Cynthia Busuttil
Married couples deserve assistance - Archbishop
Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday said the Church had to spread its message against divorce not only on the basis of the teachings of the Bible but also on the basis of facts in everyday life.
Speaking to representatives of Proġett Impenn - which groups together the Diocesan Family Commission, Caritas Malta and the Cana Movement - Mgr Cremona said the Church could never accept divorce because God's spiritual authority to unite people in marriage could not be transferred to man to dissolve.
Proġett Impenn presented the Archbishop with a report entitled For Worse, Not For Better, published in reply to a think tank member's report arguing for the introduction of divorce in the interest of those who want to remarry.
"We should show facts to society so all the members of society may then draw its own conclusions," said the Archbishop.
He said the message of Proġett Impenn was clear and stressed the country would not have stable families and marriages unless the State, the Church and other entities worked for this purpose in every way.
He said once the State had declared that stable marriages and strong families were beneficial for society, married couples deserved assistance because of the contribution they gave for the well-being of society.
The Sunday Times has just carried an interview with Cana founder Mgr Charles Vella who said that, although divorce from a Catholic viewpoint was considered a menace to the stability of marriage, it did not mean it was going to wreck marriages.
Mgr Vella yesterday told The Times that politicians from the Nationalist and Labour parties were among those who had contacted him to thank him for speaking so frankly on the issue.
"A very well-known person from the government's side called me at 8 a.m. (on Sunday) and said thank you," the 81-year-old priest said when contacted, although he stopped short of giving names.
He said he was constantly stopped in the streets on Sunday, with people telling him about their cases.
Among them was a man who had been suffering from a marriage breakdown for some 25 years and as a consequence had not been to church for two decades. "The lost sheep are very important," he said.
Asked why he had decided to speak out, Mgr Vella said he wanted to give people "courage, mercy and hope" while never withdrawing from the teachings of the Church.
"I spoke through my knowledge of the Church's doctrine and also through my heart and my conscience, while remembering that as a priest I follow Jesus Christ, who is for me the way and the truth.
"I wanted to create a dialogue about the issue and I am very glad this is happening," he said, adding dialogue had to continue.
Although the institution of marriage was "in crisis", Mgr Vella said the family was still strong and it was imperative for both the State and the Church to do as much as possible to help couples.
Mgr Vella had also voiced his opinion that the Church should invest more in the Cana Movement, which helped prepare couples for marriage. Whereas it used to employ 30 people before, now it employed 16.
Asked for his reaction yesterday, Cana Movement director Joe Mizzi said more manpower was always needed, especially since the movement operated with volunteers.
The movement was in favour of a strong marriage between a man and woman which lasted forever and therefore its position was that divorce was damaging for the family.
"Wherever divorce was introduced, the number of marriages went down, while cohabitation and divorce increased. Divorce generates more suffering for both the couples and children," he said.
Studies also shows that wherever divorce was introduced rates shot up, he added.
When it was pointed out that divorce numbers would obviously increase when legislation was introduced, since before couples could not go for divorce, Fr Mizzi said there were consequences to divorce which were very harmful.
"Our proposal is to learn from other countries' mistakes and go for strengthening our marriages," he said, adding the movement would continue working and investing in marriage preparation.
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Joe Zammit
Apr 8th 2011, 19:34
God comes first. When we put God first and foremost, all people will benefit. Christ was clear about divorce: divorce is a grave evil to the detriment of all people. That is why what God has joined together let no man put asunder. Behind divorce there is the devil who wants our harm. If anyone fails to see the devil behind divorce, they are only seeing up to the tip of their nose. Strengthening marriages does away with divorce indeed. The Catholic Church has done a lot to strengthen marriages. The fact that there is still room for improvement does in no way put the Church on the defence. Facts are facts and those who have benefitted from Church teaching and her pastoral work can echo this benefit far and wide and thank her heartily for her concern and solicitude in their marriage preparation and strong marital life. How many of those whose marriage has failed are seeking help from the Church? Whose fault is it that they have failed? Surely it's not the fault of the Church.
Anton Portelli
Aug 19th 2009, 08:40
@G dPortelli
"Its intransigence will appear to many as an attempt to impose its will on a secular state. That will indeed be sad."
Of it is nothing but an attempt to rule the country - It is an attempt to overthrough the Government !
v.pulis
Aug 18th 2009, 20:18
(Cana Movement director Joe Mizzi) said The movement was in favour of a strong marriage between a man and woman which lasted forever and therefore its position was that divorce was damaging for the family.
