Philippines must not follow Malta, Church says
The outcome of the divorce referendum in Malta has made the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life of the Philippines even more determined to ensure that divorce is not legalized in the Philippines.
"It is very unfortunate what happened in Malta but it also makes us even more resolved to protect the institution of marriage," Fr Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the commission told the Filipino media.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said the proposed divorce bill was "anti-Filipino."
In an interview carried on ABS-CBN, the Archbishop said the Philippines should not follow Malta's course.
The country's parliament is due to start debating a divorce bill on Wednesday.
President Aquino earlier said he was against divorce for fundamental reasons, but acknowledged that marriage was not for everyone.
“I do recognize that there have been unions that were wrong, that no matter what interventions are done, no matter what counselling is done, they really cannot stay together. There is danger to either one or both parties in the marriage especially the children. Divorce is a no-no. But in legal separation, you can assert that there really are irreconcilable differences,” Aquino said.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said legalizing divorce would lead to more broken marriages in the country.
Fr Castro said legalizing divorce gives couples an easy way out instead of solving their problems.
"They divorce their first, second, third spouses because they have this image of the ideal spouse. If the marriage falls short of that image, they will separate," he said.
He noted: "If a court proves that there is psychological incapacity, the marriage is annulled. But then why should they be allowed to marry again? We just pass on the problem to the next marriage."
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Ivan Attard
May 31st 2011, 22:26
Unleash Mario Grech on the Filipinos ... it would be a surefire victory for the pro-divorce movement there!
Neil Sant
May 31st 2011, 21:23
91,000,000 people in the Philippenes. I bet you'll find several wolves in sheep's clothing there!
Kate Micallef
May 31st 2011, 11:12
The Church can never be pro divorce its written in bible...the church on the other hand has the right and obligation to spread the word of Jesus Christ. I do not understand the reason why people proclaim that they are Catholics and than in the same time believe in divorce.... However i do understand non Catholics who believe in divorce but not the other way round.
But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.(Luke 16:18)
connie sullivan
May 31st 2011, 16:23
Well said - prosit.. Hope this comment will be read by all. Maybe they stop blaming the church for everything. This is in the bible and it is clear and that is why the church cannot agree with divorce.
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:11
Lil Ms Xaxa Caruana. Jekk int trid tghid li int Kattolika missek ivvutajt Le. Int taf li Kristu ma ridx divorzju u ghamilt ta rasek. Gewwa il-bini tal-Knisja tista tmur kemm trid hadd mhu ser ikeccik izda ifhem wahdek. Mela jIen u it-tfal tieghi wiehed ghandu 24 yrs u l-ohra 19yrs ivvutajna Le ghax ahna Kattolici ta VERU u ghax ftit maggoranza qalet IVA allura ha jkollna ngawdu it-tahwid li ser igib mieghu Id-divorzju u dan li kien referendum non-binding! x'ezempju tghajna lil Filippini, kemm irridu inhalsu ghalih. u l-iskandlu li sejrin nghatu lit-tfal jigifieri dak ihalli lil mummy u jmur ma ohra jew il-mummy tmur ma iehor dan min se jhallas ghalih?
Rita Smith
Mr l Azzopardi
May 31st 2011, 11:11
where is Mgr Mario Grech? counting wolves in sheep's clothing?
G. Borg
May 31st 2011, 10:31
Is-sabiha hi li kulhadd ipacpac fuq il-liberta, ta' l-espressjoni, imbghad kif tiftah halqa l-Knisja, xi uhud jirvillaw !! Huti, jew iparla kulhadd jew inkella ma jparla hadd !!
Mr Robert Farrug
May 31st 2011, 11:47
Tparla mod Gorg, u tinstiga b'tatici ta' teddida fuq livel spritwali mod iehor. Il-problema mhux ghax il-knisja tesprimi ruha (ma nilabuwix ta subghajna f'halqna). Il-mezzi li tuza huma ghalija kontra l-istess tghalim li thaddan tant.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
May 31st 2011, 11:55
Because a lot of people are hypocrites, G Borg - they want remain "Catholics", attend mass and recieve the Holy communion but at the same time they expect the Church to bend the rules according to their needs, or else...they wreak havoc. I have no doubt in my mind that many of those who voted yes for divorce did so solely to spite the church without giving the slightest thought to any social negative consequences they might have to face in future. They made their bed, now I hope that they are prepared to lie in it - the only misfortune is that the rest may have to suffer with them too.
Ms Xaxa Caruana
May 31st 2011, 16:04
@Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Mela igifieri skont int Ms Rudi, hafna ivvutaw Iva bhala dispett lejn il knisja, u hallina tridx.
Jien ivutajt iva, ghax hekk qaltli il kuxjenza tieghi, il vot tieghi jfisser ghajnuna ghal min vera ghandu bzonnu.
U haga ohra who will suffer from it????? Mela inti hsibt li issa jekk koppja jkollha argumnet hekk maljar malajr, divorzju, u hallina tridx.
U please il knisja hi ta kulhadt, ta min ivvota iva u ta min ivota le, jew forsi tahsbu li ghax jien ivutajt iva ma ghandix dritt imur knisja? Tkomplux tipruvaw thaddru lin nies kontra il knisja ghax bil comments bla sens dak li qed tipruvaw taghmlu.
Issa il poplu ghazel, trid taccetawha din, so TINQDEWX iktar bil knisja biex tizvugaw id-dizapunt taghkhom.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Jun 1st 2011, 11:13
Yes, Ms Xaxa, I have no doubt in my mind that it was one of the main reasons. Whether you feel you still want to be a devout or not is none of my concern, that is entirely up to you, and you alone. Certainly no one is forcing you not to. My views about divorce have absolutely nothing to do with any religion, or the church - what concerns me most is it's effect on society in general because as I have experienced it elsewhere I do not see why it won't happen here too. I stopped going to church years ago because I felt that unless I was both able and ready to abide by all its rules, it was totally pointless. I do not want to be a HYPOCRITE. Does that give me the right to feel any resentment and anger for the church? Do I ever rant, rave and spew venom against it? Definitely NOT, Ms Xaxa - who the hell am I to tell the the church to change its rules to accomodate me? And you have the cheek to suggest that someone like myself is trying to use it and turn people against it? How dare you?
Re your question about who will suffer from it, well, I shall let time answer your question, and I assure that I have nothing to be disappointed about, my conscience is crystal clear. I am merely airing my views. I hope that I am at least entitled to that.
Mr Adrian Vella
May 31st 2011, 09:41
The Catholic Church, halfway across the Earth and yet the come out with the same crap.
Mr Eric Gahn
May 31st 2011, 10:27
Why Gouder only? I propose Mario Grech too. Such an ace card.
Mr Joe Gatt
Jun 1st 2011, 13:40
Mr Eric Gahn
Make it a Trio, throw in Joe Zammit ta Borg In Nadur too.
Mr Wayne Hewitt
May 31st 2011, 08:52
Perhaps they should engage Mgr Anton Gouder as their consultant...
connie sullivan
May 31st 2011, 10:00
The church is part of our society, and like all other people has right to express her feeling about this issue. The church has right not to agree with divorce. Everyone has his own/her opinion which we can express freely - and again I say - so those the church - but it seems that people want to be democratic when it pleases them. The people have voted in favour of divorce - now it is time to move forward and the church to continue the work in having stronger families. And what is so wrong with the apology!!!!. Some people hurt the church in the last weeks - some people might have felt hurt by the Church - as simply as that. Now live goes on...
Mr Robert Farrug
May 31st 2011, 11:37
@ connie - i'm sure you did not witness the holy sisters taking out the elderly to vote. That was very democratic indeed. Telling them what to vote. And all that going to HELL brainwashing and CHRIST NO thingy and SINS!!! Are you serious or is everyone forgetting already the church's propaganda? That was not just expressing an opinion to me!!! And since when are we talking about freedom of expression? Hypocrits!!! I'm not gonna forget the church's mess not even if they crawl on the floor singing the apology!! To hell with them all!!
connie sullivan
May 31st 2011, 16:34
Do you thing that it is only the church that has put on a progobanda. We had the Iva for divorce and the other side too. That is why we live in a democratic place - so everyone has rights for their own belief and express it too. We are a Catholic country here as a big majority of us are catholic and for those who do not believe in God - NO ONE IS ABOVE GOD - If the church hurt some people or let us say a lot, people have also hurt the church. But we are supposed to forgive and that is why the church forgave and issued an apology to others. And let us say that a minority of the priests came out aggressively on this issue (which by the way other lay people did) , would you put all the priests under the same catagory.
Mr Robert Farrug
May 31st 2011, 08:37
''But then why should they be allowed to marry again?'' - allowed? who are you to allow? from where do these powers come from? what is this arrogance? ... CHURCH = FEAR = CONTROL .... Can't you see the majority is not with you dear Father? Move out of the way. We want change. Go back into your cave of shadows and stay there.
Mr Lawrence Fenech
May 31st 2011, 08:10
60's + 2011 = disaster.
Mr Lawrence Fenech
May 31st 2011, 08:07
In this way the malta church should start a campaign in the Philippines and send the no enthusiasts along.
Martin Buttigieg
May 31st 2011, 07:51
Nahseb li qed nargaw inkunu intolleranti.
Charmaine Marmara'
May 31st 2011, 07:42
the church should now stop interfering , no matter what you say divorce will come to all . and its not follow what malta did , but what the people wanted , besides divorce would have been introduced anyway and if the church doesnt like what happened it should deal with it like the rest of us have dealt with all their sins and mistakes and all the bad mentality they injected in people ......im happy divorce was introduced and i was one of those open minded people to vote yes and the philippines should do the same .....referendum or not divorce is here TO STAY !!!!
Mr John Cassar
May 31st 2011, 07:42
I wish our Filipino brothers and sisters the best of luck.
Hopefully you will find a Deborah Schembri to champion your cause the way she did here in Malta.
Ginevra Alvarado
May 31st 2011, 07:21
Ohhh we are the sinners and the wrong ones and not the church! Oh give us a break!
Ms B Cassar
May 31st 2011, 07:18
The usual crap coming from clergy people. I think that before leaving such comments they have browsed the Times of Malta to read Joe Zammit comments and other crappy egoist comments, especially those coming from Kurja people such as our archbishops. I bet that now Joe Zammit and the others like him have shifted to timesofphilippines.com to try to indoctrine someone there. Good luck, in the meantime we are very happy with the result and to be a step further in democracy.
Ms Sabrina Borda
May 31st 2011, 07:10
God forbid the Maltese Curia head to the Philippines to give the good people there 'Tactical Advice'
Mr Joe Zammit
May 31st 2011, 06:51
Par. 2384 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
“Divorce is a grave offence against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death.
Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery:
If a husband, separated from his wife, approaches another woman, he is an adulterer because he makes that woman commit adultery, and the woman who lives with him is an adulteress, because she has drawn another's husband to herself.”
Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it's already guaranteed!
EDWIN DE MARCO
May 31st 2011, 10:08
Is-sewwa jirbah zgur izda t-telliefa ma jaqblux!
Mr Alex Buds
Jun 1st 2011, 01:20
If you lost, and victory over the devil is guaranteed, what is the implication for you?
Mr Joe Zammit
May 31st 2011, 06:49
Divorce is a great social evil, condemned by Christ. It was evil yesterday, it is also today and it will remain so until the end of time.
No MP, no voter can vote in favour of divorce without sinning seriously against God. To divorce is evil and condemned by God. God unites a couple in marriage for ever and no one, no State has the power, let alone the right, to dissolve their marriage.
Divorce is a grave sin. Helping anyone to divorce is equally a grave sin. Voting in parliament or in a referendum in favour of divorce is grave sin that separates that MP from God and puts them on the way to hell. Divorce pleases only the devil and his followers.
Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it's already guaranteed!
Ray Gatt
May 31st 2011, 10:00
The state are the people and the people have all the power. The people have spoken and you just have to accept the peoples vote. I know that you were very sure that victory was yours', but unless you hibernated last weekend, the result spoke for itself. Even with all the scaremongering and threatening from the church, YES won for it was the right thing to do. So Mr. Zammit et al, stop being the laughing stock of our democratic country and live and let live. Next step: State and Church divorce. No more power for the church is State affairs.
Join the battle between State and church! Fight the good fight! VICTORY IS OURS, IT'S ALREADY GUARANTEED!!! One down, NEXT.
angelo cilia
May 31st 2011, 11:23
Na Na Na Na ..hey hey hey, good bye !
You are a Loser Joe.
Admit it !
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:21
Joe is right here Parliamentarians have to answer to God like the rest of us. Nobody is exempted if one is a Christian. When one is called a Christian it is because one follows the teaching of Christ. If not why bother to be baptized or christened. Some people give a different meaning to being a Catholic and Christian. They are the same thing.
RS
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:22
To Angela Cilia. No no no we are all losers
RS
Ramon Casha
May 31st 2011, 04:43
Perhaps it would be a good idea for the church authorities in Malta to get in touch with their counterparts in the Philippines. Tell them of the 11th hour apology. Tell them of the hurt. Tell them of the rifts. With luck, they will not repeat the same mistakes there that they did here.
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:23
Have you never done mistakes as a human being? You have done one now if you voted Yes
Rita smith
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
May 31st 2011, 03:26
I simply do not understand why Catholics get so worked up at people 'like me' being anti-clerical. After all, neither St John the Baptist nor Christ were clerics.
Colin Stanley
May 31st 2011, 10:42
What next .now that we are a modern country, same sex marriages, get the crucifix out of public places. what do people like you think?
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
May 31st 2011, 01:46
What a contrast from the Catholic Church in Australia. I have met many Catholics who simply found it incredible that divorce was not available. A priest could hardly hold his laughter. One person made these comments: "Got your message Joseph. How extraordinary - no divorce 'til now. Sounds almost mediaeval!!!" That's what most Anglo-Saxon-Celtics-Gaelics think of all of this. So much for trying to be more British than the British ... and more Catholic than the Pope. When will dear little Malta be proud to be itself!
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:26
Sorry then they are not true Catholics. Why does everyone want the bad example to prevail? They are called Christians also and Christ which Christians derives of disliked divorce. What is your comment now?
Rita Smith
Alfred Gatt
May 30th 2011, 23:12
Dear Phillipines,
Do NOT follow in our footsteps because you will be ruining your country!
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:27
For sure they will. We made a big mistake. A great offence to Almighty God our Creator after all.
Rita Smith
Mr Nathan Darmanin
May 30th 2011, 22:24
Ukoll?? Ha tindahal lil Filippini x'jamlu issa?!?!
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:29
A true Christian or Catholic should be like Alfred Gatt. You are a true Christian if you are a witness of Christ and not a"libertin"
Rita Smith
Mr Joe Gatt
Jun 1st 2011, 17:35
Mr Jeffrey Mallia
Jekk jitla jghinhom Joe Zammit Tal `LE` jitilfu zgur Guaranteed.
`Yes` will win if old JZ, goes on a crusade in the good old Phillipines. guaranteed.
Boy how he despises that little poor mean old Devil.
But in reality, deep down he`s a sweet old guy with an attitude.
He definetly was a great big asset to the `Yes` campaign here in Malta
Thank you Joe, you will be rewarded, guaranteed.
Mr Jeffrey Mallia
May 30th 2011, 22:00
Mr Joe Zammit is needed in the Philippines .................:)
Mr Joe Xuereb
May 30th 2011, 21:59
Until fairly recently, the married man was the meal-ticket, particularly in the depressed south where women who remained single were a burden unto themselves. Women, in Malta especially, did light factory work to save up for their dowry but once they got married, they stayed at home, had babies and, if she was unlucky enough to be caught in a 'bad' marriage, she shut up and put up. She was indoctrinated into believing that suffering was part of life and reward came later. Also, it was shameful to admit failure in marriage, admit violence in the family. Secrets and rivalry existed even between siblings. Playing happy families was often the name of the game.
The modern Maltese woman has fewer such contraints (ie she can support herself) but remnants of the old mindset are still around for much the same reasons now, as then.
Mr michael catania
May 30th 2011, 21:21
I never blame the catholic church for what is said but blame those who within it think that they can dictate how others shall live. Just because the majority in a country is of catholic beliefs those who are in charge think they can manipulate there peoples' mind. Those within the church hierarchy both here and the Philippinesseem to have common tactics with regard to divorce. Hopefully the church in the Phillines will learn from what happened in malta and desists from follow the Maltese example and let its people decide its destiny in peace.
Mr D Farrugia
May 30th 2011, 21:18
These are the Gonzis and the Mario Grechs of the Philippines talking bla bla bla.... and i bet my behind that if they do a referendum it will pass with flying colors ........ like ours :)
Mr Chris G
May 30th 2011, 20:31
Good luck to our Phillipino friends :) May they find social justice as we have!
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:32
What social justice, social disaster more likely
Rita smith
Joe Scerri
May 30th 2011, 20:27
Oh give us a break !!
Charles Sammut
May 30th 2011, 19:54
They also do this in the Philippines:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9IjbgHRwow
When the local members of the clergy start doing this as well, we will take them seriously when they look to the Philippines as the epitome of exemplary Catholicism.
Mr Martin Saliba
May 30th 2011, 19:28
Dear church , for your information The Philippines do not intened to introduce divorce BUT , they are going to make it easier to get an annulment which means that they are going to have an irrisponsable annulment proccess just to please those that want divorce but cannot because the Church in the Phillipines still has a strangle hold on the population just as the Maltese church had in the 1960's, but no more ,as was proven on referendum day. As for the hypocrits that will acuse me of hating the church i can honestly say that i dont , what i do hate is the way it wants to dictate on how we should live our lives , Live and let live ,there is enough space for all on our small island.
Mr mike Knight
May 30th 2011, 19:28
Oh gee here we go again the mighty church poking its nose where its not wanted, why don't they just stick to preaching the gospel or whatever else they preach, the next time they will be telling the Maltese whom to vote for.
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 1st 2011, 09:34
What's the use of preaching the Gospel to someone like you. For you it will go in from one ear and out from the other.
Rita Smith
Mr Tony Camilleri
May 30th 2011, 19:18
Min ikun qed jeghreq jabad anki ma tibna.
Mr Tony Camilleri
May 30th 2011, 19:17
As if anyone is going to take any more notice of the Church Commission!!!!!!!!
Ms P.M Graham
May 30th 2011, 18:36
When will the Church learn that they must not interfere in Politics. The Church is NOT a political party.
Kevin S.
May 30th 2011, 19:32
read the article before you comment!
Ms P.M Graham
May 30th 2011, 19:48
@kevin S
I did and I reiterate:
When will the Church learn that they must not interfere in Politics. The Church is NOT a political party.
connie sullivan
May 30th 2011, 20:38
The church is part of our society, and like all other people has right to express her feeling about this issue. The church has right not to agree with divorce. Everyone has his own/her opinion which we can express freely - and again I say - so those the church - but it seems that people want to be democratic when it pleases them. The people have voted in favour of divorce - now it is time to move forward and the church to continue the work in having stronger families. And what is so wrong with the apology!!!!. Some people hurt the church in the last weeks - some people might have felt hurt by the Church - as simply as that. Now live goes on...
Tony Borg
May 31st 2011, 08:05
Mr. Graham, The religion/church with it's followers and preachers, is the oldest political party in the World!!
Mr Kyle Boffa
May 30th 2011, 18:36
l-aqwa li hargu l-apologija!
Michael Magri
May 30th 2011, 18:35
Really Guys.. Who cares what the Philippens do or don`t do..Its their business after all, not ours...!!!
Mr Patrick Zammit
May 30th 2011, 19:02
Nice...
Victor Rodenas
May 30th 2011, 18:20
I am not sure,but I think that I have heard this one before :->
Mr Carmel Debono
May 30th 2011, 18:16
And according to history, at least in Malta, we had the majority of so called sound catholic marriages but did anyone ever question how many wives were really happily married? And how many wives were constrained to stay with the husband and raise his 10plus children, obey his orders, harassed, humiliated and beaten up?
Out of both evils I would prefer to have a wife that can stand up for her rights, instead of going to confession only to be told to be tolerant, forgiving and to return home to the carnage in the name of the Lord!
YES Divorce is another evil but is a way out in many cases!
Mr Joseph E Briffa
May 30th 2011, 18:50
Divorce is NOT the solution to the cases you quote. IF these women you mention had the financial means to leave their violent husband they would do so; it's only their financial constraints that enslave them to their violent husband.
Mr Joe Gatt
May 31st 2011, 01:54
Mr Joseph E Briffa
it's only their financial constraints that enslave them to their violent husband.
So, I see now, that is how the local church, which now says it will work harder for stronger famillies, by helping out financially.
The stronger the family the greater the financial assistance.
Charmaine Chetcuti
May 30th 2011, 18:01
It seems the Church never learns!
Charles Sammut
May 30th 2011, 19:49
But it wants to teach!
Mr Joe Gatt
Jun 1st 2011, 16:59
So did Stalin, Hitler Saddam each one of them always preach their own gospel.
God rest their turbulent souls.
Mr T. A. Bartolo
May 30th 2011, 17:48
I love that we have been held up as an example of anti-clericalism, at least once. Its dramatically ironic, and somewhat refreshing all at the same time.
Mr Peter Borg
May 30th 2011, 18:06
Delightfully ironic .
Ms Manquareiel de Caveden
May 30th 2011, 19:43
Hey hope is not lost for Malta. Remember that out of all the Italian regions, those most averse to the Vatican, religion and clerics are the so-called red regions, which can be found in central Italy. These are traditionally left-leaning and very anti-clerical. Guess what these lands were called before: the Papal States - they were areas of land controlled by the Popes until 1870 during the Risorgimento! There you have the link that explains the very anti-clerical sentiment they have there even today.
Hadrian Sultana
May 30th 2011, 17:39
What is unfortunate is that there are still people that want to dictate what others shall do.
Preach what you have to preach but try to block people and what happened in Malta will happen again.
Some people never learn, someone once said " you can take your horse near the water but you can never make it drink"
Let everyone who has a mind think about this.