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Divorce campaign: We wish we could have contributed more - Archbishop

Archbishop Paul Cremona said today that he wished the Church had been in a position to make a bigger financial contribution to the campaign against divorce.

"We did our duty when he made a financial contribution to the campaign for divorce not to be introduced in our country," Mgr Cremona said during Mass for the activists of the anti-divorce movement (Zwieg bla divorzju).

Earlier, the anti-divorce movement said its campaign had cost €236,000 and it received a contribution of €180,000 from the Church. (See separate story at  http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110622/local/church-contributed-180-000-to-anti-divorce-campaign.371916 ).

Mgr Cremona said he wished  that the Church could have contributed more for the movement to inform the people about the harm of divorce.

Mgr Cremona thanked all those who had worked to defend the permanence of marriage.

He said that although the anti-divorce movement was secular and worked independently of the Church, it had, like the Church, worked to inform the people in favour of permanent marriage.

He said the Church continued to have a duty to protect marriage, and its work to benefit society would continue.

Its work would continue not only through financial means but also through the services of hundreds of volunteers who served in the Cana Movement and in parishes to prepare couples for marriage.

The Church, he said, was the only institution in Malta which prepared couples for marriage and sheltered children who did not have a proper family environment.  Those couples whose marriage ran into trouble found help from the Church.

Thousands of young people received their formation from the Church, first and foremost. The Church was also the institution which helped drug addicts.

The Church's heart was always with families, and it had therefore contributed financially to keep divorce out.

Mgr Cremona urged society to contribute more for Malta to have strong families since that was the best for the people and families.

 
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Mr M Borg

Jun 24th 2011, 14:14

No, you are right !! it was not a crusade.

It was just the Church doing her duty towards her followers .

D. Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 16:37

kulhadd irid jindahal f hajjet haddiehor,ha jihdulek xi haga minn tieghek l omosesswali jekk ikollom dritt jizzewgu???? x affarijiet dawn!!!!

Philip Hili

Jun 23rd 2011, 23:04

@ Henry S. Pace

Sur Pace, rajtu beda hiereg l-gherf, ara l-kumment tas-sur david vella isfel!!!

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 00:23

Mela Peppi qed jiggennen. Dan prezentatur mohhu f'postu. Dan hu dritt ukoll issa? Mela veru ma jafx xi jfisser zwieg! Ahjar ma jdahhaqx nies bieh.

Rita Smith

David Seychell

Jun 24th 2011, 06:45

@D Vella

Ha jihdulek xi haga minn tieghek jekk persuna ikollha d-dritt tizzewweg sitt nisa? Ha jihdulek xi haga minn tieghek jekk grupp ta' 4 persuni bisesswali (tnejn irgiel u tnejn nisa) ikollhom id-dritt jizzewwg kollha lil xulxin? Ha jihdulek xi haga minn tieghek jekk persuna jkollha d-dritt tizzewweg kelb?

Il-punt mhux dak. Il-punt huwa li dan kollu jmur kontra l-iskop taz-zwieg.

Mr Philip Micallef

Jun 24th 2011, 10:39

Vera xarabank Sur Joe. Taf kif ghandek taghmlu l-marketing.

Mr M Borg

Jun 23rd 2011, 17:17

You are right in one thing only. The church is " concerned for the offence that we might give God ".

It is the church's duty to teach what is right and what is wrong to prevent all " those who believe from committing sins ."

"The matter of civil remarriage " as you put it , is what the church was trying to prevent. Not all those who seek separation will cohabit. However the church was trying to get the " message across " that all those who remmarried after divorce will be living in perpetual adultery.

For those who believe, and you might not understand this if you are not a practicing Catholic, the church will spend money to save souls.That is her moral duty and there is nothing irrational about the stand that the Church took.

You are wrong in saying that " the post-referendum backlash against the Church is hardly surprising. ". The words " post-referendum backlash " are out of place. All those who are saying things or writing against the church now wrote against the church and the Bishops during the referendum campaign.So, while it may seem " hardly surprising " to you this reaction was expected.

The Catholic Church is used to this and it will not stop her from doing her duty in the future.

