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Monday, April 25, 2011 by

Claudia Calleja

Anti-divorce message in new Żebbuġ billboard

The third anti-divorce billboard on the Żebbuġ parvis is based on a pastoral letter sent to priests about the bad effect of divorce on society.

The third anti-divorce billboard on the Żebbuġ parvis is based on a pastoral letter sent to priests about the bad effect of divorce on society.

An anti-divorce billboard, which the parish priest sees as a way of delivering a message to his congregation, is again on display at the Żebbuġ church parvis.

“We live in a free society and are not imposing anything... Why shouldn’t we give direction? Then people can decide for themselves. An informed conscience will allow people to make up their minds... And for those who are Catholic, it is important that the Church’s position is clear,” parish priest, Fr Daniel Cardona, said when contacted yesterday.

The billboard consists of a quotation from a letter the bishops sent to priests and reads: “The divorce mentality irreparably corrodes the bond of marriage and the introduction of divorce through civil law will always weaken the way we understand and experience everlasting marriage.”

This is the third time the parish has mounted an anti-divorce billboard. The previous two had stirred controversy because one said God did not want divorce and the other likened divorce to a disease.

Fr Cardona said the billboard now on display was merely meant to transmit a message to his congregation. “It is based on a pastoral letter sent to priests about the effect of divorce on society... I believe the billboard is a way of delivering a message. Some agree, others disagree,” he said, adding he felt it was his duty to pass on his message to his congregation.

“I am convinced that, apart from the religious argument, there is the effect on society and divorce will be detrimental to our country. As a citizen, I believe the introduction of divorce, in the circumstances of our country, will do more bad than good,” he said.

Asked if the billboard was meant to influence people’s vote, given the May 28 referendum on a divorce Bill now before Parliament, Fr Cardona said anyone who expressed an opinion in public, such as columnists, might influence the vote.

In January, a billboard that decried “the injection of the divorce disease” was removed from the church parvis within 24 hours. It featured a man, wearing a tie, injecting a freakish-looking youngster with a syringe that had divorce written on it while ­holding in the other hand a paper reading “Private ­Member’s Bill”, a clear reference to the divorce Bill presented by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, whose constituency includes Żebbuġ.

Last July, the parish displayed a billboard saying in large black letters: “Divorce: God doesn’t want it”. The Curia distanced itself from the matter. In the January incident, a Curia spokesman washed his hands of the parish’s “initiative”.

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Mr M Vella***

Apr 26th 2011, 19:12

Mr DeMartino ,this referendum is not only about divorce but also about separation of state and religion ,secularism is on it's way to prevail in this country, whether one like it or not. Malta has got to brake free from these Curia masters. We need a Liberal and truly free society which cannot be established until we break this link
RESIST OR SERVE!

Mr Saliba Francis

Apr 27th 2011, 09:46

@Mr M Vella.

NO, sir, this referendum is NOT about the separation of state from religion. It is the obvious truth that in Malta, laws are passed by freely elected members of parliament and the Church carries out its duty to teach what is right and wrong in the eyes of the Catholic religion, that happens to be the official religion of the republic. No one, neither the elected members of parliament, nor those electors who do not agree with the teachings of Christ's Church are under any compunction to vote according to the teachings of the Catholic faith - and you know that is the unvarnished truth. What you are really after, is NOT the separation of Church from State. You are after the suppression of the constitutional right and the duty of the Church to teach those who want to listen and to learn. You want to suppress the fundamental right to hold and express opinions different from yours and to suppress the fundamental right to practice the religion of one's choice. Be honest, please, and stop spouting rubbish.

Mr M Vella***

Apr 27th 2011, 11:58

@Mr Saliba Francis, Do not think all the people are imbeciles, they have a brain to think with and a pity for the ones who are under the manipulation of the Maltese Catholic Church like you.When are you going to understand that the more you try to shove religion down our throats, the more we will resist it!,your days of controlling people's minds are truly numbered.WANNE BE priests

.

