

The Church preserved the Holy Bible. No printing was yet invented, so monks spent their lives copying all the books of Holy Scripture.

During the first millennium of the Catholic Church there was no Orthodox Church, nor any Protestant Church. These came after, diverging from the one true Church of Christ.

It was in Antioch that the followers of Christ, i.e., the Church, were called Christians for the first time. Then St Ignatius of Antioch called her 'Catholic' because she was intended to embrace all people.

Joe Zammit

Jun 4th 2009, 21:18

In the Book of Proverbs, Old Testament, we read: “Think of death and you will never sin”. So think of death and you will never commit the grave sin of divorce.

Christ was love itself and he told us that death comes on us like a thief, when least expected. So think of death and you will never resort to the grave sin of divorce.

Padre Pio who is loved by the majority of Maltese and Gozitans used to say: “Divorce is the passport to hell.” Why? Because divorce is a grave sin condemned by God.

So those who really want the good of humanity are AGAINST DIVORCE and they are against divorce because they are against sin. They are in favour of grace and the sharing of God’s life in us. Let all our MPs be wise enough and share in God’s loving grace through their legislations

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 4th 2009, 19:09

@ Joe Zammit,

Paul never personally met Jesus. He had an "experience" on the road to Damascus some 50 years after Jesus' death. He then proceeds to fill out the rest of the New Testament with his personal conjecture and opinion .
Not everyone sees the Roman Catholic Church as a real Christian church.
This organization is a worldly one that for many years has denied the real Bible to its members and it is a continuation of the Roman Empire under the guise christianity.
It is really the Babylonian Mystery School religion with its emphasis on Marian (Isis/ Ishtar) worship.
For real christians the RCC is an abomination, and nothing its says or does is to be obeyed or believed, ever.

Joe Zammit

Jun 4th 2009, 16:49

God wanted Malta and Gozo to become Catholic and in his providence sent us St Paul right at the start of Christianity. Christ said to St Paul: "It is NECESSARY that you run on an island". It is necessary, whether those with you want or not. And providence brought him on our islands 2000 years ago. And to date Malta and Gozo are still Catholic.

Notwithstanding all the oppositions, IT IS NECESSARY that Malta and Gozo will remain Catholic. 'To be Catholic' means to follow faithfully the teaching of Christ as taught to us by his ONE Catholic Church. The Church has preached the Gospel to us and will continue to preach it till the end of time. Opposition to her teaching will only strengthen that teaching and make it more valid and timely.

God is with us and our joyful cry will always be: Catholic Malta first and foremost!

Joe Zammit

Jun 4th 2009, 16:38

The ideal world is that planned by God for all of us: marriage only once in the lifetime of the spouses, whether it is successful or not. After all, to be successful marriage needs to be well-prepared in advance and never to be taken for granted. Prayer and sacrfice are the basic rules of a successful marriage.

We all still remember Fr Plater's world-wide echo on successful marriages: "The family that prays together stays together."

Sacrifice: The spouses get married because they love. To love means to sacrifice yourself for the one you love. Egoism is not the married love planned by God.

In his wisdom God has known from eternity that some marriages would fail. Notwithstanding that he COMMANDED ALL OF US, whether we like it or not, not to put asunder what God has joined. This is, and only this is for the good of all individuals and for the benefit of society as a whole.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 4th 2009, 15:16

@ Joe Zammit,

Life changes in Malta.
The Malta of fifty years ago is long gone.
You did not see women wearing trousers and smoking cigarettes back then, but now it is common place and very normal.
So will be divorce, and we will wonder on how we did without it.

Not everyone in Malta has your belief system Joe Zammit.
Your church is very hypocritical, annulments for a price are plenty fine but divorce is not in Malta.
Yet 99% of other Roman Catholic countries have divorce.
So is there a special Roman Catholic god and bible only for Malta and the Philippines ?
Not everyone fears death, so do not use death to bamboozle others to accept your inane illogical arguments on why there should be no divorce in Malta.
I got my dancing shoes at the ready.

Miguel Micallef

Jun 4th 2009, 14:39

"We must also remember that God will not be asleep is any person intends to introduce divorce in our Catholic islands. Just to say the least I point out to one and all that the date of death is written on the head of each one of us. Let those who can understand, understand!"

Are you saying that your god is now a vindictive entity, and will kill people who make the mistake (in your and his eyes, that is) of allowing divorce in our country?

Wasn't your god the "very essence of love" a couple of preaches ago?

louis zammit

Jun 4th 2009, 14:33

@joe Zammit
God made the church and the state...
we do not CHOOSE the state..........we are born here in malta...
we choose if we want to be Catholics ... yes or no
The church should teach and be able to talk freely
the state has to care for ALL OF US catholics or not.......

D Attard

Jun 4th 2009, 13:06

@ Joe Zammit

Who abused his Power??? This I ask you, history suggests otherwise.
I suggest you start letting others do what they wish and stop with this mediocare and narrow minded talk .

Sandro Agius

Jun 4th 2009, 10:22

Will divorce solve the co-habitation problem? No, it will not because who gets divorce and yet is co-habiting will not enter a marriage because both parties will loss benefits...We are trying to solve a problem while creating others...I heared that the church will do not "crusade" against divorce....I think it will be a mistake that the church remains silent for its her duty to open they eyes of the citizens which obviously are souvreign in there decisions...but I think if divorce is introduced more families will get broken for divorce is not the solution....there must be a better pre-marriage were the primary theme would not be to have fun together but to know each other well, to talk, and yes to pray together to see if its truly a good decision.

If we want to be like the rest of the world; shall we accept abortion also?

Mark Saliba

Jun 4th 2009, 01:22

@ Joe Zammit

The marriage vow states "To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." If this were a legally binding contract then by failing uphold your responsibility to love and cherish your spouse the contract would become null and void, including the 'death do us part' bit. It's sad but sometimes the love does go in a marriage and what is left is a hollow husk, a true blaspheme to the institutions of marriage. I have friends whose marriages are in shambles and genuinely hate each other and all it does is make their's and their children's lives miserable.

Marriages fail for a number of reasons and no amount of quoting the Bible or the Pope will change that fact of life. In an ideal world marriages wouldn't fail, sadly we live here on Earth where things are not so ideal, so to make up for this we should have the required institutions in place.

Joe Zammit

Jun 3rd 2009, 21:26

Whether divorce will be introduced or not, time will tell. The great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are against divorce and they have the duty and the right to urge their representatives in parliament not to introduce in our Catholic islands legislations that go against the teaching of Christ as taught to us by his one Catholic Church.

In the past there were other attempts at introducing divorce but they all failed. We must also remember that God will not be asleep is any person intends to introduce divorce in our Catholic islands. Just to say the least I point out to one and all that the date of death is written on the head of each one of us. Let those who can understand, understand!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Jun 3rd 2009, 19:24

@ Joe Zammit,

Divorce will be introduced in Malta whether you protest it or don't protest it.
You cannot stop Malta from being like the rest of the world, everything else is in Malta, like it or not.
If you do not want a divorce , do not get one, but please do not interfere with the lives of others,it does not concern you Joe Zammit.
In all probabilities you sound like a person who never married, so all this would never apply to you.
Rest easy.

