Approving divorce 'may open the door to radical Islam'
European and American experts say changing Malta's divorce ban would show weakness to radical Muslims, who could capitalize on the island's drift toward secularism to push for Islamic laws, the US-based Catholic News Agency reported today.
"Forced secularism is a gift to the radical Muslims," Stephen Schwartz, a U.S. author and researcher on the Islamic world was quoted as saying. "They have the perspective that confusion and secularization is good among the Christians."
"Everybody has reason to be worried about radical Islam, and this is an issue of radical Islam," said Schwartz, founder of the Washington-based Center for Islamic Pluralism. "My opinion is: Malta should not change its divorce laws."
Schwartzargued that 'de-Christianizing' Malta's laws could give Islamic extremists a foothold to agitate for the practice of Islamic law.
"The moderate would say, 'Let Malta be Malta – don't change the divorce law,'" he stated. On the other hand, "a radical would see as much confusion as possible among the non-Muslims as good for the Muslims."
Schwartz, who belongs to the moderate Hanafi school of Islam, believes that preachers from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia may be planning to spread radical Islam in Malta — under the guise of helping Libyan and Tunisian refugees.
"If you had an influx of poor refugees from Tunisia and Libya [into Malta], the Pakistanis would be in there – swooping down like hawks,using 'aid money' as a pretext," he warned.
"Radical preaching of Islam is going to be a serious problem in Malta," Schwartz stressed. "The refugee population will be vulnerable to radical preachers."
Schwartz's concerns are echoed by a leading European expert on culture and religion.
"The idea that Muslims in Malta may benefit from the divorce law is not among the main topics on the agenda," said Massimo Introvigne, founder of the Center for Studies on New Religions in Turin, Italy. "Nonetheless, some portions of the Muslim community are quite quick in taking advantage of legal innovations which have nothing to do with Islam."
Introvigne said radical Muslims had already taken advantage of liberalizing trends in other European countries to push for a recognition of Sharia law.
He pointed to a case several years ago in the European Court of Human Rights. Muslim organizations petitioned the court to recognize polygamy in the United Kingdom, arguing that laws against the practice violated their religious liberty.
At the time, the UK had not yet introduced its same-sex "civil partnerships," and the Muslim organizations lost their case.
However, same-sex partnerships have since been legalized in the UK, so the Muslims are once more pursuing their claim. "That time, we lost the case because it was said that in the UK there is traditionally only one form of marriage. But now that there are two, with the inclusion of same-sex marriage, why not three?"
A similar situation could follow for Malta, if it chooses to permit divorce, Introvigne said.
"Some Muslim organizations may eventually take advantage of this for recognizing the practice of 'repudiating' women, which prevails under Islamic law." The practices involves automatic divorce, by a husband's decree.
"I'm personally very much against the referendum on divorce in Malta, and I feel very strongly in favor of those who resist it," Introvigne said. "I see the merit of those who are afraid that recognizing divorce in Malta may open the way for Islamic divorce."
Introvigne said that Europe has followed a pattern of first legalizing divorce, then abortion, then same-sex marriage. Eventually, countries have no grounds to object when radical Muslims push for the practice of Sharia law as a form of legal "diversity." That idea has already met with approval in some places in the UK and Australia.
Full story at
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Mr Rudy Sollars
May 23rd 2011, 19:21
Mr. Stephen Schwartz, you are forcing me to confirm what Friedrich Nietzsche said that fear is the mother of all herd morality...
Mr Mike Abbot
May 23rd 2011, 15:54
European and American experts? Experts in what??
Ms C. Dimech
May 23rd 2011, 15:08
Well Mr. Schwartz would do well then to lobby for the abrogation of divorce in the US....charity begins at home!!!!
Ms D Galea
May 23rd 2011, 10:52
Dear Mr Callus, why dont you see what is happening nearer home, such as in the EU?
In the meantime , what does a muslim have to stand for to be recignized by your good self as a fundamentalist? Is promoting on national television the cutting of hands for thieves ,and stoning for adulterers and gays not fundamentalist enough?
