Almost 15,000 people not living with spouse
15% at risk of poverty
As many as 14,600 married people in Malta are either legally separated or not living with their spouse, according to the latest Survey on Living and Income Conditions.
This makes up more than seven per cent of married couples, which, according to the survey, amount to about 199,780 people.
The study, carried out in 2008, shows that 3,630 of these were married and not legally separated but did not live with their spouse, while 11,040 were listed as being legally separated, with a small number of them being divorced.
The gender balance here is slanted slightly on the female side, with 55.6 per cent of separated individuals being women.
But beyond the situation with married couples, the survey also pointed out that 3,260 people were cohabiting with someone who was not their spouse. Here, however, the sample was under-representative according to the National Statistics Office, which released the figures, and an accurate figure could not be established.
The numbers come in the light of a debate on divorce after, on July 6, Nationalist backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando presented a Private Member’s Bill for the introduction of divorce in Malta.
The survey also collected data on income, poverty, social exclusion and living conditions in line with EU requirements.
It showed that 60 per cent of households did not have dependent children and two people formed the most widespread household composition.
The survey lists the total household gross income at €3.3 billion, with an average of €23,125 per household, while the average disposable income was estimated to be €29,363. However, 23 per cent of households had a disposable income of between €5,001 and €10,000 and four per cent had a disposable income of €5,000 or less.
People who owned their house on average had a disposable income of €20,863, markedly more than the €14,500 average for people in rented or free accommodation.
While the most common type of main dwelling had five rooms (29 per cent), over three fourths of dwellings had five or more rooms.
The average monthly spend on housing costs in 2008 was estimated to be €139 per household, which includes interest payments on mortgage, electricity, gas, house insurance, maintenance and rent.
In general, these were correspondent to income levels. While households with a disposable income of €10,000 or less paid €88 per month, those with a disposable income exceeding €35,000 paid €204 per month.
Just over half of the households considered housing costs to be a burden, 28 per cent found them to be a heavy burden and 19 per cent did not consider them to be a burden.
The report indicated that 15 per cent of the population were estimated to be at risk of poverty. That said, however, almost all households had a telephone, a colour television set and a washing machine. About 10 per cent of the 37 per cent who do not have a computer said they could not afford one.
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Joe Brincat
Jul 23rd 2010, 14:00
@Joe Zammit. "Statistics are statistics". If you eat a whole chicken, and I eat none, statistically right, we eat half each. Completely wrong factually, as I am a vegetarian. Yes I do agree that possibly marriage break-ups should be fewer. Separation, annulment, divorce, estrangement are all traumas. I you care to look up the lists of cases in the Family Court, you will be surprised to find that 70% of plaintiffs are women. Why ? ( I know some answers and how society has shifted since I started my profession). I am intrigued by a comment of a lady who raises certain important questions in another column. She goes to the root of problems, and asks why is this happening ? As we stand we have Divorzio alla maltese. Separation followed by a socially tolerated relationship. And this in all strata of society. Gone are the days when in such cases cohabiting couples moved to a particular area of Malta.
A. Alamander
Jul 23rd 2010, 09:20
Is not it hypocracy to say that separation is OK, while divorce would be a sin?
In the end it is the same thing!!!!!
Divorce gives people the right to move on, divorced people can marry someone that they fit better with, or live happily as singles.
We are not Ubermench/ Supermen, we make mistakes! If God does not allow us to make our mistakes but forces us to continue to live with the couses of that mistake all our life with no possibillity to get out, then God is not very forgiving!!!!!
Instead of holding on, and fighting over the right of divorce, Malta should create laws that promote not only the traditional family but also the single people(With children).
New laws and new policies to promote the best interests of children, women's rights in society, in a more demokratic and modern manner.
And Yes, Mr.: Zammit perhaps some of the couples wants to re-unite, and guess what................In a democratic society they can do so even if they are divorced....... really.....they could even get re-married.........................your arguments are weak.................................
Joe Brincat
Jul 23rd 2010, 09:13
Simply I do not believe these family statistics. The figure is much much higher. If 150 new cases (out of 192 filed in the family court) are for separation or annulment, in the first six months of this year, not counting the number of consensual separations, (bonarji) and not counting the de facto separations, one easily comes to a different conclusion. People go to court generally if they cannot agree about property or the children. Many simply agree. Others do not bother, at times with consequences. I remember the case of a husband who was denying paternity in a number of births to his wife. The Judge had to ask him about the date when he got to know. "It was from the Social Security Department. I applied for the allowance of a child I had by another woman. I was told that I was registered as the father of children of my wife by another man." Just look around you at the place of work or circle of friends. The 7% is a figment.
