Vivienne Abela
The conscience quandary
Now that the divorce referendum date is approaching, everybody is talking about following his/her conscience. Rightly so, because the supremacy of conscience is vital. But equally important is the vital question: What is conscience?
Conscience is the voice of God in your innermost being, planted there by the Creator to guide you through your life by telling you what is right and what is wrong. Basically, it is the voice of the Holy Spirit, a priceless gift to every human being. God anchored it in His Ten Commandments, which became the universal road map of all time.
But conscience is two-way traffic. It obliges one to go out on a quest for the truth, which will give it the formation and information it needs. Once I realise that the truth is transcendental, that it goes beyond you and me, I will not waste time looking for it where I cannot find it. “I am the way, the truth and the life” is Jesus Christ’s declaration, a statement that binds the truth indissolubly to God.
For God, right and wrong are therefore clear absolutes, a light on the way of life. So, even if your conscience, after being well formed and well informed, tells you that it is right to go for divorce, that, in itself, does not make divorce right. It remains an evil thing because it is intrinsically evil from God’s point of view.
It is we who invented moral relativism, not God. When we did that, we removed God’s stabilising anchor and reduced conscience to the level of a reed blowing dangerously in the wind.
Here we get the conscience quandary. If a person decides to turn his back on God and go his own way, make his own set of rules because he thinks he knows better, God leaves him free to do so. But when he makes this choice, the voice of God within him is stifled. The void is probably filled with the voice of the world or the evil spirit instead of the holy one.
So when this person claims he is following his conscience, he is living a contradiction; he remains in the dark. He is, in reality, following not what he still calls his conscience but his own whims and fantasies, basically doing what he likes, which is not necessarily what God expects him to do. What he calls conscience has been reduced to a will-o’-the-wisp.
Our yes or no vote in favour of or against divorce legislation should start with this examination of our conscience to see whether it is the real thing or an illusion of our own making, which could mislead us and a lot of others on the way. Without God’s anchor, it is very easy to come up with false arguments and make them sound plausible to ourselves and to others. If we keep on repeating these same arguments, we may convince ourselves and others that we are genuine but God is nowhere in the picture.
This is the heart of the matter. Our bishops tried to draw our attention to this in their Lenten pastoral letter when they distinguished between the logic of God and that of the human being. If you leave God out of the picture and just use human reasoning, you can make it sound merciful, kind, altruistic, decent to vote yes for divorce and actually believe this to be true. If you put God back in the picture, you are brought back sharply to the Commandments, Holy Scripture and Church teaching, which say no to divorce.
What to do? People have been analysing the present divide in the Maltese nation as conservative versus liberal or progressive, majority versus minority, backward versus forward, Church versus state. Lately, we have had the addition of European versus I don’t know what, which has absolutely nothing to do with divorce. The truth goes far, far deeper. What we are being asked to do on May 28 is decide for God by saying no or decide to do without Him by saying yes.
The Facebook generation must use its brains. On May 28, their futures will be up for sale. At the end of the day, if there is a wrong decision, they will be the ones who will be left out of pocket, literally. This is not scaremongering. Are they asking themselves the question the older generation is increasingly and more insistently putting, namely who is going to foot the bill for divorce? Who is going to pay for maintenance? What other clauses are behind this hurried Private Member’s Bill? It is only normal that you examine the goods carefully before and not after you pay the price.
This Bill was said to be modelled on the Irish one, presumably because Ireland is Catholic. What was never said came out in an article published in The Times on March 21, written by an Irish gentleman who gave us all the hard facts about the 10 years or more since divorce was introduced in Ireland –statistics on the increase in failed marriages, divorce and cohabitation.
So this Bill is asking us to follow a failed role model. But then, worldwide, where can you find a successful role model where divorce is concerned? Can we conscientiously and foolishly emulate other countries’ failures? Can’t Malta continue being a successful European secular state without throwing all the rules of morality overboard?
Can the pro-divorce lobby stop feeding us myths about responsible divorce? What on earth is responsible divorce? Does it mean that when you first promised “until death us do part” at the altar you were being irresponsible and you have suddenly become responsible after you get your divorce and promise “for the next four years” on your second or your next marriage?
Do those practising Catholics saying yes to divorce know what they are responsible for? They are responsible for those Catholics who will apply for divorce and contract a second relationship, thereby cutting themselves off from the sacraments. Now, that is some responsibility. And, unfortunately, again it is not scaremongering, but a hard fact.