Mr Robert Callus
May 23rd 2011, 15:32
If this is happening in EU countries it's because of the notion that religions (irrespective of which) have some special privilege.
I have publicly condemned a Muslim leader on TV for his extremist (though not fundamentalist) views:
http://maltagreenyouth.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/el-sadis-comments-deemed-out-of-line/
On the other hand, the Local Catholic authorities - JOINED THEM:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100625/local/muslims-and-catholics-unite-against-gay-marriage-but-disagree-on-divorce.314558
From what you can see, if the issue here was gay marriage rather than divorce, the same people scaremongering with radical Muslims, would be quoting them.
Mr Joe Gatt
May 22nd 2011, 23:31
So unfortunately but necessarilyy, turning the boats back sounds better and is a better solution than restricting the basic right to the Maltese.
Mr Joe Gatt
May 22nd 2011, 23:26
With or without divorce, the present so called christian majority, is being reduced with each boat load of imigrants that enters our territorial waters, at the same time these so called christians are hell bent on a crusade against their brothers and sisters. This crusade is encouraged by the church leaders here in Malta.
A famous quote often heard in sermons delivered to the faithful, `You reap what you have sown`
and everyone finally get what one deserves
Mr Joe Gatt
May 22nd 2011, 23:15
With or without divorce, the present so called christian majority, is being reduced with each boat load of imigrants that enters our territorial waters, at the same time these so called christians are hell bent on a crusade against their brothers and sisters. This crusade is encouraged by the church leaders here in Malta.
A famous quote often heard in sermons delivered to the faithful, `You reap what you have sown`
and everyone finally get what one deserves
Mr David Farrugia
May 22nd 2011, 23:04
someone is losing the battle and clutching a straws. no news value whatsoever.
Mr Carmel Pule'
May 22nd 2011, 21:27
Imposing a democratic decision through majority rule is always stupid, for it is always the selection between imperfect options, as in the election of any government. As far as I am concerned, going in for a democratic selection/choice for Divorce or No Divorce in the coming referendum does not make either choice right an absolutely correct solution for all marriage difficulties nor successes.
The real problem as I see it is the fact that we are supposed to be born with a healthy mind and a healthy body, and the real truth is that most modern city people lost their capacity to love! and replaced it with seeking success in some other form. Many women these days canot telll the difference between a feminine and a sexual look and opt for the latter, and many men do not know the difference between caring for the family and filling the house with modern gadgets/toys, and prefer to remain a child throughout his life looking for excitement, the Paceville type!
Charles Sammut
May 22nd 2011, 20:09
What is going to open the door to Islamic extremism is illegal immigration. But you wouldn't get the Catholic Church admitting that because it is part of the illegal immigration industry worldwide. Control immigration, legal and illegal and there will be no problem with Islamic extremism.
Mr Robert Callus
May 22nd 2011, 17:00
This is twisted logic at its best. You don't stop religious extremism by extremism from another religion. It doesn't work that way, but the other way round.
Islamic extremism flourishes only in NON-SECULAR countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia. The notion that religion has a RIGHT to impose on the state. Let's defy this dangerous mentality and vote YES.
Apart from that, what Muslim extremists is this "professor" talking about? I haven't met one yet, and I happen to know a lot of Muslims (some of whom have actually FLED from extremists. They surely don't want to see it here.
Stop this scaremongering and confusing people's minds - at least for the sake of the common good
Ms F Goodwin
May 22nd 2011, 16:09
Is this April Fool's Day?
How does this Muslim with a Jewish name even know about all this, and why does he care?! How did he know to invoke irregular migrants and the referendum, this website's surefire hot topics? Why would someone attached to a centre for 'pluralism' and a self-proclaimed 'moderate' make such racist statements? It's all totally bizarre. I hope this some sort of a strange hoax because his arguments are just so mindblowingly stupid that I'd rather not believe a real person has taken the time to stick his nose into Malta's business to share them...
