Divorce is a civil right, Labour leader insists
Says wants to reignite flame of feminism
Divorce was another social instance in history which Labour had fought for against all odds and was proved right in the end, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this evening.
Speaking at the end of the party's May 1 celebrations, Dr Muscat said divorce was a civil right as were the vote for women and young people, free healthcare and education, all of which Labour governments had fought for wholeheartedly.
He said he will continue to speak in favour of this civil right even if he was the only one doing so, because he believed in compassion.
Although he was tolerant and respected different opinions, he would not change his mind on the issue but would respect the referendum result, whatever this would be.
Divorce, he said, was part of big social change he wanted to push forward.
He called on the Nationalist Party to publicly say that people could vote against the party line on this issue and that they should not be influenced by the stand it had taken.
Dr Muscat also said that he wanted to reignite the flame of feminism.
Malta, he said, had to capitalise on this big resource. More women than men were graduating and they should not be forced to work to deal with the burdens of everyday life but they should be encouraged to work to fulfil their life.
For this there had to be the right structures in place, such as decent maternity and paternity leave and day care centres.
His family policy, Dr Muscat said, was not to beat on one's chest against divorce, but to create the right socio-economic circumstances to help families stay together.
According to research, two couples separated daily and the biggest reason was financial difficulties. So a stronger economy had to be created.
Dr Muscat criticised the theocratic policies of "the people who had hijacked the PN". He described the electricity tariffs as immoral and accused the government of perpetuating illegal employment even in government contracts.
Families, Dr Muscat said, should also be given the necessary benefits. But the government had its priorities wrong and instead of finding money to help families overcome burdens, it was spending €100 million on the City Gate project, it was building a bridge to nowhere at the breakwater and it had given cabinet members a €500 weekly raise.
Dr Muscat, who is not receiving the raise, sad that denying him that money was not affecting him because he was never going to take it.
It was, however, affected the charities and individuals who would have benefitted.
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Mr Michael Buhagiar
May 3rd 2011, 13:34
Thursday, July 29, 2010, 10:09 , by Kurt Sansone, Claudia Calleja
Case for divorce already rejected by European Court of Human Rights
A 24-year-old judgment by the European Court of Human Rights may dampen lawyer'’s hopes of getting the Strasbourg court to “force” Malta to introduce divorce since it was not deemed to be a human right.
And our progressive and modern (sic) leader of the Opposition says that Divorce is a civil right. like gay marraiges and abortions, and euthanasia. Dear Leader of the Opposition practice yourself what you preach if you are truly a Leader otherwise shut that big mouth which wants to count even on the devil in order to win the general election. Just like your previous master you want to get the good out of the misery of our countrymen. is there truly no shame in your actions?
Ms D Galea
May 3rd 2011, 18:22
A trifling detail that seems to have been overlooked by the intelligentsia running the Pro-Divorce show.
Ms Maria Vella
May 3rd 2011, 11:10
Everybody shouts at having a right to this and a right to that but very few want to be responsible, be committed and face their own 'mistakes' and act like grown ups
Alfred Falzon
May 2nd 2011, 16:16
The PL leader Dr Joseph Muscat has solemnly stated that political parties should not get involved in the Divorce referendum issue notwithstanding the fact that the highlight of his speech yesterday focused on the theme of divorce!
If this is not self-contradictory,I don't know what other definition suits it best!
Isn't he the PL's mouthpiece?
Or is he playing a Jekyll and Hyde game?
Someone might wish to enlighten me and many others on this point raised yesterday during the Hamrun May Day rally that must have left many Labourites bemused and in disarray!
Ms D Galea
May 3rd 2011, 13:58
Dr Joseph Muscat does not follow what gets said on his own ONE media especially the news section and the early afternoon radio programs.
His preference for habitually and predictably sitting on the fence when the occasion demands otherwise, is as inspiring to his new generazzjoni rebbieha as a damp squib during the village festa.
It is not very reassuring for floating voters either.
Ms Maria Vella
May 2nd 2011, 12:11
If the Opposition was a strong one then the Government wouldn't be acting this way........
Mr Joe Zammit
May 2nd 2011, 12:04
Christ was clear on the evil of adultery and said that, if one divorces his spouse and enters another marriage, one lives in adultery. (Mk 10, 2-12; Mt 19, 2-9). In the first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul says: “Do not be deceived; neither … nor adulterers… will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor.6, 9-10).
