Divorce petition launched with 700 signatures
A website aimed at rousing support for divorce has attracted some 700 people to sign a petition.
Divorceinmalta.com was set up to provide information about why divorce should be legalised here, its founder, Jonathon Shaw said.
“On a personal level I believe the state should eventually legalise divorce. This website is a good tool to disseminate such information and to measure the direct response through an online petition.”
The website highlights the need for the state to introduce divorce legislation and allow people who are legally separated to re-marry after the civil dissolution of their marriage.
“It is obvious that different people will have different views on the matter but I don’t see why people should be against the introduction of divorce if it does not affect them personally. The fact that someone is pro-divorce does not mean they are unhappy in their relationship or that they will have to get a divorce.”
Asked if a referendum should be held about divorce, Mr Shaw said this would not be a democratic way to tackle the issue because the matter affected a minority.
“The eventual legislation of divorce means that this will not be imposed on anyone... A referendum is held when there is a national issue which affects the majority and one is directly or indirectly affected by the outcome. Should we then have a referendum on whether petards should be banned? They are a nuisance, generate noise pollution and, whether you like it or not, are literally imposed on us!”
Mr Shaw believes the divorce debate should be targeted at legislators in Parliament and the government, both of which have the ultimate responsibility for the state and the well-being of Maltese society.
“Neither party should fall into the trap of politicising divorce but should work together to make a positive change by allowing for much-needed freedom of choice on this issue.”
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
21 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Alex Ciantar
Sep 9th 2010, 20:12
Mr Paul Barrett. your arguments are so good you leave nothing for me to add you hit the nail on the head each and every time...... Prosit!
A. Borg
Sep 9th 2010, 06:04
Bid-divorzju jew le xorta n-nies jinfirdu u jpoggu qeghdin allura ejjew nirregolarizaw is-sitwazzjoni. Meta tara li kull pajjiz tad-dinja hemm il-ligi tad-divorzju ifisser li huma aggornaw u ahna le. Min ihoss li m'ghandux juzgha din il-ligi jekk jigi bzonnha dak affarih imma m'ghandux jimponi fuq haddiehor.
luciano busuttil
Sep 8th 2010, 19:44
@ all especially those against divorce.
divorce is a CHOICE. if you are catholic do not opt to divorce if your arriage goes bonkers. but those who are not catholics or do not care about catholic teachings have a right to be free to CHOOSE to get it. and no one can or has the right to deny this right of others.
Raymond Bezzina
Sep 8th 2010, 18:00
@ ALL
One of the many dangers of divorce is that, besides being evil in itself, it would
be subjecting children to unnecessary risks by a spouse who is not their biological
parent. Moreover, it would complicate matters beyond explanation if the new spouse
would have children of his / her own. Can anyone imagine the problems which would
arise for these children living in the same household, with all their different upbringing
and different mentalities; and problems will continue to mount beyond imagination when
one spouse divorces more than once.
Children would have already suffered beyond their capability by their parents' separation,
and subjecting them to situations where the risk of abuse rises sharply, (i.e. by divorce )
would not be a sensible decision.
All politicians must realize that divorce does not address the problem of cohabitation;
divorce only makes a bad situation worse.
Divorce is not good for the family; it is not good for society, therefore it should not be
legalized.
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 8th 2010, 18:43
I tend to agree with your comment here, Mr. Raymond Bezzina. There are indeed much deeper issues beyond the surface of this subject matter. I say," Tackle the spider and not the webs". Supportive structures within society can lend a helping hand in marriages which are in distress. Furthermore, pre-marital preparation and consolidation is a very effective ingredient to a much more stable family life. The family forms the basic unit of any civilised, dignified and democratic society and needs protection, very good effective protection indeed and people need to understand this somehow.
I am sorry for the hardship of failed marriages but I am also happy for those who have succeeded. No selfishness is meant here, none whatsoever, but I cannot negate the good for the bad.
All the best.
Paul Barrett
Sep 8th 2010, 21:22
That I am afraid is a very weak argument. All the factors you mention against divorce are equally relevant to or in actual fact far worse in co-habitation. With divorce and thus the choice to re-marry, the new born is not at a disadvantage of being born out of wedlock. A civil marriage gives both social stability and legal recognition to the couple.
