Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, spokesman on civil rights, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, Paola
Not much hope of cohabitation rights
Asked whether the MGRM (Malta Gay Rights Movement) sees same-sex marriage as a realistic prospect any time soon, MGRM’s Gaby Calleja said: “Currently, the two major political parties are proposing cohabitation rights but this is bare minimum legal recognition and is very limited in the rights it would give to LGBT couples (September 29).
“More is required and this is what we are pushing for”. The reality is that not one Member of Parliament, and nobody from the government side is prepared to even dare propose cohabitation rights.
The so-called “proposals” – which to my knowledge have never even been declared in any of the other parties’ electoral programmes – will never be turned into concrete legislative proposals in the current scenario. One can “push for more” when there is at least something to start with.
Today we do not even have the basics in place whether it be for separated couples who wish to be able to regulate their legal position through divorce, or legal rights and protection for the most vulnerable party in any relationship whether same-sex or not.
Our Parliament is not simply conservative – on such issues it can even be called mediaeval.
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Joe Xuereb
Oct 9th 2009, 19:19
John Smith. See my comment of 2 days 19 hours ago. I have always been homosexual and for a number of years, an atheist (and getting stronger every day). I do not believe homosexuals should get married. Why would I want to get involved in something/anything that is mere convenience, a social construct, by its very nature seriously flawed. I would not want that if I were to be offered it on a silver platter, like some severed head (I make no apologies for the gruesome metaphor but I am not joking). Marriage! Thanks but no thanks.
John Smith
Oct 7th 2009, 15:29
@StevePace:You seem to be putting your head under the sand, as if what the facts are, you cannot digest. I just pitty you for you cannot understand the true facts of life. That's what it say, and that what will be done. If you think that you are going to accept such mixture of families that goes against the gravity rules, than you are totally wrong. What it's black, is just black, but what had been painted white, you cannot call it black or blue. That's our constitution, you either accept it and live by it. To change, you'll won't have a chance. I am quite sure - man!!
Steve Pace
Oct 7th 2009, 14:45
@John Smith - "Your statement is totally wrong, no matter what you say, because our Parliamentary members all had taken their oath (see documentary video of parliamentarians opening?) by kissing the Holy Cross as their Oath."
I am afraid you are wrong Mr.Smith. The oath of office for a Maltese Prime Minister states that "
(b) Oath for the due execution of the office of Prime Minister or other Minister or Parliamentary Secretary.
I .......................... solemnly swear/affirm that I will faithfully and conscientiously perform my duties as (Prime Minister/Minister/Parliamentary Secretary) in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Malta, without fear or favour. (So help me God).
This means that the Prime Minister's duty and obligation are towards the constitution and Law, not towards the Maltese catholic church.
If a law changes the Prime Minister's obligation is towards that change and not towards anyone disagreeing with it !
Steve Pace
Oct 7th 2009, 14:32
@John Smith - Then let's have condoms made illegal, Pre-marital sex punishable by law, remove separation, annulment , civil marriage, civil annulment, cigarettes barred ( they go against Jesus Christ's teaching on the value of life) .
Let's also make Sunday Mass a legal obligation and make sure that people who litter outside confess their sins to the priest . While we're at it , why not make all other religions illegal and anyone who is caught saying something against the church burn on the stakes... All this reminds me of something ... can't remember what they used to call it some centuries ago !
If you seriously believe that today’s political policies are 100% catholic than welcome to dream land !
GiovDEMartino@chris Reiff
Oct 7th 2009, 12:40
Irresespective of what the church says....same sex marriage does not make sense. I d0 not want to offend anyone, but that IS the truth.
John Smith
Oct 7th 2009, 11:01
@Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi: You stated that "We do not live in a roman church theocracy on these islands no matter how you wish it to be so." Because if you don't know, the Constitution of Malta it clearly states "The religion of Malta is that of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion" and that "the authorities of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church have the duty and the right to teach which principles are right and which are wrong." So same sex and cohabiting are both against the Christian/Catholic law.
Your statement is totally wrong, no matter what you say, because our Parliamentary members all had taken their oath (see documentary video of parliamentarians opening?) by kissing the Holy Cross as their Oath.
Therefore, according to The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it says "a well-formed Christians/Catholics' conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals."
As Catholic or Christians our Parliamentary-members..cannot go against the official religion of our country. This contradicts proposal of same sex marriage does contradicts our religion and is prohibited by Jesus Christ and God.