Divorce is a grave sin. Par. 1789 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church runs: “One may never do evil so that good may result from it”
On July 13, 1917 the Virgin Mary told the three children of Fatima that “many go to hell on account of the sins of the flesh”. Among the sins of the flesh there is adultery. Padre Pio had regular mystical contacts with God, saints, angels and devils, and used to say that "divorce is a passport to hell".
Divorce leads to hell because it transgresses God’s categorical law on marriage, namely indissolubility. Divorce purports to do what it cannot do, namely to dissolve a valid marriage.
Let no one try to deceive God by planning to live in sin and die in grace. Such a plan will be the devil’s snare. You die as you live!
Charles J. Buttigieg
May 2nd 2011, 08:49
A Civil Right is a legal Right protected by a law passed through parliament. The freedom of slaves in America was not a Civil Right before Abraham Lincoln made it so through parliament. I am not saying that the people should not have the natural freedom to divorce, my contention is that throughout the whole wide world,except the Vatican,the Philippines and Malta, governments included divorce within the long list of 'Civil Rights'-a right guaranteed by law.
Alfred Falzon
May 2nd 2011, 08:38
A Workers' Day rally focusing on the theme of divorce belies the declaration made by PL Leader Dr Joseph Muscat that political parties should not be involved in the Divorce referendum campaign!
As regards the so-called reignition of feminism to which he referred, it could be that he has taken a leaf from former LP Leader Dr Alfred Sant's stance on positive discrimination quotas favouring females to the detriment of more qualified and efficient males!
Regarding education, Dr Muscat acknowledged that the University intake of female students is superior to that of males. Again, he may have conveniently forgotten that there was a time when a student had first to seek a sponsor to be able to pursue his or her studies at the University, a policy that proved highly detrimental to many a Maltese family who could not afford this social luxury!
Mr Michael Buhagiar
May 2nd 2011, 08:23
Not event he European Court of Justice has claimed that Divorce is a civil right. And here comes Joe come lately that he intends to make divorce his earthly mission to destroy maltese families. I bet his father would knock some moral sense in his head. Divorce is no civil right = it is not a human right. It's just a destroyer of families, of women and children and he who has the money will succedd in getting all the divorces he can get. leaving behind him a trail of destruction like a tornado. Shame on the Labour leader. Compassion...... my foot. He's just after votes no matter what. even if he has to partner with the devil in person.
Ms Maria Vassallo
May 2nd 2011, 08:11
Divorce is a civil disaster!
Divorce goes against God's Laws.
Divorce is instrinsically evil.
Divorce is an injustice against children: hear them-it is a children's right to be heard!
Divorce is an economic hardship to tax-payers.
Andrea Giallombardo
May 2nd 2011, 06:07
Putting parties aside, this is the truth!
Mr Kevin Darmanin
May 2nd 2011, 04:36
As i am reading , most comments are just debating whether it's a PL or a NP divorce matter. For once i hope people will vote by their conscience cause some couples need it to start a new life. I know that someone might use this as an escape pod (which i don't agree with this) but in everything there is good and bad. I know a few persons who would take the chance and start a family knowing to learn from the mistake done before. Marraiage is a bond which i will do my best to make it happen the first time and if it goes well for myself, does'nt meen it will be fine for others too. So why not give a second chance to others.
Mr David Scicluna
May 2nd 2011, 01:56
Dr Muscat should know that voting in favour or against divorce is not about compassion. Issues like this must be dealt with reason not emotions. I'm afraid a lot are reasoning with their heart and not with their mind.
It is marriage we are speaking of here, the oldest institution ever in the history of humankind. It's not the Church that invented marriage, but humankind. And as an institution it does not involve only the husband and the wife, as our western individualism makes us think, but it involves all of society. For me voting yes is falling in the trap of either "It doesn't concern me what others then do", which is so non-compassionate, or else "I don't really believe in marriage", which is, to put it crudely, non-human.
Couldn't it be my own daughter whose marriage might break? Don't people deserve a second chance? I admit these questions are difficult to answer and make you think twice. They touch the heart of anybody and must be dealt with a lot of care. Just like the Problem of Evil, it is faith that might give you a glimpse of a conclusion. I understand that people whose life is not built on Christ will not understand. For them a broken marriage, a 30 year old with no possibility to remarry is the end of the world. For him/her whose life is built on Christ, this cross could be his/her way to Him. This is much easier said than done, but it is possible. I think we must believe that hope is real. The question we'll have to answer kills hope since it goes something like "...who have no possibility..." as if anybody could find a criterion for this possibility.
