Andrè Camilleri
Why you should vote no
On Saturday, Malta’s voters will be consulted on whether marriage should remain for life or, as in all other European states, a soluble union. Most of us are familiar with the hurried sequence of events leading to this point:
• The disloyalty of an MP presenting the first Private Member’s Bill in July 2010 without informing his party leader and colleagues and regardless of the fact that no party had a mandate;
• the teaming up of two MPs, one with evident personal interest and the other with equally evident anti-clerical zeal, in presenting a second Bill in December and the third in January of this year; and
• the infamous motion on the referendum question approved by the House on March 16.
This motion is insulting to the voter’s intelligence on various counts.
It refers to “guaranteed” maintenance, when every thinking being can conclude that no Parliament or law can guarantee maintenance to an abandoned spouse or child. The 80 prison terms served during 2010 due to unfulfilled maintenance obligations arising from separation are proof enough of how such obligations rely entirely on the willingness of the spouse to comply and, more importantly, on the availability of funds.
Even less certain is the care and well-being of children following an irresponsible type of divorce as proposed in the Bill before Parliament.
Possibly, the most irresponsible resolution in the motion of the House is that prior to and during the referendum campaign, no public funds shall be used in favour or against any particular opinion.
In essence, our representatives in Parliament have approved an expenditure of millions of euros, including subsidies for voters to fly in for the day, but are asking us to vote blindly. Our learned parliamentarians have stated clearly in the same motion that the proposed law is a major one, with historic and highly significant import and, yet, they did not approve a cent of expenditure to educate the voting public.
During the past months, it was evident that the pro-divorcists tried their best to hide the facts and to push voters on sentiment. They portrayed as heartless those wanting to retain a marriage for life. They shamelessly used victims of domestic abuse and children born out of wedlock, despite clear, irrefutable evidence that both the incidence of domestic violence and the number of children born out of wedlock are increasing in all countries having divorce. On prime time TV slots they claim the right to walk away from commitments and how important it is to instil a divorce mentality.
At the same time, the proponents of a no-fault divorce refuse to assess its foreseen impact on Malta’s marriages and families, calling such an assessment a “gimmick”. On the contrary, we would say, it is easy to gauge what impact divorce has had on families and marriages worldwide. Nowhere has the family or the well-being of children improved with the availability of divorce, let alone with the proposed unilateral no-fault divorce before our Parliament.
Whether you are married, separated or single, divorce will affect you should it become law. For starters, it is contagious (Daily Telegraph, February 2011) and tends to weaken the marriage commitment. It has led to increased rates of cohabitation (witness the 400 per cent increase in the 10 years after Ireland introduced divorce in 1997). The increase in marital and relationship breakdown will weigh heavily on the nation’s purse (witness the estimated 2010 expenditure in the UK of £41 billion. This is taxpayers’ money diverted from other public needs such as education, health, pensions and social security).
Should the Maltese Parliament introduce divorce, your children and future generations will grow in a culture that looks on marriage and divorce as equally acceptable and available under Maltese law. The rate of marriage breakdown (which was a relatively low seven per cent of all marriages according to the NSO census 2005) will inevitably increase to the high levels in countries with divorce.
You and your children deserve the best and no one will dispute that a lifelong commitment in marriage guarantees the best environment for children and couples. We cannot allow the family and our children to be used as pawns to accommodate personal or political agendas.
On account of the above actions of some of our MPs, on account of the misleading referendum question and the irresponsible abdication of our leaders from informing Maltese citizens on the importance of strong families and the ill-effects of divorce on society but, more importantly, in order to ensure that the vast majority of Maltese families remain strong and united, you should vote no to the referendum question on Saturday.
Dr Camilleri is chairman of the Moviment Żwieġ Bla Divorzju.