Mr Saliba Francis

Apr 27th 2011, 17:55

@Mr M Vella (Three Star)

No! I do not “think all the people are imbeciles”. You are the one presuming to judge me to be an inadequate, mentally challenged person, with no brain of his own and who is “under the manipulation of the Maltese Catholic Church”.

I believe that most of my fellow Maltese are intelligent enough to value their official state religion without any need of having it shoved down their throats. I also credit them with enough intelligence to dismiss your uncontrolled angry outburst and your rash prophecy regarding the future of Christianity.

Mr Giov DeMartino

Apr 27th 2011, 18:22

@ Mr Vella: You are simply wrong. This referendum is only about divorce and the church has absolutely nothing to do with it. We are a free country and the church has a right to give her opinion.. You have the right to vote yes and I have an equal right to vote no. But it seems as if we are a free country as long as we agree wioth what some people say. If we do not agree, then, the church is brought in.

Ms Emma Xerri

May 6th 2011, 14:40

@ Mr. Saliba Francis

While you and others like you are certainly not 'imbeciles' you are certainly under the power and control of the Church.

This is what 'indoctrination' is all about. As the Jesuits say, 'give me the boy and I will give you the man'. Indoctrination or brainwashing was practiced by the Communist state and other despotic regimes and is still being practiced by most religions and cults. to ensure adherence and compliance to their belief-systems, not matter how detrimental to the rights, freedoms and well being of the individual and society. And the sad part is, that no matter how intelligent and now many degrees they obtain from universities, these person, once they have been thus imprinted at a young age, can almost never get out from under these sets of beliefs, no matter how irrational and outrageous these beliefs are. It is a well-known fact that the Church is heavily into education, for there is were fertile and pliable young minds can be moulded.

And proof of how effective this indoctrination is the fact that these people never realise that they are being manipulated and as the English saying goes “cannot see the wood for the trees”.

Dan Jensen

Apr 26th 2011, 13:58

And if your partner wished to divorce you then it is her right to do so! Thinking anything else is idiotic.

Ms Emma Falzon

Apr 26th 2011, 22:11

Prosit, Sur Vella! Wahda mill-aktar 'posts' interessanti u ta' hsieb li qrajt fuq is-suggett.

Mr Guido Farrugia

Apr 25th 2011, 20:44

Well?..... The slogan is challenging ( dhul tad-divorzju permezz tal-ligi civili). That is sheer imposition, not catholic beliefs. What about my belief you ask..... What about mine Dr.?

Mr Jon Xuereb

Apr 25th 2011, 20:47

Raġunament bażwi u fqir għall-aħħar!

Jekk martek trid tiddivorzjak mhux sinjal li għax m'għadiex tħobbok?! Allura x'beħsiebek tagħmel? Tibqa' magħha mingħajr imħabba għax ma temminx fid-divorzju? U x'tagħmel? Iġġiegħel lilha tibqa' miegħek għax ma taqbilx mad-divorzju?!

Mhux qed ngħid li titlaq mal-ewwel intopp għax ħadd mhu se joqgħod ikisser żwieġ għall-gost u jekk hemm xi ħaġa li tista' titranġa dak li jkun nemmen li jkun lest li jipprova jekk verament iħobb lil persuna l-oħra!

Id-divorzju jagħtik l-opportunità li titlaq jekk mintx kuntent u maħbub u għalhekk jekk xejn id-divorzju huwa mezz ta' prova ta' mħabba li l-persuna qiegħda miegħek għax veru tridek u tħobbok u mhux għax ma tistax titlaq!

Victor Pulis

Apr 26th 2011, 16:17

Are you prepared to go on living with someone who dumped you for whatever reason? Perhaps you're happy to cut off your nose to spite your face and live in hell but not everyone is of the same opinion.

Mr J Abela

Apr 26th 2011, 22:18

@Jon - tiehu annullament siehbi. Dak l-unika sistema li tohrog bandiera bajda..