Joe Zammit

Jun 3rd 2009, 07:57

God has created us and he has created the institution of marriage. So God can put the rules to govern marriage as well. The two characteristics of valid marriage are Unity and Indissolubility. So marriage is only between one man and one woman and for ever. No human being is above God or above marriage as created by God.

Marriage and the wickedness of divorce are first and foremost moral topics. Marriage is good and every one has a right to marry. Divorce is evil an NO ONE has a right to evil, so no one has a right to divorce.

On marrying, the spouses solemnly vow to remain FAITHFUL till death separates them. ‘To remain faithful' means no divorce. They themselves exclude divorce from their lives.

Divorce is no right at all.

lisa micallef - grimaud

Jun 3rd 2009, 00:18

Is Malta really Catholic anymore? It is predominatly Catholic yes. But one cannot but be so blind and prejudiced so as not to see that other religious faiths do exist on the island...and Agnostics make up a rather integral part of our Maltese population too. One comment , Joe Zammit - all you have to do to verify the number of other various faiths versus Catholicism in Malta, is to read this very thread. I do believe the sacrament of marriage is holy if two people are ready to make the commitment. However, this should not keep us as blinded from truth and human logic, as Mister Joe Zammit seems to be. There are indeed couples who have had marital problems. For a good price though, and a fixed arrangement, the Church could grant you annulment in such cases - with their sincere blessings! Rubbish isn't it. Well, one things's for sure - i'm not getting married within the holy Church of Malta. There is no such thing as ONE TRUE and ONLY religion in view of worldly people, and Mr Zammit...you are no man of the Wolrd. You are a man by yourself.

Graham Crocker

Jun 2nd 2009, 15:53

State Marriages have nothing to do with God.
Divorce is a civil right, we are being deprived of as a people.

Joe Zammit, are you an Evangelist? Next you'd be trying to convince us that God created everything in 7 days, which is an Anglican/Protestant idea, Might I add.
I also believe the Jews had Divorce in Biblical times.

Joe Zammit

Jun 1st 2009, 21:22

Divorce does not put the validly married couple asunder, either in Malta or abroad. Before God, the first valid marriage still subsists. Indissolubility is one of the characteristics of a valid marriage, whether Christian, Catholic or not.

So going abroad to get a divorce does not get you anywhere. Your first marriage is still valid and your second one is invalid. Living in a second invalid marriage means living in sin, living in adultery. Sooner or later the sinner will understand the great mistake he or she will have made.

In Maltese we have a saying: “Alla ma jhallasx bin-nhar ta' Sibt”! Those who have enough salt to understand, let them understand now before it is too late!

Simon Pisani

Jun 1st 2009, 12:55

Hahahahaha. Very amusing. I gave up on waiting for Malta's politicians to have the courage to give us our civil rights irrespective of the fact that the majority is in thrall to the Catholic Church. I upped sticks, moved abroad with my partner and shall very soon be getting my divorce from my ex. I earn more money now than when I lived there, have a much better standard of living, much more freedom and I don't have to rub shoulders with fundies and haters.

Joe Zammit

Jun 1st 2009, 08:10

Martin Scicluna’s report on re-marriage after legal separation deludes the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans. Whatever he has said is unfounded. He has no valid and serious references.

How could a scientific report contain such an amateurish list of references?

The only conclusion: Martin’s report is well-unfounded and unworthy of consideration by government, senior policy-makers, the broader public community and civil society as a whole.

Joe Zammit

Jun 1st 2009, 08:03

There is the assurance of Christ who knows best what is good for all people. Christ spoke clearly against divorce. Divorce is evil for all people. In marriage God is joining the two spouses together and no man, no State has the power to put them asunder.

This applies to all people, whether Catholic or not. Christ spoke about all people, not only about his followers. God has created all people and God has created the institution of marriage and ONLY GOD can put the rules on marriage.

NO ONE CAN ESCAPE GOD.

Emma Xerri

May 30th 2009, 17:20

@Joe Zammit

You claim that Jesus was against divorce.

But Jesus was a practicing Jew, and divorce would have been available to him if he had been married (which many scholars claim he was).

And if as you claim, Divorce is bad but Church Annulements are OK, I ask you, what is the difference? The end result is the same. It is a little like saying, it is alright to kill someone with a knife but if you use a gun it would be a crime. The result would still be murder.

But then logic does not seem to be the strong point in these anti-Divorce arguements.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

May 30th 2009, 15:30

@Joe Zammit,

" So they legislate ALWAYS according to the sound teaching of the Catholic Church because this is THE ONLY WAY that can benefit all the people living in our Catholic Maltese islands. "

If I am Maltese and NOT a Roman Catholic but want a divorce, how is this a benefit to me?
Not everyone sees the so called "sound" teaching of YOUR church as sound, especially when YOUR church allows divorce in all Roman Catholic countries except for two nations, Malta being one of these nations.

Divorce will come to Malta sooner or later, It is inevitable, and when it does I will dance a victory dance around you Joe Zammit !

Thank god for the Reformation that freed us from this Roman tyranny.

Joe Zammit

May 28th 2009, 19:57

If divorce were something good, Christ would have given us the possibility of divorce. But Christ knows more than us what is good and what is evil for us. He prohibits us from divorcing because divorcing is to the detriment of the whole of society. That's why what God has united, let not man put asunder. This is for our own good.

Our MPs know that divorce is evil and they know that Christ condemned divorce. Our MPs know that voting in favour of divorce is a grave sin that separates them from God and puts them on the way to hell. Our MPs know what the Catholic Church teaches and that the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are Catholic. So they legislate ALWAYS according to the sound teaching of the Catholic Church because this is THE ONLY WAY that can benefit all the people living in our Catholic Maltese islands.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

May 28th 2009, 16:19

@ Joe Zammit,

"Also unsuccessful marriages are INDISSOLUBLE. "

If that is so, why then does your church in Malta give out marriage annulments for a price?

Joe Zammit

May 28th 2009, 03:23

What is evil or not is not for any man to say but only God and his one Catholic Church have the authority to say. That's why God sent us his only Son to save us from hell and reunite us with God. To this end, Christ founded his only one Church, the Catholic Church, and told her that he would be with her till the end of time.

Christ and his Church infallibly teach that a valid marriage is INDISSOLUBLE, i.e., the spouses are bound together till death. ‘Till death’ means NO DIVORCE. Entering a second marriage is ADULTERY, besides being an invalid marriage.

Marriage is for life. Marriage is neither a joke nor a toy. It is a serious and mature step to be taken after due preparation and by God's help. Three to get married: the bride, the bridegroom and God. If it is not successful, one cannot resort to divorce. Also unsuccessful marriages are INDISSOLUBLE.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

May 27th 2009, 13:34

@ Joe Zammit,

With all your pompous pontifications, why is divorce legal and obtainable in all Roman Catholic countries except for two countries? Malta being one of the two.