Joe Zammit
Jul 23rd 2010, 09:40
Joe, statistics are statistics! I hope you wish that the number of separated couples were fewer! Most of those separated do not want divorce. In courts normally enter those where one of them does not want the separation.
C Callus
Jul 23rd 2010, 14:58
Mr Joe Zammit: "Most of those separated do not want divorce. In courts normally enter those where one of them does not want the separation"
I heard it differently; that they to court because they cannot agree on how to split the assets and custody of children. and not because one of the party does not want separation. And I think that my source of information is rather more realistic...
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 23rd 2010, 01:06
Someone said on this thread: " A surrealist continues to insist that marriages are indissoluble"; one can counter this by stating that "materialists believe that all human experiences are soluble, until the 'great pop' when they realise there is no further possibility of deluding themselves." Just a thought.
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 23rd 2010, 01:02
Everyone has the right to live life the way they should.. unless this freedom harms anything or anyone... but in this case i don't see the acceptance of divorce as harming anyone....actually it will be for the better of our society :)... please anyone... show me what's so wrong and immoral in having a happier life?
Joe Zammit
Jul 23rd 2010, 09:15
Jeremy, the family is the basic cell of society. If this cell is weak, society, not only the individual involved, becomes weak. Marriage is the foundation stone of families. Strong marriages make strong societies. Divorce is evil and has a social effect on the whole of society. It opens the way for more divorces. That's why divorce is rightly called a PLAGUE.
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 23rd 2010, 11:42
I never said i do encourage family breakups... BUT .... What if some marriages instead of breaking up end up transforming the idea of a proper family into hell....cases I've seen myself which end up into child abuse, beating and domestic violence... all this because no opportunity is given for a new beginning... well then I'm not wondering why there are such a huge number of cohabiting couples. What I'm saying is that maybe with divorce introduced in this country... a vast number of children might have a more normal childhood. Personally I see no immorality in choosing the wrong person to marry with..i mean don't we all make mistakes? Then with this law introduced in Malta we would have the chance of arranging this problem and mistake.. instead of making it bigger.
C. Weitze
Jul 22nd 2010, 21:14
Christ, dear Mr. Joe Zammit, was a humble man.
He was generous, loving, open minded, caring AND forgiving.
He used love and understanding as his most powerful tools to drive messages home.
He NEVER demanded, forced or threatened and he certainly never pointed fingers at others!
'Those, who are without sin should throw the first stone' was one of his famous sentences, am I right Mr. Zammit?!?
You have been filling the Times with unforgiving intolerance, with closed minded threats and have the cheek to say that you are doing all this for the good of the people and in the name of the church?!?
Or is all that writing simply a while-away time for you that keeps your mind occupied not having to think about your own problems?
Do you seriously think that you will get an angelic Oscar for your performance?
Nobody is perfect Mr. Zammit and everybody deserves a second chance.
If that means to introduce divorce to give thousands of already existing "limbo families" the chance to legalize their status as a family, then a lot of good would be done.
It is by far better than your suggestion of forcing couples to live a lie.
Joe Zammit
Jul 23rd 2010, 09:09
Mr Weitze, no second chance in marriage. Once marriage is valid, it is valid FOR EVER. 'For ever' means NO DIVORCE! Christ warned all of us never to resort to divorce. Divorce is evil. Whoever promotes divorce is separating himself or herself from God and is on the way to hell. To the five foolish virgins when they knocked at the door to enter heaven, Christ told them: Depart from me you who do evil! Thus is Christ: he will tell all those who want divorce: Depart from me you who do evil! DIVORCE NEVER!
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 17:11
The European Convention on Human Rights is reticent on divorce, so divorce is no right. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is mum on divorce, so divorce is no right.
Therefore, any argument depicting divorce as a right in view of introducing it in our legislation is flawed right at the start.
No MP can vote in favour of divorce without sinning seriously against God. Christ tells all our MPs that what God has joined together let no MP put asunder. Any MP who votes for divorce is betraying Christ.
DIVORCE NEVER!
D. A . Agius
Jul 22nd 2010, 17:41
Mr. Zammit, can you kindly go and shout your slogans somewhere else?
Ok, we get it , you're one of those Catholic fanatics.
