The anti-divorce campaigners who came up with billboards bearing Christ’s face yesterday played down the defeat at the polls saying they were out to win souls, not referenda.

“We do not measure our success by numbers but by the people who are touched by Christ’s love... which can’t be measured,” Clyde Attard, from Kristu Iva, Divorzju Le (Christ Yes, Divorce No) said when asked whether he thought the campaign was a success or whether it actually turned away people from Christ and the Church.

The posters in question, placed prominently around Malta, were the subject of parody and jokes while some believers felt the group’s campaign was the wrong way of tackling the divorce issue.

“Rather than saying our message was not effective, I would say that Christ’s words are hard. Christ’s disciples told him that his words were difficult,” Mr Attard said when asked whether they thought this was the case.

“No, we did not push people away from Christ,” Josette Bonello, who also fronted the campaign, said when asked.

“Fifty three per cent of the population and those who did not vote did not let Christ illuminate their decision,” Mr Attard said. “Christians have to let Christ’s word guide them in their daily life. We believe we have delivered Christ’s word,” he said, adding they were answerable to Christ.

Asked if they still thought of using a holy image in what essentially was a political campaign, Mr Attard replied that “if someone used the image of our campaign to mock Christ, it’s his or her responsibility”.

“When someone looks at Christ, they can either cling onto him or turn away. But our objective is to spread God’s word. We don’t have any political agenda. If anyone listens to his word, it’s their business.”

“The Word is clear,” Mr Attard said when asked whether Christians could have voted yes after a proper reflection on the Bible and social realities. “Christ still performs miracles, Christ still heals. Christ can change the hardest heart, violence, aggressiveness, past problems. Christ can heal.”