As for those Catholics who are still undecided on this issue at this point in time, they have probably fallen victim to the sophistries and fallacies spread by the pro-divorce lobby.
It is time to do the examination of conscience. Who do you trust more, man or God? This is decision time. Time to stand up and be counted.
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Ms Sabrina Borda
May 17th 2011, 15:35
Your conscience is clearly pre-programmed onto the conditions of the commandments of the Catholic Church and you dare to say that they are God's, the creator.
You are here to pretend you know about conscience in your long expose, but what you are really doing is pedaling your wares and misinforming the public.
This shows you do not even remotely know anything about the depth or the far reaches of conscience at all.
If I ever needed any further instruction on this subject I would first run miles away form your tactless misconception and frightening misuse of it.
J Borg
May 17th 2011, 14:20
Ms Abela writes: 'Do those practising Catholics saying yes to divorce know what they are responsible for? They are responsible for those Catholics who will apply for divorce and contract a second relationship, thereby cutting themselves off from the sacraments. Now, that is some responsibility. And, unfortunately, again it is not scaremongering, but a hard fact.'
I have searched for something to corroborate this in the official documents put out by the Archbishop and in the leaflets distributed with Flimkien, but the search has proved fruitless. So I can only conclude that you have just made this up as a spurious argument to support your position.
Mr Michael Debono
May 17th 2011, 10:29
First you write about a free conscience then you write about all the possible things to influence other's conscience to make them think as yourself.That has become a daily exercise, this happens also in the monthly Flimkien. Preach about freedpm of conscoence then write all that is possible to make people share your opinion on how to form a conscience.
The game has been given away .
The motto of the No is very transparent : give evetyone the freedom to decide but before they decide enumerate all points that a conscious should beware of according to the writer otherwise it is a corrupt conscious.Either share my opinion or you are in the wrong.
Gerry Cowie
May 16th 2011, 20:46
Nobody can deny or trivialise the religion of the majority Roman Catholic Maltese people! When they do so, it is their own loss, because the more they ridicule these important and strongly held beliefs the more they strengthen the Catholicity and the will of the Maltese people and thus help the pro divorce lobby to become the best weapon ever available to the anti divorce lobby!
It is only non sarcastic, non anti-religious, totally constructive and non confrontational comment which will convince people! No wonder the vote is going to be a massive "No!"
Secularism is not welcome in the Catholic Country of Malta! It shall not prevail!
Mr Joe Zammit
May 16th 2011, 19:40
BORG IN-NADUR: 17 ta' Novembru, 2010:
Uliedi, illejla tajtkom prova ċara. Iva wliedi, għalhekk Ibni Ġesù qed jibgħatni hawn, fuq dil-gżira. Għalhekk għażilt dil-familja kważi ħames snin ilu. Għalhekk ridt lil Angelik u lil Catherine. Iva wliedi, Ibni Ġesù ma riedx jara żwieġ imfarrak. Għalhekk ħames snin ilu bagħatni hawnhekk, nerġa’ ngħidilkom. Ġejt inħabbrilkom minn qabel x’se jseħħ fuq dil-gżira. Kien hawn min fehemni u oħrajn lanqas biss taw widen.
Ftit taż-żmien ieħor se jkollkom għażla f’idejkom intom stess. Oqogħdu attenti x’tagħżlu wliedi. Iġġibux il-gwaj fuqkom.
Fejnhom fil-familji l-imħabba, l-għaqda, il-maħfra, is-sinċerità u t-talb flimkien? Fejnhom? Għalhekk illum kulħadd qed ifarfar minn fuq spallejh mal-ewwel intopp li jinqala’.
Iva wliedi, il-qalb tiegħi u l-qalb ta’ Ibni Ġesù muġugħin minħabba fikom. Jiena muġugħa għax jiena omm li nħoss għalikom.
Akkost ta’ kollox uliedi, jiġri x’jiġri, ibqgħu għidu: “LE GHAD-DIVORZJU, LE GHAD-DIVORZJU!"
U għidu r-rużarju u ġiegħlu lil ħaddieħor jgħid ir-rużarju.
Grazzi talli smajtu s-sejħa tiegħi.
Ms Lina CARUANA
May 16th 2011, 16:41
What the pro divorce lobby is leaving out is the fact that at the start divorce is medically recognized as loss or grief especially for the victim^?. It is listed on the medical health service as one of the conditions needing post traumatic treatment So how can it be considered positive? Even pro divorce people consider it as a necessary evil. Excluding those who keep wanting to be liberated for new relationships.
Mr Joseph Calleja
May 16th 2011, 17:37
Ms Caruana...What do you know about domestic violence in a marriage? What do you know about a husband coming home drunk and reeking the smell of another woman? What do you know about a spouse beating up on you in front of your children? I guess you accept all that as part of the marriage vows?"In sickness and in health until death do us part." Have you ever been married and in this situation? because if not don't judge others. Min igarrab ikun jaf and apparently int qatt ma garrabt. This is a civil matter and you holier than thou should stay out of it. Cast your vote on a civil matter and put religion aside if even for that vote. You cannot in your right conscience force anybody to stay married because the church or GonPN says so. Let every man and woman make their own choice in life. Live and let live. This is a very difficult choice for many; let them make their own choice.
Mr Joe Zammit
May 16th 2011, 16:38
Conscience is reasoning.
No conscience can contradict the express and clear words of Christ about the evil of divorce: What God has joined together let no man put asunder! No conscience can genuinely go against this clear commandment of Christ on the necessity of the indissolubility of marriage and the intrinsic evil of divorce.
A conscience that suggests divorce to anyone is diabolical. The devil is pleased with divorce. God does not want divorce. This is the clear teaching of Christ and the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church.
If your conscience tells you something against the infallible teaching of the one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, do not follow your conscience. Your conscience is not infallible. Your conscience is subject to the teaching of Christ and his Church.
If you follow your conscience in disagreement with the Church, you are grievously stubborn and proud. Your stubbornness and pride will lead you only to hell. All those in hell appeal to their conscience for being there ... for ever... without any hope of redemption... there for ever!
Conscience is reasoning!
Mr Patrik Larsson
May 17th 2011, 06:30
How sweet you are. I now have a diabolical conscience and am grievously stubborn and proud, on my way to hell. True Christian charity at work here.
Mr edwin formosa
May 17th 2011, 14:17
Larsson,
since you know nothing about True Christian Charity better shut up untill you do.
Debono,
"we already have separation which obliges the relevant spouse to pay maintenance"................u xorta ma jhallasx.............u nhallsulu ahna bis-sigurta socjali
u allura,sew qed tghid – divorce for already separated couples won’t make a jot of difference
George Debono
May 16th 2011, 15:25
Such wishy-washy reasoning does a disfavour to the “no divorce” lobby. Keep it up.
“…………the Commandments, Holy Scripture and Church teaching, which say no to divorce………”
Tell this to a battered wife .
“………….. question the older generation is increasingly and more insistently putting, namely who is going to foot the bill for divorce? Who is going to pay for maintenance?.......”
This is nonsense – we already have separation which obliges the relevant spouse to pay maintenance – divorce for already separated couples won’t make a jot of difference.
&c &c &c ………………
Charlie Borg
May 17th 2011, 07:40
'Tell this to a battered wife.'
Indeed, but she does not need to be physically 'battered'. Go tell it to a wife who lives out the rest of her life in sheer terror of her husband.
Tell it to the wife, constantly being beaten up in front of her children, with her children unable to even speak, let alone lift a finger to help her.
Tell it to the wife, who has been made to give up all her money from her side of the family in order for it to be put in one joint account, and, with time, the husband becoming aloof and threatening her to put her out with nothing in her name if she so much as spoke about his doings with other women!
Tell it to the husband, being forced to become a workaholic, preferring late nights in the office doing nothing, than going back to a home where there is no life.
Tell it to the many husbands, forced to seek emotional consolation in other men and women, even sexually, cos their respective wives will merely turn their back on them or, 'have 'eadache'!
Tell it to all those many young people who realise what a mistake they made and that there is no way for them to repair that mistake.
Yeah ... and while at it, go tell it to the marines!
Mr Joseph Calleja
May 16th 2011, 14:58
Ms Abela it seems that you are dumping this whole conscience decision on God. What ever we do is generated and orchestrated by God. And who decides wars and destruction? It is surely not God. The true Elite Catholics can freely apply and seek an annulment through the Church Tribunal to dissolve a marriage. And this Church Tribunal is so forgiving that they wipe out any trace of that marriage ever existing. Maybe you are right, God, or Jesus Christ never mentioned anything bad about annulments, as a matter of fact neither mentioned annulments at all? By the way nobody, but nobody is forcing any catholic to get a divorce.