The issue is the simplest possible:
Catholic church take care of your members and make sure they walk your line in their relationships (no matter whether their marriage is unhappy or not, just be ever so kind to walk up the altar together, attend mass together etc..)
The rest of society which does not want to be preached at by the church, nor does it follow its teaching, and for all I care they can be Muslims, hindus, atheists, sun worshippers, sea worshippers etc, mayhave a religion which recognizes divorce.
The spirit of tolerance of this so righteous Church should immediately follow that they have their own beliefs and should be able to follow their beliefs according to their beliefs.
We know what you think, you can now shut up. Thank You
victor pulis
Jul 22nd 2010, 19:40
Joe you could at least have the decency to post new arguments. You're going round in circles and cutting and pasting your comments. Will you please answer my questions which I have been asking you?
1.Where is annullment mentioned in the gospels?
2. Are children affected by annullment?
The European Convention of Human Rights mentions something about the vreedom of religion. believi ti or not there are millions who do not believe in your religion and couldn't care less what is written in the bible. These people have a right to go to hell if they so wish. Who are you to deny them?
The timeof the inquisition is over Joe. it has been for these last two hundred years at least but you haven't noticed. You were busy reciting your mantras!
J. J. Borg
Jul 22nd 2010, 20:36
Hear, hear.
A Calleja
Jul 22nd 2010, 21:01
joe - stop quoting the bible and people might start taking you seriously. if u ever want to try winning this argument stop thinking like a fundamentalist and LISTEN to what people going through this have to say.
scaremongering was a tactic used in the dark ages when people were outright dumb and believed in the supernatural. a catholic voting for divorce is no sin.. it is a sign of maturity and respect to 7% of your compatriots.
Anton Portelli
Jul 23rd 2010, 10:01
Joe please stop preaching and threatening our MPs with sin - the sixties have long time passed. Or is your church still in the times of the inquisition.
The European Convention on Human Rights is reticent on divorce, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is mum on divorce, not because Divorce is not a right but because the right of Divorce is given to all citizens of all the world except the Maltese citizens (who are living in Malta) and to the citizens of the Philippines.
Please once more stop imposing your religion on others and let our MPs decide on this civil thing without invoking any religious threats of sin as had been done in the sixties.
Peter Vella
Jul 22nd 2010, 16:27
This shows how weak the slogan of strong families is when using it to argue against the introduction of divorce!
It is obvious that by not introducing divorce this number will not decrease, and will not even stop from increasing. Divorce will legalise the situaiton for these people and take away some of the heartache and uncertainty that these people are living in.
Divorce is a civil right and we cannot continue denying it either on religious grounds (we are not a theocracy) nor by using the argument of the "common good".
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 15:52
Victor, we have had many cases of separated couples who have reunited. Even the law itself, both Civil and Ecclesiastical, makes it so easy for them to reunite. To separate they have to enter court and take quite some time to settle things, to reunite is JUST THEY GO AND LIVE TOGETHER AGAIN. That same second that enter the house together are reunited.
(Of course, they can separate in a friendly way as well through a contract before a notary public. We call it in legal jargon: bonarjament).
Separation leaves the door open for reunion; divorce is the last nail in their marriage coffin.
DIVORCE NEVER and never for the good of all people, including for those who are separated!
victor pulis
Jul 22nd 2010, 19:49
We also have many cases of couples whose marriage is irrevaocably lost. If by your reasoning these are a minority why all the panic? That means that they, and then not all of them will resort to divorce. Therefore divorce will not have that great an impact on the county. It's like saying some people are cured of cancer so let's close down the oncology department.
John Carmel Navarro
Jul 22nd 2010, 15:48
@Joe Zammit yet again you manage to enlighten us with you wit and wisdom, statistics are just a guide line and always open to interpretation. The real harsh fact is that many people are in limbo and cannot move forward with their lives. I honestly hope that you Joe get some recognition from the Curia for your sterling work over the last few days. Unfortunately you just cannot see the wood for the trees.
joe tanti
Jul 22nd 2010, 15:10
I'd say another 10,000 are either unhappily married and want out. I'm not going to even bother trying to count the numerous couples having affairs with other married people.
Joseph Calleja
Jul 22nd 2010, 14:44
" The gender balance here is slanted slightly on the female side, with 55.6 per cent of separated individuals being women." The gender balance should be 50/50. The separation is between a man and a woman, so where did the .6 per cent of separated individuals being women." come from. Explain please? Il-borma qieghda tali u l-istanjata qieghda tfur. Something does not up here.