Evil are those who would let a person in a bad marriage suffer with no legal recourse.

Joe Zammit

May 26th 2009, 21:08

God has created us and only he can tell us what is good to be done and what is evil to be avoided. He speaks to us through his one Catholic Church that is deep in the heart of the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans.

When we say "good to be done" we refer to both the end and the means. THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS. In the case of divorce, both the end for which it is obtained and the means are morally evil. The end, i.e., second marriage, is described by Christ as the grave sin of adultery. The means, i.e., divorce, is the grave sin of putting asunder what God has united, something that no man, no State can do.

Let all people and all our MPs understand well the evil of divorce, notwithstanding what anyone who couldn't care less about God says. We are living in a Catholic country, thanks to God's providence, who sent us St Paul right at the start of Christianity. By God's grace we shall preserve this FAITH till the end of time.

Guze Xerri

May 26th 2009, 19:59

@ Joe Zammit,

Long live the King James AV1611 Bible and Protestantism !!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

May 26th 2009, 19:11

@ Joe Zammit,

"Divorce is to the detriment of all, whether Catholic or not. The teaching of the Catholic Church is beneficial to one and all, whether Catholic or not."

So why is divorce legal and obtainable in Roman Catholic countries like Italy, Spain, France and Ireland?
The so called universal church is not so universal it seems.

Why would NON Roman Catholics want to be governed by laws from a church that they do not belong to or any laws from any religious entity for that matter?

Is Malta just a Theocracy then?

Emma Xerri

May 26th 2009, 14:07

@Joe Zammit

It is BROKEN MARRIAGE not the divorce per se that is the detriment. Get your facts straight.

And stop quoting your imaginary man in the sky - not everyone believes like you do.

Joe Zammit

May 25th 2009, 21:30

Divorce is to the detriment of all, whether Catholic or not. The teaching of the Catholic Church is beneficial to one and all, whether Catholic or not. Our MPs can put their minds at rest by following the sound teaching of the Catholic Church.

Christ, God and Man, KNOWS more than us what is good for us. He said to all people of the world: What God has united, let no man put asunder. This is for the benefit of all people. Thank God, the great majority of the people inhabiting our Catholic islands are Catholic and are convinced that divorce should never be introduced in our legislation.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

May 24th 2009, 22:24

@ Joe Zammit,

"So, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans DO NOT WANT DIVORCE. Their joyful cry is: Catholic Malta first and foremost! "

What if one is Maltese born and bred, and NOT a Roman Catholic but wants to get a divorce?
Why would it be a matter of concern to YOU or YOUR CHURCH when neither is involved ?

Joe Zammit

May 22nd 2009, 19:59

Thank God, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans DO care about what the Catholic Church, i.e. their Church, says about marriage, and insist that all MPs follow the teaching of the Catholic Church in their legislations. I speak every day with a considerable number of people from both political parties and they always want all our legislations to be in accordance with the sound teaching of the Catholic Church. So, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans DO NOT WANT DIVORCE. Their joyful cry is: Catholic Malta first and foremost!

Joe Zammit

May 22nd 2009, 19:52

First and foremost God spoke against divorce since the beginning of humanity. As God and Man, Christ spoke clearly about divorce as being against God’s plan for us, i.e., it is against the Law of God which is supreme. This law is above all national laws and above EU laws. Christ told us that a man a woman enter marriage for life. What God has united, let no man put asunder. This was true in the past, it is true now and will remain true for ever. Divorce is a grave sin and entering into a second invalid marriage means living in adultery.

Joe Zammit

May 22nd 2009, 19:52

First and foremost God spoke against divorce since the beginning of humanity. As God and Man, Christ spoke clearly about divorce as being against God’s plan for us, i.e., it is against the Law of God which is supreme. This law is above all national laws and above EU laws. Christ told us that a man a woman enter marriage for life. What God has united, let no man put asunder. This was true in the past, it is true now and will remain true for ever. Divorce is a grave sin and entering into a second invalid marriage means living in adultery.

Joe Zammit

May 22nd 2009, 19:46

THE ONLY GOOD WAY to look at marriage is through the eyes of God. God has created us out of his love for us and God has created the institution of marriage. God loves us so much that he sent his only Son to save us from hell and to help us lead a life in joy and peace with him and with all our brethren. He made marriage INDISSOLUBLE for our own good. He insisted that he unites two in marriage and that no one can put a validly married couple asunder. Let us be serious and give all valid marriages their due!

Ray mond Cachia

May 22nd 2009, 13:52

@Joe Zammit

Why should we care what the Catholic Church teaches about marriage? For an institution made up of exclusively bachelor men, it sure likes to make a lot of noise about the sanctity of marriage, while at the same time it prohibits marriage for its own clergy.

The ONLY reason that the Church is against Divorce is that statistically, more than 90% of petitioners for divorce are women. So stop beating around the bush and using Jesus as an excuse. The only thing driving the Church is just plain old misogyny masquerading as and hiding behind so-called scriptures.

Joe Zammit

May 22nd 2009, 13:38

Christ is with his Catholic Church for ever. He sustains her against all her enemies, the devil first and foremost. The Church is in favour of unity and love. But love demands that truth be taught. The Church is against divorce because Christ is against divorce. The Church has spoken in the past, speaks today and will continue to enlighten us till the end of time.

Divorce is evil and whoever somehow encourages commits a grave sin that separates him from God. Divorce is not a joke. Divorce is a great social disaster and injustice. Thank God, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans follow the Church and their spiritual leaders in our Catholic islands and are convinced that Christ is against divorce in our private and public interest.

Joe Zammit

May 22nd 2009, 13:31

Par. 1614 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “in his preaching Jesus unequivocally taught the original meaning of the union of man and woman as the Creator willed it from the beginning permission given by Moses to divorce one's wife was a concession to the hardness of hearts. The matrimonial union of man and woman is indissoluble: God himself has determined it "what therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder."

Let it continue to echo throughout Malta and Gozo that “what God has united, let no man, no State, no government put asunder” whatever the circumstances may be! This is possible and WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE BY GOD’S ALL-POWERFUL GRACE.

Guze Xerri

May 22nd 2009, 03:35

@Joe Zammit

“I know that God's grace is working through my writings and I KNOW FOR SURE the deep spiritual impact my writing is having on the readers”.

A bit presumptuous isn’t it? To actually claim to know what the Almighty thinks and wants.
And who do you claim that you are helping? People who need to get a divorce but cannot because of busy-bodies like you?

Joe Zammit

May 21st 2009, 20:11

For those who are really interested to deepen their knowledge and update themselves on what the Catholic Church teaches on Marriage and the Family can download from the internet Pope John Paul II’s, Familiaris Consortio: “The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World,” (November 22, 1981) and “Letter to Families from Pope John Paul II”, (February 2, 1994).