Christopher Hayes

Jun 23rd 2011, 18:13

<<Not all those who seek separation will cohabit. However the church was trying to get the "message across" that all those who remarried after divorce will be living in perpetual adultery.>>

But not all those who divorce will go on to cohabit or contract a new civil marriage. So where is the difference? Estranged spouses who are cohabiting with new partners are already living in perpetual adultery, as you put it. Whether they contract a civil marriage or not does not detract from the adulterous nature of their relationship. So, again, where is the difference?

You stated that not all those who seek separation will cohabit by which, presumably, you mean to say that it is possible to separate from one’s spouse and not live in a state of sin. If it is indeed possible how could the dissolution of the civil marriage conceivably alter this? A legal separation dissolves the marriage contract in all but name. So how does divorce change things?

<<It is the church's duty to teach what is right and what is wrong to prevent all those who believe from committing sins>>

But at what point in the process is the sin committed? Is it in the fact of separating/divorcing one’s spouse? Or is sin only committed should one engage in a new and therefore’ adulterous’ relationship after separation/divorce?

Mr M Borg

Jun 23rd 2011, 18:50

@ Christopher Hayes.

The Church believes in the insolubility of marriage, but the Church knows that in certain cases some couples will need to separate.

The Church is not against this, but the Church does not allow cohabitation. Divorce is nothing but a legalised form of cohabitaion and it goes against the Church's teaching. It is the Church's duty to teach this, and to let practicing Catholics know that the coming of divorce legislation will not change anything where the Church is concerned.

A legal separation " dissolves the marriage contract " , but Catholics are still married in the eyes of the Church.

The Church knows of the many children who will suffer because of divorce, part of " Her campaign " was to point out this.

This may be news to you, but there are those who think that they will now be able to get divorced, remarry and still call themselves " practicing Catholics. "

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 00:27

From what I can read between the lines you are not even Catholic. Go and read the bible if you can because there it also mentions a marriage that is proved that have never been can be dissolved and if people want to cohabutate, yes it is a sin but people who seperate and do not remarry are not sinning. Sorry you have a lot to learn about Catholic catecism.

Rita smith

Philip Hili

Jun 23rd 2011, 23:08

@ Victor Pulis

Sur Pulis,
Haga ghadna ma nafux!
Il-finanzjarjament tal-"le" il-maggor parti tieghu gie minn ghand il-knisja.
Il-finanzjarjament tal-"Iva" minn fejn gie?? Nahseb ghandna dritt li nikunu nafu hux!!!

Victor Pulis

Jun 24th 2011, 11:19

Jien la jinteressani min iffinanzja lill LE u lanqas lill IVA. Qatt ma staqsejt. Li naf hu li l-flus li tat il knisja spiccaw fil but tal media li ssapportjat lill IVA! il logika tghidli li min issapportja lill LE ma kienx jehdihom flus ghar reklami. Mela il flus intefqu f'reklami fil gazzetti u stazzjonijiet pro divorce!!!

Philip Hili

Jun 25th 2011, 12:56

@ Victor Pulis

Jun 23rd, 12:20 - "Lil dawk kollha l-vvutaw IVA. Jekk joghgobkom toqghodux tirrispondu lill tal LE." Yesterday, 11:19" - "Jien la jinteressani min iffinanzja lill LE u lanqas lill IVA.-"

Tista' tiddeciedi u tkun konsistenti please. Pero' taf ilghala ma jinteressakx hux? Halli ma timbarazzax lill-PL peress li kien qal li dan is-suggett ma jixtieqx li jkun ballun politiku u spicca biex Joseph kien l-ewwel wiehed li ghamlu politiku. Ara kieku, kien jinteressak!!

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 00:39

Maybe you have read what a desperate death Voltaire died.