Emanuel Cilia Debono
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:49
The survey produced some interesting results .
(1) 14,600 married but separated individuals and 3,260 cohabiting individuals (underestimated) out of a total 199,780 persons sampled. This is a minority but, even so, it is worrying as it clearly shows that something is wrong with family stability;
(2) ' 60 per cent of households did not have dependent children and two people formed the most widespread household composition'. This shows that family size has fallen to very low levels and that our population is aging rapidly.
(3) 15% at risk of poverty . One may define 'poverty' here as living below the average standard of means of the population. The result may not necessarily imply that so many people are living on the verge of destitution, but the situation is nevertheless disturbing and calls for remedies.
The situation needs to be urgently addressed .
joe gatt
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:44
All those who think that divorce needs to be introduced.... is what I wrote.
I respect your opinion, and happy for you if happily married in a stable relationship.
True, not all the 15,000 voters with failed marraiges may need or want divorce, but not all marraiges are so strong either, of these, a number would sue for divorce, when the time comes.
Joe it is still a numbers game, and quantity matters. Look at the Hunters Lobby, they had lots of promises because there are quite a few of them.
The only way forward for those who need a way out, is a third party.
People in such state of affairs with their vote, will tip the balance.
Malta`s last elections were close, the number were relatively high, but the majotity had their day. In this case, with some tacct, a minority may win. I am afraid realistcly that is what happens in life.
Joe you have to understand that all that is required is cash, with money a couple in trouble could live abroad for a while, divorce and come back home, that is all.
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:26
Victor, we have had many cases of separated couples who have reunited. Even the law itself, both Civil and Ecclesiastical, makes it so easy for them to reunite. To separate they have to enter court and take quite some time to settle things, to reunite is JUST THEY GO AND LIVE TOGETHER AGAIN. That same second that enter the house together are reunited.
(Of course, they can separate in a friendly way as well through a contract before a notary public. We call it in legal jargon: bonarjament).
Separation leaves the door open for reunion; divorce is the last nail in their marriage coffin.
DIVORCE NEVER and never for the good of all people, including for those who are separated!
Karl Consiglio
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:23
See in its own way divorce already exists as a living fact, its just not on paper yet.
victor pulis
Jul 22nd 2010, 12:56
@Joe Zammit
'many of these do not want divorce. Many of these can unite together again! Divorce is no right at all. To marry for ever excluding divorce is the right!'
So Joe please enlighten us as to how you came to the conclusion that many of these can unite again. Did you meet and talk to them? Did you manage to reconcile them with your 'reasoning'? In all your correspondence you never ever gave one solution to their problem all you do is repeat the same mantra found in the gospel. These people want a solution to their problem. Finally, out of those 93% I assure you there are many couples living in the same house but they're not living 'together'.
Anton Portelli
Jul 22nd 2010, 12:54
So according to the holy Mr Zammit the 7% separated should see no mercy and should be totaly ignored because they are a minority..................that is a real example of
ROMAN CATHOLIC KINDNESS, TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING AT ITS BEST
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:17
Anton, what mercy are you expecting? I hope it's not divorce because divorce is a great injustice to one and all, even to those suffering from marriage breakdown. That's why, not Joe Zammit, but Christ told you, Anton, and me and everyone never to resort to divorce because divorce is evil and so it is detrimental to all people. DIVORCE NEVER!
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 15:53
Anton, what mercy are you expecting? I hope it's not divorce because divorce is a great injustice to one and all, even to those suffering from marriage breakdown. That's why, not Joe Zammit, but Christ told you, Anton, and me and everyone never to resort to divorce because divorce is evil and so it is detrimental to all people. DIVORCE NEVER!
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 12:45
A pessimist looks at a glass half empty. An optimist looks at a glass half full.
A pessimist looks at the 7% of separated couples. An optimist looks at the 93% of steady marriages.
A realist looks at both sides: Strengthening marriages and families looks at both the 93% and at the 7%.
DIVORCE NEVER!
victor pulis
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:05
Out of a world population of more than 6 billion only around 1 billion is Catholic. Does that make you an optimitist or a pessimist?
wally vella-zarb
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:28
"A realist looks at both sides:"
An HONEST realist, on the other hand, looks at both sides and accepts that, in many cases, the failed marriages are irrevocably so. Keeping both feet on the ground the honest realist then proceeds to provide them with a legal framework wherein - if THEY want to - they can start married life afresh.