Mr Alex Buds
May 22nd 2011, 15:51
This is the stupidest thing I have read in a long time.
By going secular, Malta goes radically Muslim? Eh???
To stop Islam, Malta should suppress the rights of suffering couples????
Let me go have another drink now...
Mr Patrick Gatt
May 22nd 2011, 14:35
Religious logic at its best:
Secularisation leads to radical Islam...... erm woot?!
Mr Ian Grech
May 22nd 2011, 10:15
This a radical left wing catholic agency. To them anything that does not follow US dogma is wrong. To them 9/11 was a gift as it automatically proved that all muslims are terrorists. Divorce is wrong. Same sex marriage is wrong. Eating meat on Friday's is wrong. Everything is wrong unless covered by some US charter and/or thier interpretation of the bible. I guess we have to thank dear ex-ambasador for this. Good riddance.
And the next big question is, what will our democratic government do to show that this piece on CNA is false to the bone?
Ms Manquareiel de Caveden
May 22nd 2011, 17:38
You mean radical right wing.
Mr Lawrence Fenech
May 22nd 2011, 10:10
Ergajna bil-barrani, its the door to a new begining for people who wake up every morning with the same problem.
Mr J Xerri
May 22nd 2011, 10:09
It seems that the option here is of either "opening our doors" to moderate islam or radical islam!!!
Mr Mario P. Sciberras
May 22nd 2011, 09:36
"European and American experts say changing Malta's divorce ban would show weakness to radical Muslims, who could capitalize on the island's drift toward secularism to push for Islamic laws, the US-based Catholic News Agency reported today." Yes I agree, and we will get aids, bubonic plague, and we will all go to hell. What a load of "you know what." Now we have the Catholic News Agency telling us what to do. They tell us there is a direct relationship between divorce and illegal immigration (??!!???). Did the Holy Spirit tell them this???
Adrian Buckle
May 22nd 2011, 09:19
This must be the daftest argument of the campaign . . . and that's saying something.
Elaine Compagno
May 22nd 2011, 11:39
With so many to choose from, I'm still not decided yet!
Victor Rodenas
May 22nd 2011, 08:27
So in the 60`s the enemy was Communism,now it is Islam,...next will be Aliens.BIG BROTHER is watching.
Mrs Pauline Abela
May 22nd 2011, 08:04
Why is it that when the Arab World was dominant (after the Roman Empire crumbled), people were allowed to keep their religion, as evidenced by the Maltese population which was occupied but remained Catholic. The Western World is currently dominant and also has freedoms (despite the Middle East having had enormous oil riches over the last 50 or so years). Is it possible, that oppression hinders people from success?
Mr Paul Caruana
May 22nd 2011, 08:03
What strikes about such absurd statements in our ongoing divorce wars is the level of contempt in which the average Maltese person's intelligence is held. What is disconcerting is that they are probably right in treating us (on average) as a bunch of gullible idiots!
One needs only to look at the shockingly high numbers of school leavers, who at 16 years leave the school system semi or completely illiterate! And let us not even discuss the ability of the average university student's ability to analyse such thorny issues rationally, without inbuilt prejudices!
To paraphrase an old rock song (with some modifications), our school system does not provide for intellectual development, much less creative thinking, but is actually geared for thought control, while at the same time training us to let the powerful people do the thinking for us.
Mr john vella
May 22nd 2011, 07:59
To all those who call the above report as intrigue underhand plot or as ba ba ba. A few weeks ago in Egypt both Muslim and Coptic Christians pursued a fight, hand in hand to gain their rights. The battle cry was Egypt is Muslim and Christian.
TODAY churches are being burned to the ground and Christians sheed their blood, with the authorities looking the other way. Of course those in authority are Muslim.
The way we are being invaded it will not be long before this planned invation by Muslim will make them in majority as it is a fact happened in parts of Spain, Britain, France, Belgium, Holland and then?