Unfortunately people are not even formed in faith, let alone to look at life in this way. But for the sake of the institution of marriage, that is for the sake of Maltese society at large (and not only your daughter), please consider my gentle reasoning as well. I feel it is reasoning, because emotions many times deceive us. I have a big hunch that a lot of people, if your really ask them for a reasonable explanation, don't know why they're going to vote in favour.
Compassion is not voting yes, but is looking at our society and realizing that we need to GROW and start using our minds. We would be doing the biggest favour, to ourselves, to our husband / wife and to society. Compassion is not about giving a 2nd chance, but it's "feeling-with" the other. Being compassionate therefore is not a trait of this European individualism towards which we seem to be heading, but compassion is a trait of a society which really believes in marriage and sees its basic institution.
Alfred Falzon
May 2nd 2011, 00:02
Throughout his lacklustre May Day speech, PL leader Dr Joseph Muscat stressed at times that political parties should not get involved in the divorce referendum campaign, but reiterated that it was his ambition (conveniently forgetting Nationalist MP Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's private member's bill) to see divorce legislation through!
Now isn't Dr Muscat the leader of a political party? There is something wrong with such logic, for he knows full well that whatever he states in public reflects on his party's policy!
As regards his reignition of the flame of feminism, it could be that he took a leaf from Dr Sant's infamous so-called positive discrimination quotas stance giving women precedence over men in spite of being unqualified or inefficient for the job!
A Workers' Day rally that left many still undecided and bemused!
Peter Bonnici
May 1st 2011, 23:21
"Divorce was another social instance in history which Labour had fought for"..yet none of its MPs ever bothered to raise a private member's bill on the issue.
rose ann
May 1st 2011, 22:40
Was this a 1st May celebration or a Pro Divorce meeting???
Mr M Vella***
May 1st 2011, 22:22
Divorce is legal all over the world and divorce obtained abroad is recognized in Malta.why two weights and two measures,it's either all or none.Divorce has been recognised in Malta for many years ,that is why all Maltese must vote YES in the referendum.I cannot accept that people want to impose their will on others; who am i to deny a person a second chance at marriage; on the other hand divorce is not imposed on happily married couples
Don't cohabit but marry so vote YES FOR DIVORCE.
Mr Clayton Mangion
May 1st 2011, 21:35
Couldnt have said a better thing =)
Mr Mark Cuschieri
May 1st 2011, 21:27
Neither it is a civil right nor we would be "Europeans" if it is introduced, if it is the case, the EU would have mentioned it as one of the civil right but NO it's not there even the UN does not consider it as a human right as some say. If this was the case the EU would not let us join the union.
Mr Clyde Ellul
May 2nd 2011, 01:33
Mr Cuschieri,
I think you are confusing civil rights with international human rights. Divorce may not be listed as one of the international human rights, but many people feel it is a civil right. In fact, it is currently a civil (legal) right in ALL nations around the world except in Malta and the Philippines, irrespective whether a nation is generally Catholic or otherwise.
The problem in this country, is that everyone assumes we are all Roman Catholic and that religion is the most important thing in our lives. I fully respect people who live by their religion, but I also demand that people respect the fact that other people might have a different view, and would like another option if their marriage goes wrong.
If the law is implemented, all those who are against divorce may very well stick to their beliefs, and never get married a second time because they would be bound by God's marriage, or by whatever they believe they are bound. Indeed, the genuineness of Maltese Catholics would be tested then, because a true Catholic is the one who is confronted with temptation and chooses the way of Christ, not the one who lives the way of Christ simply because he/she has no other option! (And perhaps that's exactly what the Church is afraid of...)
But please let anyone else live their lives as they deem most fit. The people who are pro-divorce, are not demanding that the Church changes its view about divorce, but that there would be a distinction between what applies to the state and what applies within the Church. People have a right not to put religion as their topmost priority in their life, or to switch religion at any point in their life, even in Malta!
Ramon Casha
May 2nd 2011, 05:48
The EU does not mention as a right your choice to wear jeans either.
Mr jesmond Sultana
May 5th 2011, 15:09
as Mr Clyde Ellul said, if there is divorce in Malta it does not mean that everybody will be imposed with it
, it means that if you need it its there to use it. punto e basta
Mr Pat Hobson
May 1st 2011, 21:26
If you have read the article, Dr. Muscat was talking personally and not at party level at the moment. In fact he told the people not to be led by the political parties but by their conscience.
Mr M. Vella
May 2nd 2011, 06:12
Does that mean that he couldn't agree on an official stand towards divorce?
If a party leader goes up on a stage at a gathering of his supporters and broadcasts his "personal opinion" on a big microphone, which just so happens to contradict the opposing party (they tend to disagree during referendums), then in what way exactly is that opinion still personal?