Joe Zammit

May 21st 2009, 20:10

Mgr Gouder in last Sunday’s sister newspaper said that a few days ago, the National Statistics Office issued a very interesting document entitled Lifestyle Survey 2007.
The report (page 3) states that in Malta 62.7 per cent are married; 26 per cent single; 3.4 per cent divorced or separated or had their marriage annulled; 6 per cent widowed and 1.9 per cent cohabiting. The actual number of married people is 195,708 and that of cohabitants is 6,073. This gives us a clear indication about the figures we are dealing with, when we discuss legislation, administrative measures and national policies.

This encourages us to continue to strengthen our families based on ONE marriage for life between one man and one woman. In the meantime we help those who are in difficulties, to revive their married life. We have had cases where separated spouses reunited again. This must be our only end in dealing with marriages in difficulties.

Miguel Micallef

May 21st 2009, 12:32

@Joe Zammit

Apart from your inability to answer Gerry's question, you are also doing the exact opposite of what you believe you're doing.

If you honestly think that you are converting someone with your arrogant and stupid arguments (if you can call them that), rethink yourself. If anything, you are showing people what your religion is really made up of.

Gerry Cowie

May 20th 2009, 20:42

Mr Zammit, I rest my case.
You will not answer the simple question.
All you do it put people's backs up by quoting from anywhere but your own mind.
I asked you what you and God say about a woman beaten regularly by her husband.
All the preparation in the world will not change this type of situation.
I think perhaps the Church itself should step in here and deal with this question as clearly you are unable and unwilling to do so.
You will simply respond with more quotes and rehearsed sentences which you have not thought out before writing down.
Nobody doubts your zeal.
If you cannot give a loving and sensible answer to this question then it would be better that you said nothing.
So, just for one more time I put to you the question:-
What do you and God have to say about the woman beaten regularly by her husband, who, despite all preparation, could not deal with such constant violence?
Please answer from your own mind and forget the quotes.

Joe Zammit

May 19th 2009, 21:00

Regarding marriages the position is clear. Marriage is a serious step in life, not a joke. So it must be taken seriously right from the start. Preparation, first and foremost, must focus on the future LIVING TOGETHER, before the house, the wedding and the honeymoon.

The spouses know that only ONE marriage is before them, whether it will be successful or not. The solemn vow they give to each other will be to remain faithful to each other till death. If, for some reason or another, any one of them is unfaithful, the other cannot resort to divorce. The other must remain faithful, according to the word he or she has given during the celebration of marriage.

NO SECOND MARRIAGE! NO SECOND CHANCE! A second chance is a devilish deceitful suggestion. A second marriage will be invalid if the first one still subsists. That is God's law and this law MUST be respected and obeyed by me, by you, by ALL MPs and by all people. Otherwise, the perpetrator will be living in grave sin.

No Church, no State, nor government has the power to dissolve a validly contracted marriage after it is consumed.

Gerry Cowie

May 19th 2009, 19:23

@J Zammit - I ask you again.
Please do not dodge the question.
What advice do you and God give to the woman beaten up on a regular basis by her husband?
Forget quotes and sweeping statements?
What is your loving response to this woman?
Just say clearly what you think and you might just help your case.

Joe Zammit

May 19th 2009, 12:22

Who can deny that the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are Catholic?

Proofs: The great majority are baptized and still baptize their children in the Catholic Church; they send them to learn Catholic Faith at school and at Catholic religious centres; they prepare them for First Holy Communion and Confirmation; they get married in a Catholic church; they participate in Sunday Mass, in parochial activities, parish feasts; deep in their hearts they feel they are Catholic belonging to the Catholic Church; on their dead bed they send for a Catholic priest and their funerals take place in a Catholic Church.

By God’s grace, this Catholic conviction will go down deeper in their hearts and make them zealous to preach Jesus by word of mouth and their effective witness.

Joe Zammit

May 18th 2009, 22:02

Par. 1650 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church limpidly states: Today there are numerous Catholics in many countries who have recourse to civil divorce and contract new civil unions. In fidelity to the words of Jesus Christ - "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery" the Church maintains that a new union cannot be recognized as valid, if the first marriage was.

If the divorced are remarried civilly, they find themselves in a situation that objectively contravenes God's law. Consequently, they cannot receive Eucharistic communion as long as this situation persists. For the same reason, they cannot exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities.

Reconciliation through the sacrament of Penance can be granted only to those who have repented for having violated the sign of the covenant and of fidelity to Christ, and who are committed to living in complete continence.

Joe Zammit

May 18th 2009, 21:53

If I did not love Christ with all my heart, I would stop echoing Christ sound teaching on divorce. But God's grace is so vehement in me that the whole of hell can do nothing against me. Besides, I know that God's grace is working through my writings and I KNOW FOR SURE the deep spiritual impact my writing is having on the readers for the spiritual benefit of everyone, including those who think otherwise.

Conversions do not come by keeping our mouths shut, but by spreading loudly, privately and publicly, with all our strength, the teaching of Christ as taught to us by his one Catholic Church. I shall continue to do this, even personally when necessary as I have often done as well, for the spreading and strengthening of the one Church of Christ, the Catholic Church. I am doing everything by the power of God’s grace.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

May 18th 2009, 19:19

@ Joe Zammit, Please stop imposing your own religious beliefs on others. This is the 21st century! Perhaps you would be happier living in a Theocracy. In which case, take your pick of any one of the Islamic Republics and move there. You would fit right in!!

Emma Xerri

May 18th 2009, 18:50

@Joe Zammit Your whole argument is based on a lot of false assumptions. You presuppose that everyone believe in the RC Church’s teachings, and more importantly that all Maltese are Catholics. I agree that family and marriage are the foundation of a healthy society and this is precisely why Divorce is needed. Failed marriages with no recourse to divorce will result in cohabitation and children born out of wedlock. With little legal and social obligations for the fathers of these children to support them, you will see is the creation of one-parent families and the beginning of the cycle of chronic poverty. These effects and results have been well-documented in other countries. A few ‘ups and downs’ is not the same as a marriage breakup. This makes light of serious marital problems and dismisses a great number of people who have ongoing real problems in marriage, like domestic violence and abuse. A marriage is made up of two parties, and it takes the two of them to make it work. At the point where one party ceases to care and cooperate with the other, no Church doctrine or invisible being is going to keep that marriage together.

Charles Grixti

May 18th 2009, 16:29

@Joe Zammit

Obviously, you've never been married.

Joe Zammit

May 18th 2009, 08:39

Par. 2385 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church rightly says: "Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society."

Joe Zammit

May 18th 2009, 08:36

Marriage is the foundation of the whole of society. The stronger marriages are the stronger the society will be. The worst thing a marriage can encounter is divorce. Divorce is the last nail in its coffin. That's why the bride and bridegroom solemnly vow to remain faithful TILL DEATH. Otherwise, the marriage is invalid.

