The Church contributed €180,000 to the anti-divorce movement in the run-up to the referendum, the movement announced today in its last statement before dissolution.

It said that its referendum campaign had cost it €236,000 which were spent mostly on the media.

With the media being mostly pro-divorce, the movement said it had to pay to convey its message while others could get it for free. Money was used on newspaper advertising, billboards and mailshots.

Movement leader Andrè Camilleri said the movement had had a duty to tell the people about the negative consequences of divorce on families and society.

During the campaign, the movement said it was helped by all those who believed that marriage should be permanent.

The biggest contributor was the Church which contributed €180,000.

A number of groups, organisations, families and individuals donated €56,000.

Some income and spending remained, but this would not affect the final figure by much, the movement said.

It  thanked all those who had helped it, particularly those who took part in media events.

Dr  Camilleri augured that the parliamentary debate on divorce would be constructive so that the new law would be the least harmful to society.