The HONEST realist would realise that repeating the mantra "DIVORCE - NEVER" at separated couples, hoping that the problem will go away, does not impress or convince anyone, especially not those who are unfortunate enough to have marital problems. Repeating such mantras ad nauseam only succeeds in conjuring up visions of hypocritical fundamentalists who are insensitive to the very real problems that are to be seen all around them, if only they would pull their heads out of the sand.
Ramon Casha
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:33
A pessimist tells them that it's too late now, they're married so they have to grin and bear it and continue to put up with the beatings/cheating etc, or live alone for the rest of their lives.
An optimist tells them that they can get a divorce, try to settle things amicably and move on with their lives, and hope they find happiness.
A surrealist continues to insist that marriages are indissoluble.
martin saliba
Jul 22nd 2010, 15:17
When the time comes , which is sooner and not later , you are going to be very disappointed.
Divorce WILL be introduced in Malta. Its not a matter of if but when.
H Dalli
Jul 22nd 2010, 15:55
Do you really believe that the 93% of marriages are still going strong and doing well? I wonder where exactly do you live Mr Zammit, as in my country, that is Malta, I have met many who remain married because of the children, but otherwise can't stand to see the sight of their spouse; others who play happy families but cheat on the husband/wife repeatedly ......no need to go on I guess. I just hope that people with your mentality are a minority in this country!
Anton Portelli
Jul 22nd 2010, 23:50
Of course I am expecting divorce legislation to be enacted, Mr Zammit. You said that there are a number of couples that had been separated and had reunited.That is good , but this is not always the case - there are others who found a new partner with whom they are living a happy peaceful life but cannot get married because here in holy Malta we do not have divorce although we preach democracy equality and tolerance. It is time to give these individuals a chance to start a new decent life without any problems or worries. That is the reason why I like many others voted YES for the EU, to have all the rights of other EU citizens and of the well off Maltese who can afford to go abroad and get divorced and then return and can remarry.
Joseph Cauchi
Jul 22nd 2010, 12:10
“The gender balance here is slanted slightly on the female side, with 55.6 per cent of separated individuals being women”.
The above statement is intriguing!
Do we now have same-(female) sex marriage in Malta, of which I am not aware of?
Shouldn’t the percentages be even?
JC.
Julian Borg
Jul 22nd 2010, 16:31
Hehe, yes...that caught my attention too. The most likely explanation is that the husbands would have passed away, or went to live abroad. Or it's just due to the error margin in the statistics.
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 21:06
Julian, when one of the spouses passes away, the surviving spouse is not separated any more. At the death of one of the spouses, marriage is automatically dissolved.
Kenneth Gauci
Jul 22nd 2010, 12:03
"The gender balance here is slanted slightly on the female side, with 55.6 per cent of separated individuals being women."
Can someone explain the above statement?
How can couples (presumably composed of a man and a woman) when they become seperated individulas, become uneven?
Are we also implying now that we have seperated same sex couples?
Ramon Casha
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:31
Presumably some of them got divorced abroad and remarried, while their partner did not remarry.
H Dempster
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:46
With this amount , the government should be happy since he can make double business by double taxing, double electricity bills, double waer bills ,double gas bills, and double tax on all things like rents, cable tv , double car licenses, double petrol etc.
Miguel Micallef
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:32
I wonder how they can still keep chanting "98% of the maltese are roman catholic!" in light of all this.
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 12:19
Miguel, of course they are Catholics. These are just separated. Separation is possible in the Catholic Church. Divorce is not possible because Christ is against divorce for our own good. Many of these are against divorce. DIVORCE NEVER!
Miguel Micallef
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:14
Joe, grow up. Do you think that these people will not divorce once it becomes legal in a few years time? Technically, these people will not be catholics. To be a catholic, you have to follow the rules. It's very immature to publicly state you are catholic, then in your private life you do otherwise. How many people swear regularly? Use condoms? Will divorce once it's available (or are already doing so abroad). These people surely can call themselves wahtever they like, but I know they ain't catholics. And of course I have no problem with that. But when someone says 98% of malta is catholic, then I do have a problem - because that's an outright lie, and everyone in here knows it.
Ramon Casha
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:28
I don't think it's anywhere near 98%, but not all Catholics agree with everything their church says.
Do you think that all the condoms available at pharmacies and supermarkets are only bought by non-Catholics?