I guess history repeat itself, that would be really nice, then let us try to open our mouth as is the case in most of all Moslem countries.
No for divorce! Let us get more facts before it is too last!
Mr Mario P. Sciberras
May 22nd 2011, 09:48
WHAT HAS THIS GOT TO DO WITH THE DIVORCE DEBATE???? Are we all going mad or is it just me??
Are these the arguments against divorce?? So if we vote for divorce we will get more immigrants/refugees. This coming from the Christians forming part of the Catholic church in Malta shows the depths to which these people will go in the name of Jesus. Give me Suleiman any day.
Elaine Compagno
May 22nd 2011, 11:37
...and when it's too last, it's just too last!
Muslims would be hard pressed finding a plot to build another mosque with all the land the church owns. lol
Yet, no one says anything about the 5 times a day calling for prayer on loud speakers that can be heard around the marsa open centre and I assume the hal far one too. But, how can this be? We don't have divorce yet!
Mr Edward Camilleri
May 22nd 2011, 07:30
What a lot of rubbish. Radical islam has taken roots in states that are anything but secular! Take e.g. Iran, Afganistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, etc.
And if there is anything that is an enemy to Radical islam is a democratic country which is not opressed by any religion.
Mr Michael Mercieca
May 22nd 2011, 07:13
For more info about Shwartz visit his page: http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/1985/
So now the LE camp are enlisting the help of Islamists! What's next?
Although these religions are at loggerheads they all exhibit the same characteristics of keeping their followers in a state of blissful ignorance!
Ramon Casha
May 22nd 2011, 07:05
Ah so the lack of divorce legislation is the only thing keeping radical Islam at bay.
You've gone beyond scraping the bottom of the barrel. Of course you've been past that point ages ago. Don't worry, we've already got our own breed of local crazies promising earthquakes.
Mr Julian Borg
May 22nd 2011, 07:00
The LE campaign has been characterised by the sort of radical extremism views portrayed by fundamentalists .... they have done far more damage than good for the campaign. The proverbial no leg to stand on has been clearly demonstrated to anyone with a few brain cells.
Mr Martin Saliba
May 22nd 2011, 05:21
So the whole world is doomed except the Philippines. coool.
Richard Muscat
May 22nd 2011, 12:32
Lol. My thoughts precisely.
Ms Rhonda Balzan Bastow
May 22nd 2011, 04:46
what a load of rubbish
Elaine Compagno
May 22nd 2011, 02:46
Bhahahahaha.. I'm sure if I leaked the information of our pending referendum to a factory that made baked beans in India, they might publish an article on how divorce might bring poverty and increase baked beans sales as people ran to the shops to buy low cost sources of protein.
Mr Paul Barrett
May 22nd 2011, 02:45
I can only just afford one wife, never mind four. These people want to get a life.
Mr Anton Agius
May 22nd 2011, 02:40
what rubbish!.....
introducing divorce in Malta will lead to more frequent earthquakes and tsunamis....
introducing divorce in Mlata will lead to an icrease in the incidence of mouth cancers....
introducing divorce in Malta will lead to volcanic eruptions in Hawaii
Introducing divorce in Malta will lead to a major food crisis....
Ms Emma Xerri
May 22nd 2011, 02:26
What will lead to the Islamization of a country is not the introduction of divorce legislation but the introduction of Muslims into one's country under the guise of refugees etc. Here that JRS? (wink wink, nudge nudge!)
Ms Lina CARUANA
May 22nd 2011, 08:38
And intermarriage!
Mr Tony Camilleri
May 22nd 2011, 15:13
Perfect observation
Richard Muscat
May 22nd 2011, 01:02
The complete and utter ridiculousness of this article beggars belief.
Albert Spiteri
May 22nd 2011, 00:47
I hope that some fundamentalist would come up with the idea that divorce brings about a surge in geriatric sex power!.
Mr Carmelo Aquilina
May 22nd 2011, 00:11
And divorce will make you bald, make your kids fail their exams ...!