Or are they waiting to see the referendum results before making it official?
It's almost as if they wanted to scoop up the votes of people in favour of divorce without risking current voters who might be against it. Hah!
Mr Pat Hobson
May 2nd 2011, 13:52
Mrs. M. Vella. Dr. Muscat made it very clear from the start, when he started lobbying for the leadership of the PL. He always said that divorce is a matter of conscience and he would leave everybody to his own line of thinking without the imposition from the leadership. He's keeping his word. Unlike Gonzi, who to make us laugh said that the divorce issue is not political, and at the same time his party is backing the No to Divorce movement. I reiterate what I have said, yes Dr. Muscat is leaving the divorce issue for us to decide, us and our conscience!
Ms Kristina Cassar
May 1st 2011, 21:18
This referendum is a total MESS!!
Mr Joseph Cauchi Senior
May 1st 2011, 21:43
Not only a mess, but what a MESS!
JC.
Eric Gahn
May 1st 2011, 21:52
It is not only a mess as it is being played out but a VERY serious abdication by Parliament of its responsabilites towards the citizens of this country.
We do not need a Parliament only to legislate on money matters but more so on matters that affect society, even the least of its members and minorities.
Mr edwin formosa
May 1st 2011, 21:06
Divorce was another social instance in history which Labour had fought for !!!!!!!!!!!???????
Are you mixing the divorce issue with something like .....Partnership or.....ZvizzerafilMediterran or...... MadeInBrussels of........... Exactly 7 years ago today ??
Mr C Camilleri
May 1st 2011, 21:58
No ta, probably he saw our mary of sorrows like tonio did!
Mr Joe Micallef
May 1st 2011, 21:05
It’s far simpler to understand The Voynich manuscript then to understand Joey!
Mr M Borg
May 1st 2011, 20:59
And we have people blaming the NP for coming out against divorce. Is this real ?
Do we now have the LP campaigning in favour of divorce.
Didn't Joe Muscat say that he was going to make it his personal campaign ? Did it now turn into a party campaign.?
If you side with LP vote yes, If you side with the NP vote no
What a mess is being made of this referndum !
Schembri Ray
May 1st 2011, 20:59
It may be a civil right but for sure it's not God's right.
Mr David Buttigieg
May 1st 2011, 21:19
Your god or mine?
Mine allows it!
Schembri Ray
May 1st 2011, 21:32
Can you quote your bible please?
P. Vincenti
May 1st 2011, 20:41
I was very pleased to hear that Dr Muscat insisted that PL supporters vote with their conscience and not according to party lines. This frees up droves of PL /Catholics to be able to vote against divorce and not abstain due to a conflicted conscience.
Having compassion for separated couples is however only part of the many elements required to form a conscientious opinion. It is not savvy in my view to imply that voting against divorce is therefore uncompassionate. This only confuses PL supporters further.
Allan Gatt
May 1st 2011, 21:02
Igifieri n-nies ghandhom bzonn il-Partit jghidilhom x'ghandhom jaghmlu? Qeghdin tajjeb mela...
Mr Kevin J Vella
May 1st 2011, 22:06
the problem lies not in the divorce issue but the labourites turning it into a political victory if the yes votes win and vice versa. that is even more confusing irrespective of personal opinions about whether divorce is right or wrong for malta ...
P. Vincenti
May 1st 2011, 20:34
Divorce is NOT a civil right until it is legalised.
Mr saviour marquette
May 2nd 2011, 02:24
Every human being is entitled to civil rights whether its legalized or not.
Ramon Casha
May 2nd 2011, 05:46
So you're saying that the law can never deny anybody their rights, since they only become rights when the law says they are? Would you say that places like Iran have a clean rights records because they respect the rights that they choose to grant?
P. Vincenti
May 2nd 2011, 09:39
Ramon so your saying abortion is a civil right?
Mr Carmelo Micallef
May 1st 2011, 20:13
Joseph Muscat forgot to say thank you to Norman Lowell and his 4,000 votes....
Mr Carmelo Micallef
May 1st 2011, 20:09
When did PL adopt the party-line of "Pro-Divorce"?
Is this an instance of the PL Leader saying something that does not match up with the facts?
Has he not stated that the "Pro-Divorce" stance is solely his personal position and not that of PL?
Ms pat muscat
May 2nd 2011, 00:00
Yes you are right Mr Micallef; and Dr Muscat stated it again at Hamrun that it was his personal opinion. He emphasized again, that this was not the party line.
Please choose the reason of your report below: