How refreshing at last to read an article from an informed and intelligent young priest on the subject of Conscience, Authority and Divorce (Fr Charlo’ Camilleri’s Talking Point, August 27) to counter the blinkered, dog­matic and embarrassing views ex­pressed by the Pro-Vicar General, Monsignor Anton Gouder, as well as some lay extremists.

As the lead author of the report by The Today Public Policy Institute, For Worse, For Better: Re-marriage After Legal Separation, I must tell readers that several priests have approached me over the last year not only to tell me that the debate which our report has ignited is on the right lines, but also that they find the narrowly doctrinal and absolutist stance taken by the Maltese Church retrograde and unpalatable to them.

For fear that my praise of Fr Camilleri may undermine his position – and, one hopes, a glittering future career – let me emphasise that he is notalone.

My sincere wish, as I have said before, is that His Grace the Archbishop will now take a personal grip on the situation and stop focusing on the doctrinal arguments about divorce – which are well recognised and appreciated by all who have considered this issue – and engage constructively instead on how the Maltese Church can ensure a positive dialogue with the government (this is of course a matter for the State, not the Church) to introduce the best legislative process for the civil dissolution of marriage in Malta.

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