This is stupid, scaremongering and just plain wrong :
Fact: the US has a no problem with Islamic radical movements but has had divorce since 1701.
Fact: The philippines do not have divorce but haave a problem with an Islamic sparatist movement in their south.
D. A . Agius
May 22nd 2011, 00:06
Another comment is that Islam was at the receiving end in the last years, primarily from the American death merchants and their puppet, the American Government.
This is what radicalised the Muslim world to the level it is today, as the infrequent radicals had a huge harvest of impoverished and humiliated populations to pick from.
Had there been no abuses from many sides, end, radicalisation would be only in small contained pockets, not spread around the world at today's level.
Christians did the same in the first Millenium. History speaks of the superstitions, self interest and radicals within the Church which sowed death in the form of Inquisitions and Crusades.
Nowadays a much lower number of "Christians" don't give a hoot to practicing religion save for the essentials.
I'd bet the same will happen with Islam followers in a few generations once they live in our environment.
Ms Manquareiel de Caveden
May 22nd 2011, 00:06
So I gather that where these folks are from there is no divorce right?
So... they must be from... let's see... the Philippines, or... hmm... ah yes the Vatican.
Wait ok that might be improbable ok so that would mean that where they're from there is divorce so there is rampant radical Islam right? So let's see, Italy, hmm... last I checked they were celebrating keeping crucifixes in schools so it is definitely not radical Islam, maybe radical, but something else! Stephen Schwartz is from America, no I don't exactly think radical Islam is there either, no forcing of women to wear Burqas or any sign of Sharia law, there are, last time I checked, pastor burning Korans, yes Korans, so that would make it... let's see... radical ANTI-Islam? Yes they were Radical fundamentalist Christians.
So I'd like to ask a question... 1) why fish out a lost American who suddenly realized Malta exists and who forgot there is divorce in his own country AND an extreme Italian right wing fanatic whose academic credentials are dubious? 2) WHY are they coming to fight their 'holy war' here?
Mr Joshua Briffa
May 21st 2011, 23:35
The comparison is stupid, you are comparing a situation where people wanted to change the laws because of tradition (Islam in UK), with a situation where people want to change the law because it is objectively necessary and practical for Malta in 2011. All this article does is implicitly show how destructive religion is within a state - another reason why it should always be distinct and separate from the state. Malta is Malta, and it will never allow abortion or same sex marriage to become legal (sadly), because of our mentality, not our laws. Once again, these articles seem to forget the most important thing - the individual existing within a unique society and culture, instead portraying the human being as a statistic living within world-wide strict patterns of behaviour.
angelo cilia
May 21st 2011, 23:18
So now the roman church in Malta has an ally in what this Mr. Schwartz says, to use radical islam as a boogey man against the introduction of a divorce law in Malta. How low can this institution go to get its way.
If the church had any real fear of radical islam it would not be first in line with its cheering chorus and vocal JRS in Malta and anywhere else european culture is to bring in as many muslim illegal migrants as possible in the shortest time possible. It would get its pliable politicians to send these folks back to their home land come blazes or high water.
Who is fooling who?
Who is controlling who?
Mr Adrian Vella
May 21st 2011, 22:59
did the Le camp pay this expert to yap and yap??
Philip Galea
May 21st 2011, 22:55
You're not serious?? Come on! It doesn't even make sense, introduce more Liberal laws and radical Muslims will try introduce sharia law? Sharia law one of the most Conservative and Constraining legal systems that exists. These "people" will go to any length to try and "convince us/control our vote" using scare tactics such as excommunication but now they're trying to tell us bluntly 'we will be invaded by radical Muslims and their law forced upon us'? We're not a stupid people but sometimes the Pure Ignorance that comes out of these peoples mouths is Astonishing.
Mr John J Borg
May 21st 2011, 22:44
"Forced secularism is a gift to the radical Muslims,"
naaaa, we are in full racism era, sooner or later this bubble will explode ....and off they go, and we will return again to the pre racism era.