Proposing divorce is the worst thing one can suggest. It's the easiest way out to the detriment of all, including those who think their marriage is hopeless.

Besides, those living in a second invalid marriage will be leading a life of sin. It is a grave sin that separates the divorcees from God and put them on the way to hell. That's why Padre Pio used to say that divorce is the passport to hell.

Joe Zammit

May 18th 2009, 07:54

We all agree that a married life has its ups and downs. It is a life of joy and suffering. It is a life of rights and responsibilities. But THREE TO MAKE MARRIAGE: the bride, the bridegroom and God. With God everything is possible. So difficulties in marriage can never be the reason for marriage breakdowns.

Emma Xerri

May 17th 2009, 19:49

@Joe Zammit

"Thank God, we have the Catholic Church that enlightens us on what is good to be done and evil to be avoided."

Then according to this we should be the most perfect nation on earth and other countries will be sending out delegations to study and emulate us. But we know this is not the case and we Maltese are just as flawed as any body else on this planet. We would not be human otherwise.

Malta is an anomaly in Western countries since it rubber-stamps Church annulments and uphold canonical decisions, irregardless whether these uphold the principles of justice and fair-play or not.

To find out what should have precedence, canon law or secular law, just ask yourselves one question. Where does a party seek redress if child support and maintenance is not being provided? Would that party go to the parish priest or to the secular courts? Can the Church send out canonical court orders to garnishee wages? I do not think so.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

May 17th 2009, 19:11

@ Joe Zammit

Why is Divorce a social evil? Using your same logic, it would be also evil to bury someone when they have died. A marriage that is effectively dead has to be buried once and for all.

Divorce is not a bogey-man, but carefully written legislation designed to provide protection to all parties including protection to children. Divorce usually stipulates how the children are to be maintained and also resolves custody issues. You need the backing of the secular arm of the law to accoplish this in democratic society, something that the Church is not equipped to do.

And unlike annulment, divorce does not bring in religion dogmas into what should be a purely a social mechanism.

Evil is the callous disregard of others suffering and the imposition of ones personal religious views to the detriment of others.

A society that is ruled by a theocracy can never be democratic, whether it be by Mullahs or Bishops. In the Christian world, Malta and the Philippines are the last bastions of this anchronism, which should go the way of the dodo bird.

Evil is ignoring others pain and suffering and imposing your will on them.

Gerry Cowie

May 17th 2009, 15:31

'J ZAMMIT - I ASK YOU AGAIN - WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU AND GOD GIVE TO A WOMAN REGULARLY BEATEN UP BY HER HUSBAND? Whilst nobody doubts your zeal as regards the teachings of the Church, what is your practical and loving response to this question?

Joe Zammit

May 17th 2009, 11:48

Let's take the holy family of Nazareth. Did they have difficulties? Of course they had but they did not separate, not divorce.

They had to go a long journey to Bethlehem on account of the census, they found no place in the inn, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a cave, King Herod wanted to kill their offspring, they had to emigrate to Egypt. St Joseph was a carpenter, bearing the daily hassle of work to earn a living, they lost their son and stayed three days looking for him. Their family was considered of a low social status, so much so that the cruel expression emerged from the lips of some: "Is this not the son of Joseph and Mary?" They had to live under the Romans. Before Jesus was 30, St Joseph died, leaving Mary a widow. And I leave the rest to the readers....

But the family of Nazareth was with God and God was with them till the end.

Joe Zammit

May 17th 2009, 11:47

No one needs divorce. Divorce is a great social evil. Divorce means a clear shirking of one's responsibility. Christ condemned divorce for all people, whoever they are, because divorce is to the detriment of all individuals and harmful to the whole of society.

Thank God, we have the Catholic Church that enlightens us on what is good to be done and evil to be avoided. So our MPs are moving on the right track when they shun divorce.
Christ knows more than any one of us what is good for us. He told us clearly that divorce is evil and as evil it is to be avoided.

Let our MPs continue to follow the sound teaching of the Catholic Church because this teaching is beneficial to all people, whether Catholic or not.

Emma Xerri

May 17th 2009, 10:48

Think-Tank? What is there to think about? We are already centuries behind the rest of the civilized world.

As a friend once told me when asked if she knows of a country where there is no divorce

“I would imagine it’s in the same country where there is no marriage”.

Charles Grixti

May 17th 2009, 10:33

In the light of reason a person of intellect and a free thinker would come to the same conclusion that all countries in the world (save for Malta and the Philippines) have come, namely that Divorce is necessary for creating stable families and protecting the rights of spouses and children.

When Jesus said, "let no man put asunder', in reference to marriage, this was interpreted by the Catholic Church as to mean no to divorce. It could be also that Jesus was referring to a third party forcibly separating a married couple, such as would happen with slavery and not when the couple themselves decided to divorce, since divorce was always permissible in Judaism.

The citizens of Malta are not all of the Catholic faith, so why is their Government binding them with Catholic dogma?

The Governemnt has a duty towards its citizens to introduce Divorce for all those who need it. As for the rest, if they are against divorce, then they can chose not to divorce. However, in a secular, and democratic society, no one should have the right to impose their faith on others and deny them the means to divorce.

Joe Zammit

May 17th 2009, 10:26

In the Gospels we read clearly that Christ condemned divorce because what God has united, let no man put asunder. We find the same prohibition of divorce in St Matthew, St Mark and St Luke.

In St Matthew, the exception refers to concubinage. The Greek word that St Matthew uses is "porneia" which means "concubinage". If one sends away the woman he has because he is not validly united with her, he is not divorcing her but separating himself from her.

So St Matthew, 5:31-32 reads: "Every one who sends away his woman, except in the case of concubinage, makes her commit adultery." In Greek, we have the same word for 'woman' and 'wife' which is 'gyne'. So, in this case it is clear that the word 'porneia' refers to 'woman' not to 'wife'. That's why some translations bring 'fornication' because 'fornication' refers to two who are both single.

St Mark and St Luke say: "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Tony Berkeley

May 17th 2009, 10:10

At a time when many prominent people are supporting the family - in recognition of the degrading values and life of children of broken marriages, I am surprised that some Maltese who look at themselves authorised to advise their government, would be so blinkered as to not see what has happened in many countries where children do not have a father figure to mentor them in the formation of their life. Divorce is just another nail in the coffin of good society. - marriages in difficulty have the church to support them, and God to listen to their prayers. Divorce is the easy way out in a difficult marriage - remember FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE - that is the promise.

Alfred Gatt

May 16th 2009, 23:23

If there is to be a decision on this issue, it should be decided by the people. We should not throw this great responsibility on the members of Partliament.
Marriage has great value; all should be done to preserve it. No one can deny that there are sufferings. I would like to meet a couple who have had no problems or misunderstandings in their married life or even that of divorced or cohabitating couples. Problems will not diminish in an another marriage after divorce. I wonder how many of the thousands that will want divorce in a few years time as suggested by the Tink Tank would already have had a previous divorce?
What is surprising in many of the comments is the antagonism against the Church, probably the reason being because it is the Church that opposes it both on the natural level and the Divine command. I would suggest Mr Ramon Casha to find the real meaning of what Jesus said. Jesus was totally against divorce. A more recent linguistic translation than that of the Douay-Rheims reads: "everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of illicit marriage" this meaning marriage within the prohibited degrees.