Rita Smith

Victor Pulis

Jun 24th 2011, 11:24

Because of his well-known criticism of the church, which he had refused to retract before his death, Voltaire was denied a Christian burial,(Rings a bell?!) but friends managed to bury his body secretly at the abbey of Scellières in Champagne before this prohibition had been announced. His heart and brain were embalmed separately. On 11 July 1791, the National Assembly, which regarded him as a forerunner of the French revolution, had his remains brought back to Paris to enshrine him in the Panthéon. It is estimated that a million people attended the procession, which stretched throughout Paris. There was an elaborate ceremony, complete with an orchestra, and the music included a piece that André Grétry composed specially for the event, which included a part for the "tuba curva". This was an instrument that originated in Roman times as the cornu but had been recently revived under a new name.[14]

A widely repeated story that the remains of Voltaire were stolen by religious fanatics in 1814 or 1821 during the Pantheon restoration and thrown into a garbage heap is false. Such rumours resulted in the coffin being opened in 1897, which confirmed that his remains were still present.

Buried in the Pantheon with a million mourners in attendance. Very far from a desperate death I should think.

Mr Matthew Grima

Jun 24th 2011, 12:12

Christianity is a religion.

Victor Pulis

Jun 24th 2011, 11:27

Do annulled parents abandon their children (which incidentally are born out of wedlock) and what about separated couples? do they abandon their children? Frequently, the hardest battles during divorce proceedings involve the custody of the children with both parties wanting to bring up the children.

Mr Tommy Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 12:18

It seems as if Mr Flynn’s dream and hope of Article 2 disappearing won’t be realized.
In case you missed it last Friday Mr. Flynn: “Dr Muscat said that he did not see any problem with the article in the constitution stating that Malta’s religion was Roman Catholic. This was because the constitution also safeguarded freedom of worship.” That’s the PL.
As for the PN if they wanted to do away with it they had 25 years in which to do it but they didn’t, so it does not seem as if they want to.
So who’s left?
Maybe you should put your money where your loud mouth is and run for the general election on your own ticket. After all if also a stray dog in Strada Stretta would win a seat in Parliament with the sole promise of dismantling Article 2, you’d be sure to make it. Then, who knows, maybe you could take all of Malta to Thomas More’s Utopia.

Mr William Flynn

Jun 23rd 2011, 13:50

I am taking down the names of all the commenters who say that Article 2 won't be removed and place them next to my framed list of those who used to tell me over the years in these columns that if I want divorce to come to Malta I should come and stand for election as do it myself.

Spending time as a parliamentarian in Malta would be very nice but only compared to having an acid bath.

Since Mr Vella is so interested in my dream, I'd like to give him this picture of kindly drawn courtesy of the Times of Malta’s current Poll with the help of nearly 8000 "brush strokes”.This is the Times poll:

How do you think the Prime Minister should vote on the Divorce Bill?

'No' according to his conscience and the PN position......25%


Abstain as long as the Bill is still approved......7%


Yes because that was what the referendum majority declared.......66%


Total number of votes: 10005

Well over 70% don’t want a NO vote (which is what the bishops wanted) and reflects strong support for the removal Article 2 from our Constitution. Surely if the Maltese population was really “Catholicissima” and wanted Article 2 in our Constitution,

1. The referendum would have returned a strong NO result and we wouldn’t be seeing any polls on how the PM should vote.

2. If there was even a modicum of anything resembling majority support for church authority, which I have never seen in all my years, no poll would show anything resembling these numbers.

Article 2 doesn't belong on the Constitution of a secular nation. The people have shown they don't wish gratuitous religious advice from bishops and bishops need to learn to listen to the secular state instead.

All in good time Mr Vella…all in good time.

Mr Andy Farrugia

Jun 23rd 2011, 16:01

Flynn, your persistence in repeating your mantras is ludicrous, but then so is your folly.

Mr William Flynn

Jun 23rd 2011, 16:17

Thank you Mr Farrugia. You're a tad late today and as usual no sensible argument just a blank shot from behind the bushes and run for it.

And you'll be delighted to know your name is now added to my regular stalker Mr Vella's name for my "Article 2 will never happen; it's a folly" list. That's two in one day.

But it isn't a long list. Only a few names so far if you include the resident cut and paste "the YES vote only won by 2%" apologist. Where is he today? On that’s right he only posts after 8pm Malta time.

Be my guests Knock yourselves out I'm going to sleep.