A none biological spouse is no more likely to abuse a child than a biological spouse. Following separation, divorce and re-marriage does not increase or decrease the problem any more than co-habitation.
Children are all different and even children by the same parents often have difficulty in getting on together so what is different about step-brothers and step-sisters.
What damages children is being used as weapons between waring parents. Being brought up in an atmosphere of love and mutual respect - be it a first or second marriage is far better for all concerned.
Marriage is good for society. Preventing legally separated couples a certificate of divorce and the chance to re-marry if they wish to, is not good for society.
victor pulis
Sep 9th 2010, 10:31
It may come as somewhat of a surprise to you Mr. Bezzina but all the dangers you mentioned are already present in Malta. Children of ANNULLED couples (not divorced) are facing hardships of the kind you mentioned I suppose. Cohabiting couples with children from both partners from their respective marriages do exist, Children abused by their own biological parents are a fact. There also exist remarried couples who love the children of their new partner as if they were their own. These parents do exist in the real world. And this with no divorce yet.
Joe Zammit
Sep 8th 2010, 17:02
Marriage is for life. So, there is never a dead marriage. Marriage is still there and remains valid for ever. If the spouses do not live up to their marriage, the marriage cannot be blamed. Only the spouses or one of them is to be blamed. Divorce blames marriage unjustly.
A single person who knowingly enters into a cohabitating relationship with a married person should only blame themselves. They know that marriage is for ever, so creating a cohabitation with a married person and asking for divorce on account of that married person is diabolical in every respect.
Paul Barrett
Sep 8th 2010, 20:54
At last, a decent point of view all be it a rather heartless one. You would rather end up with an Island full of co-habiting couples and children born out of wedlock than a legally recognised family unit.
A lack of compassion and understanding of real life problems will not solve the current social mess that is increasing year on year.
victor pulis
Sep 9th 2010, 10:43
the marriage cannot be blamed. Only the spouses OR ONE OF THEM is to be blamed.
And what are you proposing for the blameless victim? Carry the cross, live a life of loneliness, unloved and unloving and when you die you will go to heaven...That only applies to catholics by the way as all others, even if they lead a good life are destined for hell.
Reminder; Deuteronomy 21:14 to 21
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 8th 2010, 16:09
There are countless arguments in favour of divorce just as much as there are countless ones against. People have every right to their own opinion, whatever that might be, in favour or not. I seek the pre-marital stand here as I do believe in PREVENTION other then CURE. Divorce is a terminating action of a binding relationship which for some reason has failed. There are specific cases which are very sensitive and complex, most especially when off springs are concerned. As a fellow human being who treasures and values human emotion, I genuinely feel very sorry for these instances. I have considered some very significant social issues pertaining to this option and my decision stands for the pre-marital solution and not the post marital one.
Marriage is a commitment on both parts, its not an adjustment according to circumstances. The availability of divorce will effectively reduce this commitment in people's minds. It's a different ball game altogether, if I may use such description.
I am against divorce, whether its on Malta, but pretty much so, anywhere else really.
Paul Barrett
Sep 9th 2010, 00:26
I see and understand your reasoning however there is only so much you can do to prepare a couple for marriage - a bit of advice and then butt out of their lives. Only two people can make a marriage work and that is the couple themselves.
Thankfully, most marriages seem to survive although the pressure from modern day demands on finances and over expectation of a smooth trouble free marriage seem to be greater then ever.
The none availability of divorce will not prevent a couple opting for annulment or legal separation when the marriage becomes unsustainable. Divorce following legal separation will however allow the ever increasing number of those individuals that are currently stuck in a co-habitation or limbo role to obtain a civil marriage and form a legally recognised family unit should they so wish to.
It is agreed that marriage is good for society - to prevent co-habiting couples from getting married is not good for society.
p.s. Marriage, to work, is a matter of constant adjustment. Being locked in a loveless, uncaring relationship with no way out is not conducive to a happy relationship or making a marriage work, however-good it may look from outside.