Mrs Pauline Abela

Apr 26th 2011, 11:51

Inti jaqaw taghmel copy u paste kull meta jfettilek? Jekk trid li nies jaqblu mieghek, ghax ma tuzax argument logiku? X'hini r-raguni li l-annullament huwa accetat mill-knisja u d-divorzju m'huwiex? X'differenza jaghmel fuq it-tfal jekk il-genituri taghhom jiehdu annullament jew divorzju? X'tahseb li jippreferu t-tfal? Li lejl u nhar jisimghu argumenti serji bejn il-genituri taghhom jew li jghixu fil-paci daqqa ma' l-omm u daqqa mal-missier? Jiddispjacini nghidlek illi dak-li qed tghid int ma jaghmilx sens. Alla tak mohh biex thaddmu u tohrog bir-ragunijiet tieghek, mhux biex terga tirrepeti dak li blajt minghand haddiehor.

Ms G Schembri

Apr 26th 2011, 13:41

I don't believe our Lady is talking to Angelik, as if God is going to send his mother to talk to us against divorce. I don't believe this because we have worse things in Malta, which hurt God much more than the introduction of divorce.
Where was Angelik when paedophiles were being put in charge of children. I am sure that Jesus Christ and Our Lady would prefere to put a stop to this great sin, rather than divorce. I will only believe Angelik if he said that Our Lady asked us to stop this injustice.
The same goes to those so called Christians who used the procession of Our Lady Of Sorrows, in the fight against the introduction of divorce. I have never heard these same people speak out against paedophiles.
I suggest we leave the church out of this. The introduction of divorce will not weaken the church, only the interference of the church in politics will weaken it.

Mr Charles Falzon

Apr 26th 2011, 15:41

Hemm xi flixkun zejt!!!!! Halluna tridux!!!!

Mr Jack Vella

Apr 26th 2011, 19:26

Nixtieq inkun naf ghalfejn in-nies li jmorru hemm huma kollha minn naha ta' fuq. Mur saqsi Birzebbugia, lil min jaf sewwa l-istorja u ma' jippruvax idawwara u tkun taf il-verita. Min ma'ghndux x'jahbi jipprova jxandar il-verita anke jekk din tinkludi ir-ricetta sigrieta HAHAHA (li jkun ghamel hu b'demmu stess) u li giet xjentifikament michuda li kien xi miraklu u jibqa ma jghid xejn!!! Ifthu ghajnejkom ghal min qed jitmejjel bikom!!! Il-Madonna l-imhabba taghna u l-ghaqda ghandha bzonn u mhux min jipprova jiddiehak b'haddiehor u taparsi juri messag bazwi bhal dan t'hawn fuq!!!

U saqsu lilkom infuskom hbieb, ix-xewk ta' Borg in-Nadur min fejn johrog mill-halq, jew mill-ilsien kiefer ta' nies bhal dawn li hlief gideb ma jghidux???

Mr Robert Cuschieri

Apr 26th 2011, 09:23

anke il-qtil minn dejjem kien u jibqa l-istess ghas serq u il-hazen kollu...mela nehhi il-ligijiet kollha ghax xorta se jibqaw jigu miksura. proset siehbi keep it up :)#

Mr J Abela

Apr 26th 2011, 22:15

illum il-gurnata jahdmu b'sistemi moderni: viva l-media..

Mr Joseph Lungaro

Apr 26th 2011, 09:56

lololol Mate your Jokes are Hilarious!

Ms Yaz Tabone

Apr 26th 2011, 10:20

i don't want him to end up like most brainwashed 'maltese christians'.. i want him to know from right n wrong n not wish harm onto others. i want him to be strong enough to fight for what he believes in, not be a coward like these 'maltese christians'. i want him to believe in human rights n equality, not be selfish n cruel, just like these 'maltese christians'

my son will be raised with good values, he will not be a puppet.. he will be strong enough to make his own decisions :)

Ms Emma Xerri

Apr 25th 2011, 14:02

The Church's duty does not extend to interference in the secular field and the imposition of its views on lay society by means of such tactics and prolonged campaigns against divorce such as is going on in Malta. In fact, when in comes to divorce, I do not know anywhere else in the world where the Church has resorted to this kind of behaviour except in Malta, where the Church must pressume that the Maltese are chattels of the Curia and intellectually stunted.