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 21:35

Divorce is a great social evil. Marriage is for ever. No MP can vote in favour of divorce. Divorcing is evil and condemned by God. God unites a couple in marriage and no one has the right to separate. Divorce is a grave sin. Helping anyone to divorce is equally a grave sin. Voting in parliament in favour of divorce is a grave sin that separates that MP from God and put him on the way to hell. Divorce pleases only the devil and those who want to follow the devil.

Lino Apap

May 16th 2009, 21:34

Although it is stating the obvious, the Think Tank's recommendation comes as a breath of fresh air to all those who believe that the State is letting its citizens down on the matter of divorce. The main political parties are too afraid of drawing the ire of the Church and as a result losing the votes of fundamentalists like Joe Zammit et al. Divorce has nothing to do with religion; it is a civil act that recognises de jure (at law) what is de facto (in fact) i.e. that a marriage has broken down and that the CIVIL contract binding the couple together is no longer valid. Divorce does NOT affect Catholics who may opt to stick to the diktats of their faith and simply not apply for divorce if their marriage breaks down. They may remain single and unattached for the rest of their lives in accordance with their religion. However, just as God gave Man the freedom of Choice, so should the Catholics give Maltese citizens - the Choice to decide whether to abide by the rules of the Church or to apply for divorce in the case of a breakdown of their marriage.

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 21:31

Par. 2384 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Divorce is a grave offence against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death. Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery:

If a husband, separated from his wife, approaches another woman, he is an adulterer because he makes that woman commit adultery, and the woman who lives with him is an adulteress, because she has drawn another's husband to herself."

D.Galea

May 16th 2009, 19:31

Cohabitation 'does not provide stability of marriage', HAHA Keep fooling yourselves!! I'm the living proof of the opposite!

Ramon Casha

May 16th 2009, 18:52

@Joe Zammit: Divorce is a great JUSTICE to the spouses, the family, society, and the children when the marriage has ALREADY COLLAPSED. It does nobody any favours to pretend that a couple are married in the face of all evidence to the contrary. It certainly does not help the children to remain in a household where the love and respect are gone, nor does it help them to know that their parents are married, but not to their new partners, with whom they are really living happily. Divorce is a justice because it allows the law to reflect reality.

Marriage itself is not a person that an injustice can be done against it, and if God does not want divorce - and if he exists - I'm sure he could find a way to prevent the causes of divorce. If he does not exist or does nothing to help, we have to fix things ourselves.

To me it's a simple matter: When the only thing remaining of the marriage is the marriage certificate, then it is time to face facts and admit that the marriage no longer exists (which is different from pretending it never happened).

ms g hoare

May 16th 2009, 17:36

I think that some people use the meaning of marriage the wrong way , civil or church ,divorce or not , I have allways been against divorce to a certain point ,yes when you marry you marry for life in my case ,but i have seen alot more respect from people that married in civil ,my husband's family they all married in civil but they think of divorced. Do we want to have divorce to be like the joneses is it the fashion that we should have divorce,,, as much as im against it sooner or later divorce have part of our life , i find it no diffrence being seprated or divorced these days , once you separated alot of the couples never got back together again and if a MAN or WOMAN have a second chance in life to be happy it doesnt mean that they love of GOD less ,
AN UNHAPPY AND NON FIXABLE MARRIAGE IS NO GOOD LESSON FOR CHILDREN .

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 16:47

It is possible to make a commitment for life by God's grace which is all-powerful and helps us to overcome all marriage difficulties. It is possible for the spouses to solemnly declare to remain faithful till death by God's all-powerful grace. Thank God, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans remain faithful to their spouse till death. This does not mean they never encounter difficulties. Of course, they have problems, but by God's grace, they overcome them according to the teaching of the Catholic Church.

BY GOD'S GRACE MARRIED COUPLES CAN REMAIN FAITHFUL TILL DEATH. It is possible. "To remain faithful till death" is a COMMAND, not an advice. God commands us ONLY what is possible for us to do.

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 16:28

1. Divorce is a great injustice against the spouses themselves.

2. Divorce is a great injustice against marriage

3. Divorce is a great injustice against the family

4. Divorce is a great injustice against the children

5. Divorce is a great injustice against society

6. Divorce is a great injustice against God.

Ramon Casha

May 16th 2009, 15:58

I'm surprised that Joe Zammit, who thinks himself a model Catholic, is blissfully unaware that Jesus himself made allowances for divorce. In Matt 5:32, according to the Douay-Rheims translation (Catholic), it says "But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery." So even Jesus recognised that there were situations where a marriage can be damaged beyond hope of repair.

In any case, this is NOT a Catholic country. It is a secular country in which the state accords the Catholic church special status. The citizens are within their constitutional right to be non-Catholics, and moreover it is up to the individual to decide how to follow the teachings of said church. That is why you can buy condoms at most supermarkets, and why you don't get government officials checking the virginity of brides before their wedding day.

Divorce is a necessity, and its absence makes a mockery of marriage, since it says that marriage is nothing more meaningful than a certificate filed in a ledger somewhere.

Nigel Lawrence

May 16th 2009, 15:35

Sadly, Joe Zammit, below, is not living in the real world, but somewhere created by his fantasies.

Joe Tabone-Adami

May 16th 2009, 15:22

The think-tank has to-date been tinkering with quite a few problems, we are told. When problems relating to:-
the way MEPA has been working so far,
the rampant criminality generating illegal immigration to Europe and Malta,
the deterioration in the world's climate,
the present waste of energy sources,
are solved as a result of their thinking, then one may take up their ideas and study them against the background of the chaotic state of some marriages in our Island - hopefully in an effort to halt the rot therein.

C. Farrugia

May 16th 2009, 15:04

@ Joe Zammit

If any woman (black and blue from drunken beatings or some other reason, in a nightmare marriage) had to stand before God, and asked him: "Can I please divorce my husband and be free to marry again and find real love and respect with some other man?", I am 100% sure that being love itself, God's answer would definitely be: "Yes dear, you have My Blessing!"

Mr. Zammit...if such a woman happened to be your own daughter, what would you do? Condemn her to *more of the same*, just because in your opinion: Malta Kattolika, l-ewwel u qabel kollox?!!!! It beggars belief!

Lorenzo Vella

May 16th 2009, 14:46

@ Joe Zammit

Oh please stop it with this CATHOLIC MALTA! It's becoming lame!

