A new movement for divorce was set up the morning.

The movement is made up of Catholics who are in favour and against divorce but believe that the Catholic belief should not be imposed upon everyone, spokesman Carmel Hili sid.

Standing in front of St John's CoCathedral, Mr Hili said that many were troubled by conflicting messages about the stand to take in the forthcoming referendum.

Some messages were for people to vote according to their conscience but others were that it would be a great sin to vote for divorce or abstain.

The movement, Mr Hili said, was created to promote a discussion which would clear the air and help voters make an important decision.

"We believe that it is our Catholic duty that the state does not impose any particular morality on the population.

"As a group we believe we are duty bound to promote the rights of all citizens even though no everyone might agree with us.

"We believe it is our Catholic duty to vote yes in the referendum to give people the right to divorce."

Mr Hili pointed out that at present divorce in Malta existed only to those who could afford to obtain it from abroad. However, this made a distinction between those who could afford it and those who could not.

The group's logo shows the dome of St Peter's Basilica in the foreground with the words Kattolici Iva ghax Dritt.

In the background, there is an outline of a person with open arms.

Mr Hili said that the silhouette in the background indicated the belief that the person should always remain at the centre of every thought and action and that anyone who voted yes should not feel excluded from the church or condemned.

The group, he said, would not be getting into the issue of whether divorce was a sin or not, however, it was a civil right that should be available so there was a need for divorce legislation to be in place.