Paul Konti

Apr 25th 2011, 17:51

Sur Fava, int ghandek kull dritt tghid l-oppinjoni tieghek. Pero, ma tantx jirrifletti tajjeb fuqek il-mod kif ktibt. Ma nhosx li ghandek titfa l-hmieg biex taghti aktar sahha lill-argument tieghek. Tantx tkun dakshekk pront biex titfa l-ewwel gebla habib. Kullhadd ghandu xi jxomm!
Hemm hafna u hafna qassisin u religjuzi tajbin. Ahseb ftit u tara kif ghandi ragun.

Mr Carmel Garcia

Apr 25th 2011, 11:01

I agree with you Mr. Xuereb. The church has the right to teach her members and believers. We are in a free society, so like those in favour of divorce, other societies, and this include the Catholic Church, has all the right to speak, and this is not like the death sin of the sixties.

Matthew Chapter 19:

3 ¶ The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, Gen. 1.27 ; 5.2

5 and said,
For this cause shall a man leave father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife:
and they twain shall be one flesh Gen. 2.24 ?


6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? Deut. 24.1-4 · Mt. 5.31

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. Mt. 5.32 · 1 Cor. 7.10, 11

10 ¶ His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

D. A . Agius

Apr 25th 2011, 11:25

Free to divorce if they don't agree that a marriage should be eternal, as some blissfully think?

Thanks. Then vote YES to Divorce. Everyone would then be free to request or not request for divorce to be granted.

Simple. It's an option. No one forces you to ask for divorce. The laws can be structured to prevent abuse as much as possible but on the other hand, if one is asking for divorce, hasn't the relationship already gone to the dogs?

Mr Kevin Tanti

Apr 25th 2011, 11:34

Sorry but Curia PRO is on leave. He is doing the same role in Moviment Zwieg bla divorzju.

Paul Konti

Apr 25th 2011, 11:07

The Church has every right to 'interfere' and to 'influence' as you put it. The Church is also duty-bound to lead its followers, to guide them, and to advise them on what they should do and how they should live. Moreover, the Church has every right to express its views like any other body, political party, etc... And why not? That divorce is a 'civil right' is only YOUR opinion. There are others who think otherwise. Let everyone have their say and may the best argument win.

Marianne Tabone

Apr 25th 2011, 11:44

Making your opinion heard does not imply brain washing! If I were you I would look up the definition of brain washing in a good dictionary! Does not the Church form an integral part of society as you and I do? Or do you want to consign the church to the sacristy and have it not form part of society. Is the church imposing her view by simply making her position clear? why are you so worried? Those who want to vote in favour of divorce will do so whatever anyone says and those who don't want to vote for it will definitely not do so whatever names some people choose to call them!! Names such as arrogant and old fashioned and conservative etc don't change the view of the anti divorce community!!

Mr M Farrugia

Apr 25th 2011, 11:57

@Ken. Galea. Siehbi qieghed tinfaxxa rasek qabel taqsama dwar ir-rizultat tad-divorzju. Ippruvajt issib skuza sabiex toskura il-Knisja jekk id-divorzju ma jghaddix. Il-Knisja mhux qed tindahal anzi qed tkun kawtela u prudenti hafna. Il-Knisja ghanda dritt li taghti direzzjoni fejn tidħol il-ligi ta' Alla. Li taghti direzzjoni mhux indhil. Semmili kaz fejn il-KURJA qed tindahal. Meta qed tghid li l-qassis jippriedka b'mod diplomatiku inti stess qed tikkonferma li ma hemmx indhil imma direzzjoni. Il-Knisja mhux qed tindahal kif il-poplu jivvota imma qed tispjega il-kelma ta' Alla. Jidher li inti ma tafx taghmel distinzjoni bejn il-Ligi ta' Alla li kull nistrani ghandu jsegwi u l-ligi Civili.

Victor Pulis

Apr 25th 2011, 10:46

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife (no mention of husband in the commandment) means you must not take another man's wife while they are still married. Divorce ends that contract, (not the marriage as that would have been long dead.)
Why is the husband not mentioned in the commandment? because in those days a woman had no right to divorce her husband. That is why we must look at Jesus's saying in the context of those times.