Dr. John Zammit

May 16th 2009, 14:19

This "Think-Tank" (or phantom of the opera) was invented before the coming election purposely because the Nationalist Party is afraid of losing votes. Then the election passes and everything remains the same for another five years. To get divorce and more (gay marriages and right, abortion and a progressive Malta) all you have to do is vote for Alleanza Liberali only - Dr. John Zammit - Candidate for the Alleanza Liberali - www.freewebs.com/liberalalliance

Adrian Cardona

May 16th 2009, 13:36

@Joe Zammit
I really don't care what God says or does. Divorce is a CIVIL right, not a religious one. If you are religious and believe in God, then stay away from divorce, but let others who are either not religious, or who are ready to forgoe their religion in order to rebuild their life enjoy the right to do so. Stop mixing religion with the state...and Malta Kattolica l-ewwel u qabel kollox can remain inside your home. Let the rest of us get on with our lives.

Eric Gahn

May 16th 2009, 13:31

WOW. I'm impressed. A Think Tank came out with this? Who would ever have thought Catholic Malta needs Divorce legislation? I mean we poor folk never ever thought about this. Gee. Thank you Think Tank. How much did you cost to regurgitated the obvious!!!!

More wasted money.

Dr. Savior Tortell Pisani

May 16th 2009, 13:17

While this report has been written in good faith... The conclusion is rubbished by the fact that most people declared (and *contracted*) that their marriage is *irrevocable* "until death takes them apart"....How can you ever undo such a BOLD-DOGMATIC commitment?? It's a bullet proof statement. No exit point is contemplated in the current marriage vows. So IFF you choose to get married... You should be legally advised that there is NO WAY of untying the knot again. It's FINAL! (You're screwed for good!)

The better alternative would be to change the marriage vows to "Each party will strive to the best of his/her ability to make it work". This is far less dogmatic and offers a way out, when things collapse. But the Church WILL complain for misusing the word "Marriage"

Perhaps there should be four kinds of legally defined "knots":
1) Catholic Marriage - Heterosexual-only, indissoluble, totally absolute (For the brave!)
2) Family Partners - Same rights as marriage but dissolvable (for the less bold)
3) Official Cohabitation - dissolvable, Gay friendly, strong legal status, no child rights
4) Casual Cohabitation - lightly regulated, some obligations, no child rights

Dominic Chircop

May 16th 2009, 13:17

Joe Zammit, there is a lacuna in the sacrament, in its form, not substance. When the Minister is pronouncing the form " for better or for worse", he always forgets to add "for good".

So there is a material shortcoming in the form.

F J Brincat

May 16th 2009, 13:10

But what is it with some people that think that just because there is divorce then all the marriages will collapse?

Do they realize that this mentality denies people the freedom of trying to put their past behind them and finding happiness again.

Mr Joe Zammit – I take it that you are the resident religious zealot. Keep it up. We need you as a reference.

M. Catania

May 16th 2009, 13:08

Divorce has become a necessary evil today. it is better to regulate all cohabitation/partnerships than letting all the present mayhem take place. Anyway what I find strange is that this document has come out almost in conjunction with a political party's statement on this issue.

Julian Gatt

May 16th 2009, 13:07

Somebody should inform Joe Zammit that HELL does not exist except in the mind of brainwashed people. Who does he think he is to tell people who are divorced they are living in sin and on the road to hell? It is terrible to think that people like him are so brainwashed from childhood on myths and never enlightened. Look around Mr Zammit and see how many unhappy broken people there are in Malta because the Church rules their lives and tells them they cannot divorce. What for? Why live in misery in this short life? Do you honestly believe you will have a better life when you die?? Dream on, you will rot like the rest of us and go nowhere but six feet under. Live life on evidence don't shove your ideas down our throats. Malta is NOT Cathoilic first as you insist, we are a secular and freestate last I heard, though people like you remind me of the fanatics that want to inflict Sharia law on the world.

Anton Portelli

May 16th 2009, 12:49

About time that we have Divorce Law in Malta. This is a basic right especially now that we are in EU where we are supposed to have equal rights, or we have joined EU only to abolish hunting and trapping and to abide by a whole lot of other regulations.
For those who are still obsessed by the Catholic Faith there is nothing to be afraid of - simply do not make use of this legislation. Divorce Legislation is not like VAT or Income Tax legislation you have to abide by it whether you like it or not, you go for a divorce out of your own free will there will be no imposition on anybody. On the other hand without a divorce law Catholics are imposing their views and beliefs on individuals who now no longer believe in the Catholic church or have never been catholics. The Catholic church and its faithful would have a better chance of getting back the lost sheep if they show some tolerance to others and not continue to preach one thing and do the opposite.

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 12:40

We have to distinguish between the contract and the Sacrament of marriage on one hand, and married life on the other. Married life follows marriage, not the other way round. And married life, of whatever type it will be, does not and can not dissolve a valid marriage. So, no broken up marriages can ever dissolve marriage. What is valid remain valid for ever.

After all, the spouses themselves declare solemnly to remain faithful to each other till death. In other words, the spouses themselves solemnly declare to each other never to resort to divorce.

Catholic Malta first and foremost == Malta Kattolika l-ewwel u qabel kollox

Dominic Chircop

May 16th 2009, 12:33

Joe Zammit
Your idea that for a marriage to succed it must be between the bride, the groom and God, stinks.

A threesome never augurs well !

W Spencer

May 16th 2009, 12:28

@ Robert Callus, the problem in most EU Countries, is that getting married is too easy, and getting divorced is too easy. So why do people need to try and make their marriage work, most times divorce is the better option financially. You would be amazed at the petty reasons some couples have for requesting a divorce.

More committment is needed by both partners ...., for better of worse, perhaps ??

K Ciantar

May 16th 2009, 12:28

@J Zammit
I'm afraid to tell you that Malta is secular first and foremost. That's why one can have sex outside marriage legally and one can also buy contraception. Catholics behaving like catholics through their own choice are real catholics, and not ones faced with no choice.

You lack a very important catholic feature: empathy

People who decide not to live a catholic life are free to do so as long as they don't hurt anybody.

So tell me, should catholics living in muslim countries be subject to sharia law?

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 12:13

In his providence Christ has founded his one Catholic Church to teach all people. The Church is there among us to teach each one of us, to teach us privately and publicly, to tell us what is good to be done and what is evil to be avoided. The Church speaks on behalf of God and Christ her founder. She knows that divorce is evil and so she echoes far and wide in her teaching the grave sin of divorce.

Those who divorce live in grave sin. Divorce separates the divorcees from God and put them on the way to hell. No one can in any way help in the evil of divorce. Voting for divorce means putting God aside and committing a grave sin. Those who would be responsible for divorce will be responsible before God for all the divorces that would follow!

Catholic Malta first and foremost == Malta Kattolika l-ewwel u qabel kollox

John Falzon

May 16th 2009, 12:11

Everyone has a right to happiness. True, all efforts should be made to save the marriage. Definitely so, otherwise the whole concept of marriage becomes a farce. So in this sense there should be defined steps that need to be followed before going to divorce, for instance hearings by mediators, even psychologists and other experts if necessary. If there is no way to repair the marriage then there should be a path that leads to divorce. The point is that divorce should not be an "on the spot" thing, but should follow due and diligent process.
Furthermore, in a country that promotes gender equality, it should not automatically be the man who has to pay maintenance to the wife. The other way round should also be considered especially if the woman is well off. If the wife needs re-training to be able to get a job then the state should provide all encouragement, however to have her living off the hard work of her ex-husband for the rest of her life whilst contributing nothing in return is not acceptable. Women must decide whether they are equal or not equal - and not pick and choose as suits the circumstances!

edwin formosa

May 16th 2009, 12:02

Divorce is not a solution to a broken marriage. If it were,there wouldn't exist remarriages even after divorce.

J Abela

May 16th 2009, 11:46

@ J. Zammit
Whoever doesn't agree with you is an infidel in your mind and should be damned. Now where have I seen this before...

Gerry Cowie

May 16th 2009, 11:44

@Joe Zammit - What advice can you and God give to the woman who is regularly beaten up by her husband?

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 11:35

God has created all of us and he and only he has created the institution of marriage. He and only he has the right to tell us and order us how this institution is to be ruled and governed.

In marriage it is God, not the State, who is uniting two together and "what God has united let no man, let no State, put asunder!"

The State has no right and no power to rescind a validly contracted marriage. If the State does that, it is abusing of its power for the detriment of the whole nation.

CATHOLIC MALTA FIRST AND FOREMOST == MALTA KATTOLIKA L-EWWEL U QABEL KOLLOX

jessica bianco

May 16th 2009, 11:29

@Joe Zammit
Not all have your beliefs, and those who don't, neither have your limitations. It's about time that Malta moves forward in this issue and not limit our country by the Church. The Church is not the country.

Franco Farrugia

May 16th 2009, 11:26

Does it honestly require a 'think-tank' to arrive at that conclusion?

Claudia Borg

May 16th 2009, 11:11

To all those catholics out there, Do not make use of divorce if you have no such wish. However do not impose your views and beliefs onto others. Keep your pure hand away. I would be happy to go through divorce, especially since I did not get married under the sacrament of god, but rather under the law of Malta. Why is it that I need to go through annulment process which is based on that of the church? Divorce is necessary because the state is different from the church. Our marriages fail not because one partner is gay, or the marriage is not conceived due to lack of children. Our marriages fail because we no longer tolerate to live a miserable and uphappy life for what's left of it. Better or worse, that is society today.

The church has every right to impose laws on its flock. It has no right to interfere in the lives of people who do not hold the same belief. Therefore the church should stop meddling with politicians, and let them pass the vote freely without treats.

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 10:45

Divorce is primarily a MORAL decision. God is in favour of the stability of marriage and against divorce. The devil is in favour of divorce and against the stability of marriage. There is no midway. Either with God and against divorce or with the devil in favour of divorce.

The great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are with God, against the devil, in favour of the stability of marriage and against divorce. Our MPs are in their great majority Catholics and follow the teaching of the Catholic Church.

Catholic Malta first and foremost == Malta Kattolika l-ewwel u qabel kollox

godwin scerri

May 16th 2009, 10:45

There is no doubt that Malta has a problem and that this problem has to be analysed properly and support provided. One must read the full report of course, but it seems from the above news item, that Martin Scicluna et al, fast becoming the national problem solvers, have abandoned the analysis and instead have chosen the opt-out solution. I presume that in the near future we shall be constantly reading law reports that will point out that the "broken family" factor was the reason behind the crime. As for "The report insists that in every case a judicial process must take place to avoid abuse and ensure the marriage has really broken down", perhaps the author could add an addenda showing where this has been managed successfully.

B Agius

May 16th 2009, 10:16

@ Joe Zammit. Mr Zammit is more Catholic than the Pope. Many Catholics in other countries avail themselves of divorce and the Catholic Church still counts them amongst the flock. The fundamentalist claptrap Mr Zammit talks about is very sad. God condemns lots of things - according to various faiths and religions- but Catholics pick and chose. The Maltese for example, as a race, continue to blaspheme more than anyone I know, knowing damn well God condemns this. But they also think they're good Catholics too! Double standards galore!

Tony Berkeley

May 16th 2009, 10:15

The response comes from no other than the disciple Matthew's gospel. (Matthew 19:6)
"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
I don't care what think-tank this maybe, but they are no wiser than God himself. And for us being a christian country woe be it to them that think they know better than God himself. They will have to answer for their deliberation and advice on the last judgement. I just hope they (whoever 'they' maybe) can live with that thought. Marriage can be difficult at times, but these couple have promised for better and for worse, and where there is a will, there must be a way of reconciliation.

Robert Callus

May 16th 2009, 10:09

There are many reasons why marriages breakdown, and divorce is not one of them. The mentality that 'people will take marriages less seriously if there is divorce' is completely flawed. Who wants broken marriage, divorce or not?
An often neglected reason why there is a horrible increase in broken marriages is the cost of living. Young couples who dreamt of owning a home and live with their husband/wife till death, found themselves in a nightmare having to spend their time working more and more to make ends meet. They had in turn leave out quality time with their partner, which is vital to make a marriage work out. This is not the only reason obviously.

Divorce will take place only after the unfortunate couple has tried to make their marriage work and found out it was impossible. In reality many people go at lengths to 'repair' a broken marriage. However, if there is nothing else to do, why not let a person 'start again'?

doris camilleri

May 16th 2009, 10:03

Does think tank think that by entering divorce law we will be having families living in paradise?How far from it.Are they blind? If they
Look at other countries who legalisd divorce,maybe they will open their eyes.

Joe Zammit

May 16th 2009, 09:51

Whatever Martin says has no value before God, before the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans and before the great majority of our Catholic MPs.

Divorce is always evil, condemned by God. So, if it is condemned by God, it is evil to all people, also for those who consider their marriage broken down.

God knows more that Martin what is good for us. So, let us be wise and follow the teaching of Christ as taught to us by his one Catholic Church. This teaching is beneficial to all people.

Catholic Malta first and foremost == Malta Kattolika l-ewwel u qabel kollox

emanuel muscat

May 16th 2009, 09:50

We talk a lot about statistical information. So we believe in statistics. Can we see what they indicate in countries where divorce has been introduced? Surely we cannot deny facts.

C. Farrugia

May 16th 2009, 09:44

We don't need an independent think-tank to propose divorce law. It is a BASIC human right. And for those who are totally against it: You are either very happily married yourself, or have never been. So in either case, you have no right to impose your view on others. Marriages break down for a multitude of reasons, many of them irreparable. It is NOT always a selfish act, as many of these good-two-shoes wish to imply!!!

David Thake

May 16th 2009, 09:43

Finally! It is about time that this country acknowledges the reality that NOT all marriages are built to last for ever.

J Farrugia

May 16th 2009, 09:25

who is this think tank? Go get a life if you have nothing else to do!