Mr Malcolm Seychell
May 21st 2011, 22:42
Radical Islam enters in a country as soon as a country open its borders to illegal immigration and a multicultural society which both Mons Grech and Cremona agree with. Waqfu l ipokrezija u l gideb
Kenneth Galea
May 21st 2011, 22:42
What utter rubbish. The islamists don't give a hoot whether we approve divorce or not. It is nothing to do with them and it is not even incorporated in Islamic/Shaira law.
I've never seen this scaremongering going on in my life. This is all being ignited by the Church who has a severe influence on its faithful. We are thrown back into the sixties era.
Bloggers open your eyes and don't let the Church brain wash you with rubbish anymore.
Mr Joseph Cauchi Senior
May 21st 2011, 22:41
What is the difference in concept of the “No Fault” divorce and the Koranic law, as the Yes campaign wants to shove down the Maltese throats?
None whatsoever, just the difference of 48 months; that’s all.
JC.
Ian Chetcuti
May 21st 2011, 22:40
My God. Now wonder they get people like Sarah Palin running for President.
Mr Matthew Abela
May 21st 2011, 22:38
Yes to divorce! No to ANY radical religion. If radical Islam starts to gain ground in Malta(which I very much doubt) the majority would quickly rise against it, and in the process destroy the rest of the genuine 'moderate' Islam in Malta.
Ms Emma Xerri
May 22nd 2011, 08:55
There is no genuine moderate Islam, in Malta or elsewhere. There are of course many good Muslims who although they know what is preached in the Koran, chose to ignore it and there are Muslims who genuinely do not know what is actually written in their holy book. But then there are others who know what is expected of them according to Mohammad's teaching in the Koran and they are bidding their time until their population grows enough to start making demands and fatwas.
Turkey's own Prime Minister Endrogan corrected this misconception (purposely cultivated by Islamists and the apologists in the West) when he said that there is only one Islam. The myth of a moderate Islam is just for Westerners' consumption until such a time that Islam gets the upper hand.
Mr l Azzopardi
May 21st 2011, 22:20
has it come to this ....OW COME OOOOOON!!!!
Martin Büttner
May 21st 2011, 22:16
"Approving divorce may open the door to real progress!"
angelo cilia
May 21st 2011, 22:16
Not much difference between the romanist church and its daughter islam.
Just a branch from the same tree trunk.
Lawrence Civelli
May 21st 2011, 22:12
The same thing is happening here in the US,some judges are already trying to go along with some sort of Sharia laws,the radical muslims take advantage of local laws to just put their feet in the door,so to speak,and they start from there, does the maltese government know what the muslim school is teaching their students, Malta beware before it is too late.
Mr Malcolm Seychell
May 21st 2011, 22:06
Haha lol i want to meet this expert - Please someone translate to him the word GAHAN.
Radical Islam exists in Europe because of free welfare for all and rampant abuse of human rights not of divorce.
Mr Victor Laiviera
May 21st 2011, 22:03
What a load of utter rubbish!
The ultimate in scare tactics. What next - divorce will open the doors to alien invasion?
Mr Patrick Zammit
May 21st 2011, 22:03
Does the Catholic News Agency have anything to say about the large number of illegal and mainly Muslim, immigrants who cross over to Malta unopposed and helped by the Catholic Jesuits?
Aren't the seeds of Islamic fundamentalism being sown in Malta even in the absence of divorce legislation?
D. A . Agius
May 21st 2011, 22:02
Would The Times bring up a story written by Mr. John Doe that Divorce in Malta is needed because if Christian Fanatics win this referendum we'll risk starting our way back to the Middle ages and inquisition?
HOGWASH!
Mr Chris Gatt
May 21st 2011, 22:00
Wow, Panic stations anyone?
"Quick , get out the panic station chart. Have we tried the 'abortion next' ploy?"
"Yep, didn't work"
"How about euthanasia?"
"No luck!"
