Since the issue of divorce kicked off last July, the Church has taken us on a rollercoaster of U-turns, bumps and slides, that is now, quite literally, making me sick to my stomach.
First we had the miraculous erection of an anti-divorce billboard on the Zebbug Parish parvis.
Then we had the Curia disociating itself from this initiative, and soon after announcing that it did not want to go on a crusade against divorce.
Then we had another billboard erected and dismantled within less than twenty four hours because it was considered to be 'too harsh' a message against divorce.
Soon after, Andre Camilleri, started heading the anti-divorce movement, and contrary to his sensible reputation, he reportedly said that one of the most important reasons why divorce should not be introduced is because, when a battered wife gets a divorce, her husband will also have the right to remarry. According to him therefore, a battered wife should sacrifice the rest of her life, so that another woman won't go through the same ordeal.
Anyone with half a brain cell knows that a wife-beater doesn't give a toss about his marital status, and would gladly beat up a girlfriend as roughly as he would his wife.
But despite this obvious conclusion, the Church chose this daft reason as its number one argument against divorce. In its puerile list of 12 reasons which was circulated across all households in Malta and Gozo, this inane reason featured in pole position. Please note that the printing and circulation of such a nationwide publication costs at least €30,000! If this is not a modern-day crusade, then I don't know what is!
Then, more recently, Kevin Papagiorcopulo was graciously granted a whole month off from his job as public relations officer for the Curia to take up the role of PRO with the anti-divorce movement. And the Church still expects us to believe that it's not campaigning!
This was followed by the publication of a pastoral note which was issued to all priests back in March on the Archdiocese's website. The note says that voting 'yes' in the referendum will be defying God's will and the Magisterium of the Church. Fair enough, had it not gone on to say that "the Christian who is in favour of divorce is creating a dichotomy between that which he believes in, and that which he is choosing." And that "His choice can have irreparable consequences." Conveniently it does not go on to explain what such 'irreparable consequences' might be, leaving it open to all sorts of interpretation and fear.
Is it referring to the alleged irreparable damage to the infamous common good, or is it some elusive threat of eternal damnation? Even though I wasn't born yet, to me this sounds sickeningly reminiscent of the 60s.
Then came Angelik Caruana's latest vision which allegedly confirmed that the referendum will result in a No vote. Please note that it's been six years since Caruana first claimed that a statue of the Virgin Mary bought by his wife, started weeping tears of blood and oozing oil. Since then, Malta's top forensic investigators found that the blood on the statue was Mr. Caruana's own, and that the oil was everyday kitchen oil. And yet, the Church is still undecided about the authenticity of his claims!
And now, for the latest U-turn - another billboard has appeared on the Zebbug Parish parvis saying: "A mentality of divorce irreparably shakes the union of marriage, and the introduction of divorce through civil law always weakens the way in which we understand and live a lasting marriage." The Bishops
Just to close off this whole saga in style, I'd like to set up a billboard in front of all voting stations on the 28th. The billboards will say:
"The alleged sexual abuse of minors in the Church's care has created a dichotomy between that which priests preach and that which they have done. Their alleged revolting actions has caused irreparable damage in the victims and their families, and the lack of commitment on The Church's part to give these victims some form of justice, is vile."
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