Mark Zerafa
Sep 8th 2010, 15:15
Ara, Sur Joe. Inti aghmel li trid. U lili tindahallix fil-hajja privata tieghi. X'naghmel jien mhix bicca tieghek. Hallini niddevorzja jekk irrid. X'inhu affarik? X'tindahal? Hajti tieghi u nghixha kif nahseb li hu l-ahjar ghalija JIEN. Jien ma nemminx bil-hmerijiet li temmen bihom int.
Joe Zammit
Sep 8th 2010, 10:05
Continue to deceive yourselves!
Divorce is an illusion.
Divorce and remarriage is a greater illusion.
Divorce and remarriage for infinitum is the greatest illusion.
There is absolutely no reason for the introduction of divorce. Divorce is evil and to the detriment of all people. Any reasoning given in favour of divorce is flawed, groundless and unconvincing.
Paul Barrett
Sep 8th 2010, 11:09
Any reasoning given AGAINST divorce is flawed, groundless and unconvincing.
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 8th 2010, 12:51
Likewise, any reasoning FOR divorce is flawed, groundless and unconvincing. On the other hand, pre-marital preparation is truely intellectual, truely developmental and truely progressive, in the most absolute of all manners.
Paul micallef
Sep 8th 2010, 14:49
Why must we complicate everything, why is devorce evil?????? people change,we all do, should we remain married if there if no LOVE, should we not try to find happyness?? The church is only afraid of divorce due to the fact that once introduced they will have to re-write the books.
We are not locked in the past any more, the church scared my for-fathers with everything, now a days its up to the individual, what we do with our souls, when we die let God sort us out.
Sometimes i think that the man in the sky is a great big BULLY, he hasent given us any weapons, to fight with, but he has given us a brain to think with, once we are here, we decide our faith, and if someone wants to scare us, so be it, i am not afraid of the babbaw, but i am here to live my life the best i deem fit, and if SANT PAUL did all those mistakes and was forgiven i hope that my sins will be forgiven.
Nick Hunter
Sep 8th 2010, 14:57
Mr Zammit
You are truly the best example of why divorce is needed. If I were married to you with your "Head in the sand" attitude, I would move mountains to get a divorce!
If you are not forced to get a divorce and if it is only with mutual consent under time controlled guidelines, what possible objection can you have except that you wish to deny people who agree on it what they have already decided on?
You claim to be a Christian but it seems you don't understand the first thing about Christian values. Does the phrase "Live and let live" mean anything to you? Apparently not.
Maybe one day you'll wake up and realise that the time of blind obediance to nonsensical values is well and truly over.
victor caruana
Sep 8th 2010, 15:14
Are you married or have you ever been married joe zammit?
At least we would learn whether you know what you are talking about.
ray sacco
Sep 8th 2010, 18:55
"divorce and remarriage is an illusion"
but annulment and remarriage is not! annulment means that a marriage becomes not valid, as if never took place, never existed, never consummated!!!!!!! and this you do not call illusion mr zammit?
illusion means fantasy, false impression, deception.................all these are a perfect description for annulment. divorce is a declaration which states that a marriage DID take place, no deception, no false impressions, no illusion!
illusion only dwells in the minds of brain washed dismal individuals who do not tollerate diverse beliefs around them!
david debattista
Sep 8th 2010, 19:34
Joe Zammit , why is it that you took it on yourself to tell our politicians how they must vote and told good and beautiful people at heart, that they are evil if they agree to divorce, but when a number of people asked you questions about yourself you never replied. Are you a coward or do you have something to hide. Do you think God wants his children to be abused, innocent man, women, and above all children because they cannot coexist since their is no love. What kind of a Nut do you think God is ! God is not your obsessive attitude towards divorce. Are you married, do you have children! do you understand the meaning of a mother loving her children. Have you ever considered the effect on the child when he/she is already rejected while still in the mothers womb. We all know that the answer is no because obsessive people like you never get the whole picture Joe. You are too busy playing God and telling the rest of humanity that they must see life on your terms or else they are evil . Take a holiday Joe.