Kurt Sansone
Muscat hails birth of new era
Labour leader Joseph Muscat believes a new Malta has been born. Photo: Jason Borg
Labour MPs will not hinder the people’s will when the divorce Bill comes up for discussion in Parliament, according to Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.
“I am confident the Labour parliamentary group will respect the mandate given to them by the people,” Dr Muscat said, when asked whether his MPs will be bound by party discipline to vote in favour of the divorce Bill sponsored by Nationalist backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Labour MP Evarist Bartolo.
Dr Muscat yesterday reiterated his statement when asked specifically about Labour MP Adrian Vassallo, who had declared he would vote against the Bill irrespective of the referendum result. Dr Vassallo had gone on record saying that he would only vote in favour of divorce if Jesus Christ came back on earth and told him to do so.
Speaking at a press conference held after the result was out, Dr Muscat said it was now up to the Prime Minister to bring the Bill up for discussion in Parliament and to ensure the PN parliamentary group did not hinder the will of the people.
Dr Muscat described the overwhelming result as the birth of a new era. “The people have not only voted in favour of responsible divorce legislation but they have underlined the secular nature of the state. But this decision also signifies the birth of an era where political parties can no longer expect to tell the people what to do. Malta has a new generation of voters who acted independently of the political parties.”
He said there were no winners or losers but the result showed this was a nation that respected civil liberties and tolerance.
Dr Muscat singled out pro-divorce chairman Deborah Schembri when thanking all those who took part in the long and arduous campaign. She symbolised the will of Maltese women and the people in the past weeks, Dr Muscat said.
The Labour leader avoided interpreting the result along party lines. “The divorce issue went beyond whether voters were Labourites or Nationalists and it would be cheap to try and score political points from the referendum result,” Dr Muscat said.
However, he pointed out that the Labour Party remained the “natural home of everyone”.
“People have a choice between a confessional party that expected to dictate matters to the people and the Labour Party that listened to everyone without dictating. The Labour Party is the home of liberal-minded people,” Dr Muscat said.
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Ms Manquareiel de Caveden
Jun 4th 2011, 17:07
Joe Zammit... bla bla bla...
Mr Johnny Xerri
Jun 5th 2011, 18:07
Lets meet up & get them Joe...all we need is some ammunition and weapons...you take care of the blessed water...i'll take care of the water pistols. We will start with the districts with the highest YES vote...
Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it’s already guaranteed!
Mr Joe Zammit
May 31st 2011, 07:03
Some are mixing up divorce with remarriage. Divorce is not remarriage. Divorce is the dissolution of a validly contracted marriage by a human person. In an annulment there is no dissolution because there is no marriage.
And here is the evil of divorce: you have a valid marriage in which the spouses have solemnly VOWED to remain each other's, to remain faithful to each other in that, and ONLY in that marriage, and then somebody who has no say in that marriage abuses by declaring that marriage invalid.
What God has united let no man, no State put asunder! This is the greatest argument against the evil and the superficiality of divorce. No person, no MP can vote for it without sinning seriously against God! Divorce is intrinsic evil and as such it admits of NO exception! Divorce is always a grave sin that separates the sinner from God and puts them on the path to hell … and to hell for ever!
Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it’s already guaranteed!
Mr Joe Zammit
May 31st 2011, 07:02
Marriage is for ever. Dissolving a validly contracted marriage by a human authority is always a grave sin. No man has the right or the power to dissolve a validly contracted marriage.
Appealing to God's mercy to introduce divorce is diabolical in its very essence. The 'second chance' proposition is a devilish deceit. Christ commands us never to resort to divorce because "what God has joined together let no man put asunder!"
God will award the good and punish those who choose evil, like divorce, and this punishment will be in hell for ever if they don't repent before.
Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it’s already guaranteed!
Bud Moureaux - Flanders (BE) & Xemxija, SPB (MT)
May 30th 2011, 21:40
To all Maltese citizens!
"A new Malta has been born."
"This is the beginning of a more secular society!"
Having witnessed the charade by the Church, the conclusion is obvious. We should now strive for two things within the shortest possible time,
- first, the separation of State and Church, i.e. abolish Article 2 of the Constitution and
- secondly, the correct delineation between Church and State, excluding any interference whatsoever by the Church in State affairs.
Therefore, to this effect, let's start
(1) A FaceBook group.
(2) Set up a Movement with an appropriate name, e.g. No more State within the State; Malta-Secular YES, Malta-Church NO, ...
(3) Organize the necessary lobbying work for putting all this into laws to that effect.
In the past weeks leading up to Saturday's referendum, the Maltese voters have learnt how the Church has been scaremongering and lying to their flock and they have witnessed the utter hypocrisy the Church has shown by their belated apology. The voters are now much better armed to resist the Church's dirty tricks in the next campaign.
The correction of the relationship between the State and the Church in Malta is already 50 years overdue. An untenable situation will then finally cease to persist. In this way, Malta will become a real secular society where Maltese citizens will effectively be able to decide for themselves without fearing to be bullied by Mgr. XYZ and consorts. The Church in Malta should restrict its role to its teaching and advice to its own flock, i.e. Catholics, but refrain by all means from scaremongering and dictating what others should or shouldn't do.
Maltese voters are mature, conscientious people. They have shown it last Saturday, the D-Day for Divorce legislation. So, let's go for it, under the motto 'YES, we can do it!'
Bud Moureaux, partially residing in Flanders, BE and in Xemxija, SPB, MT.
John Scerri
May 30th 2011, 10:05
Quote 'Labour Party that listened to everyone without dictating. The Labour Party is the home of liberal-minded people,” Dr Muscat said.'
...............Since when ?
John Scerri
May 30th 2011, 10:00
Question to Dr. Muscat .
When in power ( as is predicted) in a few months time will you promise to reduce the peoples' water and electricity bills and what is your timeframe ?
Will you include this in your MLP programme .
Please do not use the word - 'amend' this does not mean 'reduce'