"i know: same-sex marriage?"
"Nope, we nearly had the lynching of an Evangelical minister over that one, nasty business."
"Well how about grabbing some bishops and getting them to speak with one voice?"
"Not sure that three unmarried men giving advice on matrimony will go down well"
"Ok then we have no choice. we only have one weapon left!"
"Oh no, not that!"
"i'm afraid so. bring out the Ghost of Radical Islam stalking little Malta startegy. That should do the trick. Tell 'em their kids will all turn into radical Muslims. Tell them that's what happened all over the world. That's how that Obama,- sorry, I mean Osama - Biden - er, i mean Bin Laden got all his suicide bombers. Their parents were all divorced!"
"But we've never used that one before. The guy preaching that stuff is an American, the same country that Harold Camping comes from. You know, the guy who predicted the end of the world was three hours ago!"
"desperate times call for desperate measure!"
To be continued.......
Ms Emma Xerri
May 21st 2011, 21:59
What a bunch of hokum. The Catholic Church is bosom-buddies with Islamic fundamentalism and would like to be able to carry out some of its own fundamentalism itself, like the good old days.
Mr Terry Gosden
May 21st 2011, 21:58
What total hog wash; who dreams up this garbage, Muslims have divorce, in Malta, and that does nothing to dent their faith, or increase Christian radicalism. If this was a farce it would be taken more seriously. It is an American who predicts the end of the World, today, tomorrow, or pretty soon anyhow. If he's right he will not have a congregation around to say I told you so. (thats fun) Then we had the Millennium thingy, where I heard the local Priest say the end was nigh.
Where is the pure fun in religion, why the gloom, whats your problem, because its not mine.
Russell Sammut
May 21st 2011, 21:58
yeah yeah whatever... im so going to vote No now that I know this.... NOT
YES for Civil Rights No to Religious Bigotry (wherever it may come from)
Shaun Azzopardi
May 21st 2011, 21:56
De-Christianizing laws could lead to Muslims seeing as weak? XI hsara, mela ejja ngibu lura ligijiet kontra l-erezijiet u noqtlu lil kull min mhux Kristjan.
"Eventually, countries have no grounds to object when radical Muslims push for the practice of Sharia law as a form of legal "diversity." That idea has already met with approval in some places in the UK and Australia."
Dan bis-serjeta jew? Of course they still have grounds to object to it. You can't have a set of laws for a group of people merely differentiated by their religion and set of law for all the other people. It's irrationality. Non-sequitur galore.
M Piscopo
May 21st 2011, 21:55
Oh... and swarms of locusts will eat all our crops and...the dead will come out of their tombs to walk the streets....and Christmas will be cancelled forever....and there will be curfew at sundown. Be serious guys, please!
Mr david debattista
May 21st 2011, 21:51
What's next ???? What will you people think of next !!!!!!!!!
My boy, sounds like you need to spend some time at the happy acres .
Joe Fenech
May 21st 2011, 21:46
What bulls... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP EMBARRASSING YOURSELVES YOU LOT !
Mr Toni Cardona
May 21st 2011, 21:39
I thank Mr Schwartz for confirming my thoughts. That is precisely the reason why Europe, USA ... in fact all countries who approve divorce are Islamic strongholds.
Mr Joseph Micallef
May 21st 2011, 21:23
Incredible - the scaremongering never stops!
Mr Daniel Jones
May 21st 2011, 21:20
Of all the arguments against divorce I have seen in these posts over the last few weeks, this has come straight in at number 1 as being the most ridiculous.
This scaremongering is now becoming stupid. There are no places in the UK where sharia law is approved.
I think everyone has a reason to be worried about Stephen Schwarz. He is obviously delusional if he thinks for one minute that approving divorce will lead to Radical Islam becoming the dominant religion in Malta.
Mr Matthew Abela
May 22nd 2011, 10:31
Sorry but you are wrong. This was way back in 2008. Things could have only gotten worst for the UK. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4749183.ece
Mrs C. Weitze
May 21st 2011, 21:03
What's next?!?