Lina Caruana
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:26
15,000 proofs that 15000 people are unhappy and are seeking new ways to be happy. Will they find it? Suspense.....! Will the drama end ..and they lived happily ever after ? Will the Prince reach his princess in time? Read on......
KJ Tabone
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:08
"The average monthly spend on housing costs in 2008 was estimated to be €139 per household"
Seriously?! And people complain about being poor?! That's peanuts compared to my running costs, and I don't even have a high electricity bill, or children, for that matter. I'd love to have a mortgage that low! I probably spend that amount on monthly groceries alone. Wow.
Kevin Cassar
Jul 23rd 2010, 10:37
I pay around € 400 a month on my houseloan only, so I am baffled when I see that the figure of € 139 includes bills for mortgage, electricity, gas, house insurance, maintenance and rent.
I must be living in the wrong dimension!!!
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:02
In the statistics something is not clear enough:
There are 14,600 who are either legally separated or separated 'de facto'.
There are 3,630 who are separated 'de facto'. So
there are 10,970 separated legally.
This study continues to prove more and more the need for strengthening marriages and families and never to resort to divorce.
wally vella-zarb
Jul 22nd 2010, 12:26
If anything, this survey shows the crying need that there is for legislation to introduce divorce and to regulate cohabitation.
Now, please, do us all a favour and DON'T cut and paste your usual mantras about god, divorce, church, evil etc. Not everyone on these islands cares about what your god, your church and, even less, what you yourself have to say on the matter. Like everyone else you are entitled merely to your personal opinion - even though it is manifestly apparent that, rather than forming your own you seem to prefer quoting the opinion of others.
Evarist Saliba
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:01
This press report speaks of couples and people in away which is not quite clear. When a married couple separate that will involve two people, even if one of these did not want the break-up to take place.
Is the survey itself clearer on this point?
Dr. Geoffrey Schembri Adami Med. vet
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:01
"Parents have the vocation to make their entire family life a testimony of all the Christian virtues.They are called to sanctify themselves&to sanctify their children who have been entrusted to them by God for their Christian formation&upbringing,first&formost through their example,which has to be a testimony of faithfulness to God's Commandments&the teachings of Christ&His Church.They are called to be apostles of Christ in their family,with their children.Mothers&fathers have the unique power,through their words&especially with their example,to develop their children into true authentic Christians who love&serve God faithfully,or‘demons’distant from the Lord&indifferent to Him&to His Commandments&teachings.They are the first persons,before anyone else,responsible for the education of their children,both human&spiritual matters.Parents,keep in mind the following words of Christ:“If anyone should be a scandal&a cause for a child to lose his faith in Me&My Word,it would be better for that person to have a millstone tied round his neck&be drowned in the deep sea.”Parents who with their way of life are a cause of scandal for their own children have to answer for this before God Himself.They cause irreversible damage to the souls of their own children.And harm to the soul is even worse than physical harm to the body!”SAINT JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA.
victor pulis
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:02
If anyone should be a scandal&a cause for a child to lose his faith in Me&My Word,it would be better for that person to have a millstone tied round his neck&be drowned in the deep sea.”Parents who with their way of life are a cause of scandal for their own children have to answer for this before God Himself.They cause irreversible damage to the souls of their own children.And harm to the soul is even worse than physical harm to the body!”SAINT JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA.
If this rebuke was taken up we'd see a lot of cassocks floating around in the sea!
joe gatt
Jul 22nd 2010, 10:56
15,000 votes!! lots of muscle here... All those who think that divorce needs to be introduced now, stand up and be counted, and at election time.
Candidates who deny you your basic human right (to exit hell) VOTE THEM OUT.
It is time for a third party in Parliament
United we will stand.
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:10
Joe, many of these do not want divorce. Many of these can unite together again! Divorce is no right at all. To marry for ever excluding divorce is the right!
Ramon Casha
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:29
Don't forget their friends and family - all those who have seen their suffering and want to help out.
Ramon Casha
Jul 22nd 2010, 10:42
15,000 proofs that marriage is not indissoluble.
Joe Zammit
Jul 22nd 2010, 11:13
Ramon, you specialize in illogical conclusions!
Ramon Casha
Jul 22nd 2010, 13:24
@Joe Zammit: Not at all. The church insists that marriage is indissoluble. It's pretty clear that for most of these 15,000 people, their marriage dissolved and evaporated. Ergo, marriage is not indissoluble.
Please choose the reason of your report below: