Matthew Xuereb
Cana Movement evaluating state policies on family structure
Lawyer Robert Tufigno (left) pleading with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi (right) to increase family-friendly policies. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
The point of departure of the government's family-related policies was the principle of a permanent, indissoluble marriage between a man and woman, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi stressed yesterday.
Speaking during a visit to the Cana Movement, a voluntary organisation within the Church which helps couples prepare for marriage, Dr Gonzi said his was not a courtesy call but a "strong message in favour of strengthening the family".
"Despite divergent opinions, no one doubts that the traditional family structure is the nucleus of the Maltese society, a precious diamond we should guard with all our might," he said.
His comments come in the wake of a set of proposals by Parliament's Social Affairs Committee to regulate cohabitation and which also consider a form of civil union between same-sex couples.
Lawyer Robert Tufigno, on behalf of Cana, warned Dr Gonzi that the recognition of non-traditional relationships was "detrimental to society".
"The recognition of any other relationship (not between a man and a woman) is detrimental to society and goes directly against the principle of the family. This does not mean we should not show compassion and solidarity with these people but we cannot say yes to every request," he said.
Dr Gonzi praised the representatives of the Cana Movement for their sterling work preparing couples for marriage and guiding them through married life. He said the preparation phase was the most important aspect because of the challenges the modern world presented newly-wed couples with.
Dr Tufigno said the Cana Movement was studying government policies to see which of them were strengthening the family structure and which were destabilising it.
He called on the government to launch measures to discourage the birth of children outside wedlock. This did not mean giving out condoms but more education focusing on the importance of children being born within the structure of a family, set up by a man and a woman who became one through the sacrament of marriage.
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Joe Zammit
Jun 5th 2010, 23:13
Supporting marriage is not only a matter of morality or religious persuasion but it makes pragmatic sense and it is demonstrably in the public interest.
Government and society, take note.
DIVORCE NEVER!
Steve Pace
Jun 5th 2010, 10:45
"Dr Tufigno said the Cana Movement was studying government policies to see which of them were strengthening the family structure and which were destabilising it."
I will be quoting this statement quite a bit in the near future when someone tells me that the Church in Malta does not want to impose its policies on the state !
Sheer arrogance !
Steve Pace
Jun 5th 2010, 10:41
"Dr Gonzi praised the representatives of the Cana Movement for their sterling work preparing couples for marriage and guiding them through married life. He said the preparation phase was the most important aspect because of the challenges the modern world presented newly-wed couples with "
Dr.Gonzi's comment would have been very much in place had there been a statistic showing that in Malta only 0% of marriages are declared NULL .
d. borg
Jun 5th 2010, 08:50
"we cannot say yes to every request," he said.
Scusi b'liema awtorita jitkellem hekk Dr Tufigno? Sa fejn naf jien il-Maltin ma vvutawlux biex jitkellem jew biex jiehu xi decizzjonijiet f'isimhom. U biex nghidlek naf hafna koppji li meta jkollhom il-kors ta Kana imorru ghax bilfors.
Joe Zammit
Jun 4th 2010, 21:11
Thank God, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are convinced that what we need is ONLY to strengthen marriages and families. The family is the basic cell of society. Divorce greatly weakens that cell. So Divorce never!
To be valid every marriage must necessarily exclude divorce. Divorce is not the solution just as killing a person is not the solution for his sickness. It's cruel to support divorce.
DIVORCE NEVER!
Roderick Cordina
Jun 5th 2010, 09:13
I am very sorry for you Mr Zammit of beleiving that the majority of people here are against divorce...you seem to be losing the battle and trying to convince yourself that you are winning...it is good to do so imma ta because like that you remain living in your own world....
As for the Curia and our PM...what is next to suggest? that sex before marriage should be illegal??....going back to the 60s
Steve Pace
Jun 5th 2010, 10:54
@ Joe Zammit - "Thank God, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are convinced that what we need is ONLY to strengthen marriages and families"
And to hell with all those who have had their marriage failed !
Strengthening families is the ultimate destination. How to do it is a difficult question to answer and requires a lot of preperation and study .
"To be valid every marriage must necessarily exclude divorce. "
I am not aware of many people who marry with the intention to divorce , are you ?
Divorce is not the solution just as killing a person is not the solution for his sickness. It's cruel to support divorce.
Comparing Euthansia with Divorce is a clear sign of either the lack of knowledge on the subject , or a misleading strategy to try to portray that all those working to legalize divorce are in favour of murder !
As to your statement that it is cruel to support divorce, i once again suspect that you have a very limited view and very little awarness of the reality .
Charles Sammut
Jun 4th 2010, 18:09
Who said the dinosaurs were extinct? They are alive and well in Catholic Malta.
How exactly do these people intend to stop births outside marriage when marriage in Malta is a one way street, if not a cul-de-sac? They will be asking for a stop to the importation of condoms next.
As for the prime minister wasting his time with them, I can only say, miskin, jahasra.
Zachary Stewart
Jun 4th 2010, 18:06
Sterling work indeed: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081212/local/high-rate-of-teenage-pregnancies
Perhaps Mr. Tufigno can explain just how it is that legal recognition of gay relationships will make Malta's already-high rate of teenage pregnancy even higher.
Dr Ing. Patrick Attard
Jun 4th 2010, 15:38
... and Lawyer Robert Tufigno said "Computer says No!" :-)
Godfrey Galea
Jun 4th 2010, 15:34
Discrimination at its best! "Detrimental to society"!!!!!!
Where is secularised Malta?????
Joe E Galea
Jun 4th 2010, 12:12
"Dr Gonzi praised the representatives of the Cana Movement for their sterling work preparing couples for marriage and guiding them through married life."...what a joke when everyone knows that the rate of broken marriages is increasing. Then one can clearly conclude that Cana is definitely not doing it's work correctly. Moreover, we don't need another bigot association which dictates against human rights to the goevrnment. they should keep their useless suggestions and preaches to their church.
Joe Zammit
Jun 4th 2010, 12:06
Par. 1640 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
"Thus the marriage bond has been established by God himself in such a way that a marriage concluded and consummated between baptized persons can never be dissolved. This bond, which results from the free human act of the spouses and their consummation of the marriage, is a reality, henceforth irrevocable, and gives rise to a covenant guaranteed by God's fidelity. The Church does not have the power to contravene this disposition of divine wisdom."
DIVORCE NEVER!
Maria Vella
Jun 4th 2010, 11:28
Being in a stable and loving relationship has always meant being married on this island. What about those couples who love each other, are faithful and decide to have children whom they love? Aren't these worthy of being called families. A family is not created by an institution or by signing of al legal document. It is about time that the state recognises those couples who have proved to be long standing couples. I am sure that there can be couples who are truly in love outside marriage. It is not a case of Love because you Marry.There exisits dedicated companionship with all the normal sacrificies a true loving couple goes through. I do not speak for myself I am lucky to have found my soul mate and married him ,(I grew up in different times!) but I pity those who decide to love outside marriage on this island they are not recognised,but judged. But then we are all Baptised Chritians aren't we?
Ramon Casha
Jun 4th 2010, 11:08
"Lawyer Robert Tufigno, on behalf of Cana, warned Dr Gonzi that the recognition of non-traditional relationships was "detrimental to society".
Just what we need. Another extremist far-right organisation.