Approving divorce may open the door to an increase of sexual diseases?!?
Oh yes, and the sky will fall on our heads as well!
Mr Tony Gatt
May 21st 2011, 21:31
You're in Malta now- anything's possible!
Peter Xuereb
May 21st 2011, 22:48
In other words: Voting against Radical Christianity allows for Radical islam.
What a farce.
Mr Simon Tortell
May 21st 2011, 23:29
That may be Mrs. Weitze, but I certainly am not prepared to risk my children's future with Muslim radicalism on one man's self-proclaimed need to get a divorce, which he confirms he will obtain anyway thanks to his daughter's residence in the UK (he'll have great difficulty doing that, but then its his problem, and I hope he will have to face it)!
By the way, 500 years ago the Muslims had tried to invade Europe, and were repelled on our modest shores. If this ridiculuous, unannounced, and surreptitiously-sprung referendum on a Government with a one-seat majority by its least trusted politician is somehow defeated, it will be miracle of similar proportions.
We do not need divorce. The second marriage, and the third, the fourth ... will only multiply the social problems that evidently infest those countries where they consider it hip to divorce fault free. There is no thought behind this proposal. As the Jewish rabbi (not the catholic church) said: it is easier to resolve a marriage than a hire purchase contract (perhaps to buy a kettle or a fridge!!).
No thanks: I trust my ancestors far more than my contemporaries. The history they have left us covers us in glory. I'm afraid that this development will condemn us to the low levels that history will condemn the ... yes, rest of the world.
Mr GEORGE S DARMANIN
May 22nd 2011, 07:40
Read carefully. The author claims that the door of radical Isam is opened due to secularism not directly as a result of divorce. However legalising divorce means more secularism, therefore ir will be a major contributing factor. Now that secularism leads to increased radical Islam is true. More Christians in all EU countries are becoming more seculrised; banning religious figures and traditions from public places in Christmas time (Christmas is becoming or became a Winterval) , banning crosses from public places (remember the hostess that was fired by British Airways for wearing a cross pendant?). The result is Christians are procreating less and our kids are not interested in our traditional religious beliefs. Not the same can be said to Muslims in Europe, they procreate around 8-10 for every European, and keep their kids in their rightful belief: Islam. With this trend, what do you think is going to happen to our secularised countries in a decade or two? Our answer, if we really want to avoid this, should not be hatred to our fellow human beings (like some are already doing), but to stick to our Christian beliefs and practice them (love them, tolerate them but not to the extent of giving away your Christian beliefs. Christ gave away his life to save us for His teachings not the other way round). Of course we are a democracy and we can choose to remain blind until its' too late.
Ms Emma Xerri
May 22nd 2011, 09:32
@ George Darmanin
But the 'tort' lies not in increasing secularisation, i.e. liberty from religious fanaticism, which in itself is a good thing, but in letting thousands of Muslims into the West, which we know use demography and population expansion as a weapon to win over lands that were previously Christian and usher in a new dark age of Islamic fundamentalism into the world, curtesy of stone-age Arabia where this cult originated from. I believe that for this you have to thank your friendly moral-relativisitic politicians who are in the control of Religious Leaders and particularly, to one arm of the Church - the JRS, which are working to bring back religious totalitarian fundamentalism in this century, and Islam fits the criteria of what they wish, the total subjegation and control of the population, something the Church enjoyed for hundreds of years, but lost through the Renaissance and the Reformation. And Islam is just what the doctor ordered if they are to have that power again, even if it be under the mantle of Islam, which obviously neither the Jesuits nor the Catholic Church seem to have a problem with judging by their many similarities and they way they see eye to eye on many issues and even vote the same at international conferences they are represent in and by the networks they have created to bring in Muslims into Europe from the most radical places on earth such as from Somalia.
But now they cunningly have us believe that Islam is the boogey-man if we vote for divorce. Hypocrites one and all.