Fabien Sant Fournier

Apr 25th 2011, 11:44

I believe the bible states:

“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.”

..it doesn't say anything about women coveting their neighbour's husband.

why? because in biblical terms, a wife, just like a servant/ox/donkey was considered as property!

are you sure you wish to adhere to antiquated and sexist values?!

Mr Robert Cuschieri

Apr 25th 2011, 12:08

Refering to your statements that "church goers are being influenced during mass" and "trying to brain wash the church goers", being Catholic am not voting against divorce because the priests says so, but because Christ preached so. And so should Catholics and believers. Who are we to decide what's good and bad if this has already been dictated by Him? And what do you pretend the priests to preach if not the will of God?? Then if you're a non-believer, it's a different story.

Ms Rita Smith

Apr 25th 2011, 12:11

Mr. Kenneth Galea how can you not understand that the Church is not interfering with matters when it should not be, as you put it. The Church has the obligation to open the eyes of practicing Chatholics and if you go to Church you must be a practicing Chatholic otherwise why bother to go. The Church is only transmitting to its faithful the teaching of Christ who hates divorce. Consequently, the Church in the circumstances of today wants to safeguard its faithful from the snares of the devil. I am saying this because the devil wants also to take over Malta like he did with other nations but he will not succeed in my opinion. It is a sin to vote for the introduction of divorce as it goes aginst God's law. But god left us free to see the right from wrong.
As to the mentioning of divorce in the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows it would not have been more appropriate as Our Lady told us to say the Rosary so that divorce will not enter Malta and who went to the procession and has in mind to vote for divorce he should have stayed at home because that is what I call "oqbra mbajda"

Jason Borg

Apr 25th 2011, 12:11

So what! Only dictators try to silence the Church's voice. And it seems we have quite a lot of them locally.

Mr Victor Laiviera

Apr 25th 2011, 10:12

Thou shalt not commit adultery. (but people have been doing it for ever and will continue to do so, with or without divorce)
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife/husband. ( ditto)
Divorce is intrinsically EVIL. (not half as evil as forcing people to remain in a hellish relationships)
Divorce is the murderer of the family. (NO - divorce is the burial of something that is already dead)
Divorce is the chief enemy of children. (Not more so than separation or annulment)
Divorce is a social evil, bankrupting whole societies. ( ditto )

Mr M Cachia

Apr 25th 2011, 13:11

Could I ask what the English language has ever done to you?? I've really tried to understand your point but I have unfortunatly failed.....

Mr Giov DeMartino

Apr 25th 2011, 17:13

@ Kenneth Cassar: Qbizt fin-nofs u ANQAS INT ma wegibt il-mistoqsija semplici tieghi.

Mr Giov DeMartino

Apr 25th 2011, 09:34

If this billboard carried an anti divorce message, would you have asked for the police permission?

Victor Pulis

Apr 25th 2011, 10:47

It DOES carry an anti divorce message!

Kenneth Cassar

Apr 25th 2011, 11:18

@ Giov DeMartino:

1. The billboard actually has an anti-divorce message.
2. All billboards require a permit.

Jason Borg

Apr 25th 2011, 12:12

Mela l-Qrati jistgħu iżarmaw.

U hemm baħar jaqsam bejn opinjoni u ġudizzju.

Ms Rita Smith

Apr 25th 2011, 12:18

Drajtuha Alla biss jiggudika. Hadd mhu qed jiggudika imma qed iggibu skuza ghaliex ma tridux tnizzlu il-verita ta Gesu Kristu. Dejjem twahhlu fuq il-qassissin ghall-fini ta mohhkom. kulhadd liberu mma xi darba jasal iz-zmien li veru tridu tigu ggudikati minn Kristu stess li jobghod id-divorzju. Good luck mate.

Rita Smith

carmel taliana

Apr 25th 2011, 13:05

Do the boards carrying PL comments against Government carry a licence if not lets start from there.

Mr Giov DeMartino

Apr 25th 2011, 17:47

Sorry...I should have written If the billboard carried a pro-divorce .....

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