Everybody tends to agree with Joe Mizzi's first part of the comment.
"Wherever divorce was introduced, the number of marriages went down, while cohabitation and divorce increased.
Cohabitation is the result of lack of legislation on divorce. it is the only outlet left to people who are looking for love the second time and it will not diminish with time but increase no matter what the church says. If the law on divorce is passed it stands to reason that the cases would increase even if just one couple divorced! Now a question to Mr. Mizzi. If a cohabitating person dies 'in sin' will s/he be buried in consegrated ground?
g.portelli
Aug 18th 2009, 17:08
The Maltese ecclesiastical authorities choose to further encourage people to disengage from the Church. That is a pity. Why the Church feels the need to mount crusades and depict the pro divorce lobby as latter day heretics is confusing particularly in a modern secular European state. It is sad that the Church is opting to demonise a secular issue in this way. Its intransigence will appear to many as an attempt to impose its will on a secular state. That will indeed be sad. All families whether traditional or not deserve to succeed in their goals, the church should recognise the fact that alternative families have been in existence locally for decades if not centuries. Families whatever their legal status, usually strive for the best possible outcomes. Facts should help everyone reach a conclusion but denying realities won't help anyone. That merely reinforces the perception of a subversive theocracy hell bent on preserving the status quo.
Raymond Sammut
Aug 18th 2009, 16:26
@ victor zammit
No need to take words out of context. The concern expressed was towards those who had not been to church for many years following the breakdown of a marriage that had been consecrated in church. Nowhere can be seen here, said by Mgr Vella, to contradict any parts of what you are citing. The intention is clearly to encourage people to seek help from church members if they felt the need for it, rather than unnecessarily think of themselves as excluded.
victor zammit
Aug 18th 2009, 15:44
'Lost sheep'? From the point of view of religion, would Christians who opt for divorce be lost? Wholly lost? Or will membership cease, be in abeyance or will it persist and to what extent? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Geoffrey Chapman, 1994, inter alia paragraphs 1650, 1651) says that "if the divorced are remarried civilly...they cannot receive Eucharistic communion...they cannot exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities...Towards Christians who live in this situation, and who often keep the faith and desire to bring up their children in a Christian manner, priests and the whole community must manifest an attentive solicitude, so that they do not consider themselves separated from the Church, in whose life they can and must participate as baptized persons...They should be encouraged to...attend the Sacrifice of the Mass...to contribute...to community effforts for justice, to bring up their children in the Christian faith..." I
c. camilleri
Aug 18th 2009, 15:41
May I ask Fr Vella this question. Has he talked this over with his Archbishop before coming into the open? It seems to me that his teaching has for long been contradicted by the Church Authorities and this includes the Bishops, father Gouder and even father Mizzi. It seems to me that he is mounting a crusade for the introduction of divorce against the teaching of his superiors. The Bishops now must speak up and illuminate the faithful about this confusion of minds.
Raymond Sammut
Aug 18th 2009, 14:40
I find it quite astonishing that the Cana Movement has not increased its resources over the years, and has only 16 volunteers presently. One needs to seriously consider and quantify the opportunity cost incurred by the State as a result of divorce cases. I can see no reason as to why the Maltese government does not seek ways how to increase the scope of Cana, treat it as a not-for-profit organisation, and provide long term funding. The contribution in real terms made to society by Cana should fully justify this approach by government. Simply tabling divorce laws in Parliament will only help to deal with symptoms but not with causes.
Paul Barrett
Aug 18th 2009, 12:15
Fr Mizzi said there were consequences to divorce which were very harmful.
The only consequences to divorce which are harmful are those to the Church. Loss of flock, loss of income, loss of power.
Pre marriage courses can never guarantee that two people will survive the difficulties and stress of living together through thick and thin. It is something that the two have to work out together.
By the time a couple have got to the stage of "Legal Separation", the damage is done. Why then not class this as divorce and allow at least some to have a chance of happiness and stability in life by being allowed to legalise a new relationship and legitimise offspring from that new relationship.
The current intransigence and delay in failing to introduce a none bureaucratic, swift and clean cut divorce is creating an ever increasing underclass in society with couples living together and having children from parents not allowed to get married.
Society needs the stability created by married couples, allow these people a divorce so that they can get married.
Steve Pace
Aug 18th 2009, 10:44
Facts and statistics... That is what human beings are made of . Thank you MGR Cremona for being so close to peoples pain .I would aso like to Thank you for the assistance in Creating the Malta Church Party . What is your electoral program going to be based on ?