" It is time to do the examination of conscience. Who do you trust more, man or God?" Trusting God has nothing to do with voting Yes for divorce. God let us vote freely according to our conscience not his, after all he gave us the freedom of choice, now it is up to us. God will inspire us to do the right thing.
Mr Joseph Grima
May 16th 2011, 14:41
Ms Abela, a more patronising stance I have yet to see ! I cannot believe that you want to turn people who are voting into busybodies like yourself - you deserveto be called a busybody with your patronising attitude. Fancy having the gall to scare people into voting no by make a statement that people who intend to vote yes will be responsbile for Catholics who apply for a divorce and cut themselves off from sacraments. It's their business what they do. Maria Shriver, Arnold Schwarzinegger's Catholic wife, suffered him for 25years before deciding to finally divorce him last week. Are we going to be held responsible becasue she CAN and IS divorcing him for his humiliation of her all these years? Go tell it to the marines , please.
Mr Paul Galea
May 16th 2011, 13:45
Very well said. This is is a very good article which clarifies the subject of conscience more than some so called theologians have done so far.
Mr Charles Grima
May 17th 2011, 09:39
I thought it was rubbish. Contradicting itself in a number of ways.
Mr William Flynn
May 16th 2011, 13:28
“Conscience is the voice of God in your innermost being, planted there by the Creator ….it is the voice of the Holy Spirit, a priceless gift to every human being. God anchored it in His Ten Commandments”
The fallacious argument from religion again; no one needs god, assuming there is one, to have a conscience. Some of the greatest humane actions in history were committed by those who don’t believe in divinity (Abraham Lincoln) and some of the greatest inhuman atrocities were committed by Catholics and Christians (Nazis with Gott mit uns on their uniform buckles; and Croatia’s Ustace supported by Franciscan Monks and Archbishop Saric of Sarajevo during WWII).
Mr Michael Debono
May 16th 2011, 13:28
First you write about conscience that is free then you try to influence it and to describe it as being in the wrong in certain circumstances and you want it to be like yours. Who tells you that you are in the right and not your neighbour. The conscience of an intellectuel is more subtil than that of lets say a farmer. That is using wrong tactics, because either conscience is free or it must submit to your opinion.You pressure your neighbour to agree with you for some or other purpose, in this a case a religio-political subject. You try to impose your views to people who do not have your intelect, that's fanatism. Our conscience is at the level of our intellect don't abuse and try to persuade that theirs is wrong hence you explain yours and directly try to yes impose your views.
Ramon Casha
May 16th 2011, 11:08
Conscience is a result of a precious human trait: empathy. Our ability to place ourselves in someone else's shoes is an evolutionary trait that was necessary for our survival as a communal species. In order for society to work, certain behaviour cannot be tolerated. Conscience gives us a sense of what is right and what is wrong by allowing us to feel guilt, or sadness, or anger, when observing or considering an action that doesn't strike us directly. From this flows our sense of justice.
Sometimes we hear of evil events and wonder, how could these people do that? How can they live with their conscience?
There are many ways in which leaders try to manipulate the conscience of the people under them, in order to make them do things that their consciences would otherwise prohibit. How do you convince someone to hijack a plane and fly it into a building, killing himself along with thousands of others? How do you convince people to join an army with the intention of invading someone else's home and kill them, when they've never caused you any harm?
One method used is religion. Seneca the Younger, who lived about the same time as Jesus, said that "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."
What could convince a person that it's OK to fly a plane into a building? First, teach him that God is the ultimate morality, then convince him that God wants him to do that. How to build an army that will invade someone else's home? Convince them that the other army is desecrating your god's holy places and you've got yourself a crusade. How do you justify burning alive a person who simply states that the earth orbits around the sun? Under normal circumstances you wouldn't, but label it as heresy or blasphemy and anything is possible. Even burning someone alive.
So what is happening today in Malta? People are being asked "Who do you trust more, man or God?" and "What we are being asked to do on May 28 is decide for God by saying no or decide to do without Him by saying yes."
There it is! "If you're not with us, you're against God" - it's the call to the crusades, the call to the jihad. Prepare the firewood! Heat the branding irons! We're going to war!