Joe Xuereb
Oct 6th 2009, 23:24
Make no mistake. As long as the country continues to see marriage as one 'made in Heaven', one instituted by Christ - the sacrament of marriage, Cana and all the rest- it will never budge. Religious institutions are, by their very nature, intransigent and have to appear so. If the Church were to start to appear liberal, that would be the time when it signs its own death warrant. The Church is powerful in Spain, it is powerful in Italy. In Hungary it is fairly powerful I gather. In Malta, well, in Malta the Church is very powerful. I do not know whether it has to do with tradition, the size of the place. I just do not know. In societies where marriage is viewed as a social contruct, and therefore man-made, they make necessary allowances and adjustments. The Church can not. Because marriages are made in Heaven (never mind that they often turn up in Hell). So same-sex partnerships endorsed by the State? In Catholic Malta the Church is just too strong. So forget it.
Paul Borg
Oct 6th 2009, 10:15
A bolt is defined as a union between a nut and a screw. Nothing on earth is able to defy the laws of physic and engineering and redefine a bolt to consist of either two nuts only or two screws only, nor to declare that such combinations are or ever will be able to fulfil the functions of a bolt. Aberrant Parliaments and/or Courts may try and that is why we have such expressions as a Parliament or Courts "being away with the fairies" or "the law is an ass" (puns not intended). The same principles apply to the natural law of Biology governing sexual plumbing and congress.
Chris Reiff
Oct 5th 2009, 19:56
Joe Zammit,
remember, the state should have NOTHING to do with religion, NOTHING.
GiovdeMartino,
why shouldn't gay marriage be legalised? The Church can do whatever they want, but state marriages should do! If a gay couple wishes to fulfill their love, why deprive them of their right!!
Just because people are different from you doesn't mean they should have any less rights than you.
jason borg
Oct 5th 2009, 19:31
ma hadtuhiex il- lezzjoni qiskom AD
stop trying to impose your extreme-left agenda under the guise of a green party
in the next elections you will fare even worse
GiovDeMartino
Oct 5th 2009, 17:26
"Same sex Marriage" U ddahquniex!!!!!
Darren Galea
Oct 5th 2009, 17:13
Isn't it obvious that all Joe Zammit's comments are merely showcasing the power of Poe's Law?
As for cohabitation...maybe when our country get's out of the dark ages when it comes to such issues,
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Oct 5th 2009, 17:06
Joe Zammit,
Stop confusing Christian with roman catholic, not all maltese belong to the roman church and marriage is not seen as a sacrament to people who do not belong to the roman church.
We do not live in a roman church theocracy on these islands no matter how you wish it to be so.
Steve Pace
Oct 5th 2009, 16:14
@Joe Zammit - Part 2 - The road to Hell is not just for people co-habiting dear Mr.Zammit ! Moses was handed 10 commandments , not just one ! It's an open road with enough lanes for everyone ! People who judge, commit abuse , hurt people, and do all kinds of wrong-doing are eligible for driving down that road. The license is cheap and very easy to obtain ! Don't be fooled !
Steve Pace
Oct 5th 2009, 16:01
@Joe Zammit. And on what assumption do you arrive to judge people co-habiting together and committing a 'grave sin as you described it ? on your same level of judgment I would say that all nuns and monks living in monasteries are co-habiting and thus committing the same grave sin.
I bet its sexuality that bothers you so much ! Its easy to come to a conclusion that two people living together must having sex in your opinion.
With reference to the “farce” you mentioned. I can give you a whole of situations present in marriage as intended by God and are indeed a farce. 200 words will not be enough.
I am sure that all those who have suffered abuse have enjoyed the 'farce' so far.
One farce i can easily see is the way you have managed to judge execute and bury everyone who is in pain in one paragraph. Call yourself a catholic !
Mr.Zammit. We must never forget that the Inquisition has been abolished. There is no Pedestal of superiority in God's Heart !
Demis Paul Scerri
Oct 5th 2009, 14:04
Dear Mr. Zammit, I feel really sad when I hear persons like you saying "cohabitation is a grave sin that separates the cohabitating partners away from God and puts them on the way to hell" , "Cohabitation is a great evil for society " and "Two men or two women do not make a marriage but only a farce".
You have to thank God if your marriage is still going strong but unforuantely there are thousands who had to seperate. It is not only unfair on us seperated people that we are being punished and can't legalise our position but with such comments like yours, you make us feel that we are the devils on this earth. Remember my friend that not all Maltese are Catholic (practic Catholicism) like you and you can't impose your belief and judge other persons. I am really fed up living in this country with such petty minds. We are the farse of Europe !!
Joe Zammit
Oct 5th 2009, 11:46
We must never forget that cohabitation is a grave sin that separates the cohabitating partners away from God and puts them on the way to hell. This is a reality that those who cohabitate need to bear in mind.
God has created us and created also the institute of marriage. Marriage is only between one man and one woman. Two men or two women do not make a marriage but only a farce.
Cohabitation is a great evil for society because it lacks the fundamental principle of the marriage contract which in the case of Christians this contract is raised to the dignity of a sacrament.