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Gerry Cowie
May 26th 2011, 21:04
Happily Malta will not be affected by secularism and the sarcasic and anti-Church comments generated by the pro movement as a whole. The voting people of Malta will not be pushed this way and that by anybody and will fight secualarism and humanism with all their might! The pro movement has suffered by these kind of interventions and has made itself the best weapon the anti movement ever had to date!
Mr Aaron Vella
May 26th 2011, 20:49
Regarding the Private Member's Bill, It is his right! He did nothing wrong and every member of parliament can do this.
Moreover, you are insulting the intellignece of the people, because "guarantee" means it is guaranteed by LAW. It's like saying, you go to the police station badly hurt, the LAW guarantees that the policeman inside will help you. But it still does not guarantee that you will not find a policeman who doesn't give a hoot about his job, and you!
As for the "children weapon", children suffer when the marriage fails, not when their parents file for divorce (After 4 years living apart, may I add)
As a reminder, in a referendum there is no RIGHT or WRONG. What is right for me might not be for you and vice versa. It would be a shame if the government will fund the Anti-Divorce or Pro-Divorce movement to educate the masses, talking about factual and unbiased "education"!
And please, stop referring to the "world" as "other countries".
Regarding the cohabitation issue, cohabitation is a trend in the world now a days. Divorce will not stop it but at least some people will not be forced into it. Besides, in Malta we do not have divorce and cohabition is still increasing, so stop blaming divorce for the rise in cohabitation in Ireland.
"You and your children deserve the best and no one will dispute that a lifelong commitment in marriage guarantees the best environment for children and couples", I agree. But what happens when domestic violence takes place? A Lifelong contract for the children and the spouse who will be abused mentally and physically is not what I call the best environment.
We are not as stupid as some people want us to be. So I'll be voting YES for the right to choose divorce. Because now you have to be precise that you'll be voting for the right to CHOOSE divorce. As the anti-divorce movement wants us to believe that if divorce pass, people will be getting divorces left, right and centre, which I guarantee, will not be the case.
Dr Camilleri, is this the faith you have in Maltese couples?
Mr Chris Gatt
May 26th 2011, 18:00
let me for a moment disregard the patronising tone of the headline ( really Dr Camilleri, do you really think you should be telling me what to do?)
Let us also disregard phrases such as 'voting blindly' (Really? is the electorate so stupid in Dr Camilleri's eyes, especially since most families already have the experience of a separation in their circle.)
If one wants to truly understand teh way a debate should be handled and the way it was handled by the likes of Dr Camilleri, one should only read Dr Fsadni's article which happened to be published , fortuitously I may add, just above Dr Camilleri's. The difference both in sense and in clear headed thinking with a logical structure based not on supposition and heresay but scientific fact is so stark as to make any further debate unnecessary
Ms Lynn Zahra
May 26th 2011, 17:27
The State is turning a blind eye to the discrimination being perpetrated on citizens who cannot afford to live for 6months abroad and obtain a divorce. When people start getting a divorce overseas and also billing the State for expenses incurred abroad in order to obtain that divorce , divorce will be introduced .
Knowledge is power, but unfortunately most Maltese are totally ignorant about their rights.
Ms Lynn Zahra
May 26th 2011, 17:15
Andre,
You urge the majority to continue treating separated people as SECOND CLASS CITIZENS. By implication, all those who are saying No to the introduction of divorce are really telling separated people that they deserve to be treated as second class citizens for having had the temerity to co-habit and produce offspring n out of wedlock.
Mr Michael Debono
May 26th 2011, 16:03
Analysing Dr. Cammileri tirade against divorce one meets with these expressions, probably with a dictionary in hand: insults, anticlerical, infamous, insulting, irresposible, shamelessly His thesis is absolutely negative.
The Motion proposed is infamous according to his mentality., It is insulting to the voters.Why? That is is his secret.
Regarding maintenance he is out of touch. It is not divorce that do not guarantee maintenance, the reason for divorce does it: separation. Divorce guarantees maintenance to the would be wife because a new family has been created and the father will have to maintain the family. When a wife quits her family or is sent away, she can sue her husband for maintenance, whether there is divorce or not. A separated woman in receipt of National Assistance loses her entitlement as soon as she remaries and that is positive aspect of divorce and remarriage.
Cohabitation has been there because there was and there is no divorce, it will remain there even after divorce hence divorce has nothing to do with cohabitation.
One has to remark that the NO gtoup has not raised a finger on the cohabitation legislation proposed by the Governmen,neithert he Churcht.Why? Is it not worst than divorce. Why? because politically it is being proposed by a government that is in line with the Church against divorce hence for a political reason.
Of two evils Divorce and Cohabitation, the worst is Cohabitation, hence any body in doubt must keep this in mind that the government is proposing cohabitation which is worse then divorce a hundred times.
and of thwo evils chose the lesser one and vote for to counteract its effect of cohabitation. Divorce YES, Cohabitation NO
Mr Joseph Calleja
May 26th 2011, 15:54
Dr Camilleri if you are so worried about children, why don't you stop using them as a weapon against divorce. Children will suffer whether their parents divorce,get an annulment, separate, cohabit or stay together because they have to, instead of wanting to. What do you say to children that watch daddy beating up on mommy every chance he gets? What do you say to children of spouses who come home drunk and reeking the smell of other men or women? Not all marriages are made in heaven some start out fine but turn into a living hell. What do you say to the children of such a marriage? That is why people have to vote yes for divorce on Saturday. If you really care and want to help children, vote yes for divorce. help to eradicate domestic violence. Stop confusing people and vote Yes for divorce.
Ms N Buttigieg
May 26th 2011, 15:18
This article confirmed my vote.
From an undecided voter, this article confirmed that next Saturday I will vote YES.
Mr David Farrugia
May 26th 2011, 15:13
YES all the way, and with total conviction!
Ronald Zammit
May 26th 2011, 13:44
Dr.Camilleri,
Your arguments and your LE moviment against the introduction of Divorce in Malta ,for me are simply pathetic and unacceptable! No matter what you try to feed us with, the reality is what it is and everyone is aware that seperation and cohabitation in our Island is on the increase notwithstanding that as yet we do not have a Divorce law and yet somehow, seperation and cohabitation have been accepted as a common real situation. So why all this fuss with you LE people on Divorce?! Divorce is a CIVIL RIGHT and who ever has a broken marriage has the right to opt for it. We are living in 2011 and people should have OPTIONS and not fears and doubts to hinder their lives. We as citizens have no right what so ever to interfere in the way others wants to live. To each his or her own responsability. The law for divorce is not comprehensive or a must to all but it will be there for who ever will be in need for it. An OPTION. Personally I am happily married and intend to stay like that, but for the sake of those whose marriage has gone on the rocks and needs a second chance... I will indeed vote YES on saturday...amen!!
Mr Alfred Hili
May 26th 2011, 13:32
In USA more than 50% of Catholic marriages end up in annulment. Hope we don't go that way if the 'no divorce lobby' wins, and then we finish up having more and more annulments instead of divorce.
Mr William Flynn
May 26th 2011, 12:58
Dottore, "the pro-divorcists tried their best to hide the facts"?
Dottore, they might as well have tried to hide the facts relating to divorce as much as hiding an elephant at the Cafe Premiere.
Dottore, I mean, the world is full of divorce, every country on earth jhad it and the two that don't are doing something about it...or trying.
Dottore?
Be sensible people of Malta; Please vote “YES”.
Mr Tommy Vella
May 26th 2011, 14:56
You don't seem very convinced, begging for yes votes.
Mr Wally Vella-Zarb
May 26th 2011, 11:58
Quite frankly, the sheer arrogance, the lies, the half-truths, the deliberate manipulation of 'facts' that have no proven correlation, the insensitivity to the tangible suffering of others, the intolerance, the "I'm alright Jack" attitude, the sanctimonious 'talking at' the population, the personal attacks, the personalised letter sent to Maltese women... in fact, the entire pochade of your movement - this article very much included - have been nauseating.
They are more than sufficient to persuade any honest and rational person who is not blinded by the dishonest façade that your movement has presented to vote "YES" next Saturday!
Pierre Fiorentino
May 26th 2011, 11:45
Is sibt li gej importanti li nivvutaw IVA ghax:
- Wasal iz zmien li f dal pajjiz naghmlu separazzjoni netta bejn stat u knisja. L istat, independentement mill-knisja ghandu d dmir li jillegisla favur il poplu kollu inkluz il minoranzi. Min naha taghha
il knisja ghandha d dmir li tinkoraggixxi zwieg dejjiemi imma fl-istess waqt li ma tikkundannax minn iz-zwieg fallielu.
- jien bhala persuna m ghandi l ebda dritt li ncahhad lil haddiehor milli jkollu cans iehor f hajtu. Hi x'inhi r raguni ta l individwu nzommu f mohhna li ghandna nibdew noqghodu pass lura milli niggudikaw lil dak u lil iehor.
- it-tfal ibatu izjed meta jaraw lil genituri m humiex kuntenti flimkien u l konsegwenzi li dan igib mieghu. Ghalkemm it tfal ikunu jixtiequ jaraw lil genituri taghhom jibqaw flimien xi drabi l fatt li jibqaw flimkien ikun ta dannu kbir ghalijom. Fl ahhar mill ahhar it-tfal iridu ambjent ta imhabba madwarhom
Min ghadu incert u ghadu ma jafx kif se jivvota nitlobkom tahsbuha sew u zommu f mohhkom li jekk ma tmorrux tivvutaw tkunu qed tinjoraw lil min jixtieq jiddeciedi li jerga jkollu cans jibni hajtu ma persuna ohra. Fl ahhar mill ahhar hajja wahda ghandna u kulhadd ghandu dritt ikun kuntent. Mhux sew li ghax ahna ok mela haddiehor ma jimpurtanix minnu.
Mr Tony Camilleri
May 26th 2011, 11:28
What about the infamous corrupt practices such as pressuring old people in old peoples homes on whether they are going to vote and if not why by those who give them Holy Communion?
Why should priests, monks, nuns etc vote when they have no interest in marriage?
Oh I forgot.
Many priests, monks and nuns have left the Holy Orders and married.
Mr Tommy Vella
May 26th 2011, 13:45
I have just received a leaflet at home telling, more than that, assuring, me that it is not a sin to vote yes.
Isn't this meddling with my conscience? Or would it be meddling with one's concscience only if such a declaration, or the opposite, was issued by the bishops?
Mr Tony Camilleri
May 26th 2011, 21:48
Its not when you receive a leaflet by anyone, but when people who try to use their position to wield power over those who may depend on them is corrupt practice Mr Vella.
Such as telling them that if they do not vote NO or if they vote yes they will not be given Holy Communion etc etc.
Mr J. Borg
May 26th 2011, 10:28
Vote YES
Claris Galea
May 26th 2011, 10:19
You should have voted No to Malta in the EU .
As a practicing Catholic , I will defend the right of every non Catholic , to be able ,in Malta,as part of the EU, to solve his problems without My Church imposing any rules onto his civil rights.
Wake up this 2011 not 1960 .
I pity the clergy who are committing the same mistake under a different Gonzi !
Voting YES !
Mr J. Borg
May 26th 2011, 10:14
The more i hear about misleading question, soluble marriage (as if it is a piece of ice), etc, etc the more convinced i am now that on saturday i will go an vote.
I will be voting with a clean conscience and i will be voting:
YES
Victor Rodenas
May 26th 2011, 09:33
Most people know that Divorce in Malta is just a matter of time,if not today it will be tomorrow for sure,...pro tempore, one can cohabit or if lucky get an annulment.Since youngsters want(percentige wise)divorce the wave will hit us for sure.