It is deplorable, to say the least, that the divorce debate is steadily becoming an emotionally aggressive crusade making it difficult for the average citizen to make up his/her mind with the required serenity.

Anticipating the result of the forthcoming referendum, the pro-divorce movement chairman, Deborah Schembri, is already implying that the result will impose a “big moral weight” on legislators who represent the people and would be going against their mandate if they ignored the result.

The forthcoming referendum is consultative. Consultation is one thing. Legislating on divorce is quite another. The forthcoming referendum would have been mandatory if it were a binding referendum, in which case the issue would not have to be referred to debate and a further vote in Parliament.

In the prevailing circumstances, the referendum result may precipitate legislation dealing with a topic that encroaches on sensitive moral territory relating to the institution of marriage, and on an issue of conscience which is fundamental. No member of Parliament had an electoral mandate to take this sort of initiative, involving divorce legislation, in the House. I, for one, reserved the right of dissent on grounds of conscience and I stand firmly, if respectfully, on my ground as is my constitutional right.

In all the five elections I have contested since 1992 under the banner of the Malta Labour Party, divorce legislation was never on the cards in so far as party policy is concerned. During the recent parliamentary debate on the referendum issue and the ongoing referendum campaign Labour MPs have had a “free vote”.

I am comforted by the fact that I have not been “contaminated” by divorcist talk, nor have I been intimidated by divorcist crusaders.

If the issue comes up once more in Parliament, I propose to follow the guiding light of conscience. I have already made it clear my conscience is my own and will not change. My conscience does not vary according to the will of the majority, even if the referendum result will be all in favour and one against, the one obviously being my vote. Divorce does more harm than good. That is why I will be voting against outside and inside Parliament should this be required.

Rather than washing my hands like Pontius Pilate, I think I would much prefer to be loyal to my principles.