Mr Tommy Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 17:53

You are worse than Joe Zammit, the one you loathe and used to denigrate so much.

It seems as if you have found a gem in this current poll of the Times. Let's analyse it. A poll on the internet cannot be taken as a scientific random sample of the population. Do you grant me that?

So you will have to take it as a raw number. I did not pay any notice to the poll as to me it is highly unimportant. So according to the numbers you gave, if I understood correctly 66% of 10005 want the PM to vote yes and you are taking that as the percentage of those who want to do away with Article 2.

So 66% of 10005 = 6603 persons or to be more exact 6603.3.

For the referendum we had 325103 voters on the register. So all you can say is that 2% (or to be really just with you let me say 2.03114089 %) of the population want article 2 (according to you, highly doubtful to me) removed from the constitution.

I have the honour of having you remember my name to make me eat dust but that will be in the very very very far future. I won't even be around then. Thanks for your attention to my arguments.

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 00:46

I do not think you are Catholic. To me you seem to have no Religion at all. So please can you let the Chruch of Malta teach the Maltese right from wrong. With you arguments go somwhere else. You are not welcomed haere.

Rita Smith

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 00:51

Dear Mr Flynn that survey is the most rediculous. You know why? Because I voted 3 times. That's how exact it is. A true copy of the referendum result where 92,000 did not vote. That was also a clear result!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Rita Smith

Mr Matthew Grima

Jun 24th 2011, 12:15

Rita, I don't have a religion, am I not welcome either?

Kenneth Cassar

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:40

Issa ghax tinsab f'minoranza qed tiggieled ghad-drittijiet tal-minoranzi? Fejn kont qabel ir-referendum? Forsi kont l-Indja, fejn il-Knisja Kattolika qed tiggieled FAVUR is-SEKULARIZMU, ghax hemm tinsab f'minoranza?

Nibza mill-ipokrezija.

Mr Mark Zerafa

Jun 23rd 2011, 12:02

Ta' Psewdo-Liberali li jien, naqbel mieghek li ghandek dritt temmen li trid. Imma t-twemmin isir perikoluz meta jigi impost fuq haddiehor. Issa li r-referendum ghadda, xorta ghad ghandek id-dritt li thaddan it-twemmin tieghek, li tesprimih u li tghix hajtek skond dak li temmen. Kieku r-referendum ma ghaddiex, kulhadd kien ikollu joqghod ghal dak li temmen int. Imma ghidli, minn fejn sa fejn tassumi li jien Kattoliku bhalek, u li bil-fors, irrid jew ma rridx nghix skond dak it-twemmin? Iva. Nibza'. Minn elementi fis-socjeta' taghna li johonqu d-drittijiet tal-individwu li jghix hajtu skond twemminu. Li jcahhdu lill-individwu mid-dritt li jsib il-ferh f'hajtu. Nitwerwer.


Kenneth Cassar

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:23

No.

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 01:03

Oh Mr Gibson I can see what a true Christian you are. Christian is derived from Christ's name and you know what? Christ hated divorce. So what kind of Christian you are may I ask?

Ritya Smith

Mr Joe Borg

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:54

Who attends mass knows what are the church's belives, if you don't like them do not attend.
No one is forcing anybody or stealing money from anybody.

Do you still think that the church must only be a charity movement?!
CATHOLICISM IS RELIGION. WAKE UP. Either you belive or you don't.

Do you know what is the duty of every catholic. To spread Christ's word.
So should the church do. MONEY WELL SPENT CONTRIBUTED BY TRUE BELIEVERS.

Mr John Borg

Jun 23rd 2011, 12:00

Dear Mr. Gibson, if you attend mass yourself (since you seem not to from your comment) you would know that when the church collects money (ghall bzonnijiet tal-knisja) for it's own maintenance, embelishment or even the church feast, the priest states it clearly. Hence, if you don't want to contribute your money to such things you may choose not to.

On the other hand, when used for special causes (vocations, campaigns, missions etc) the church too makes it clear what the cuase it for. For this reason, EITHER attend mass and know what goes on OR please keep your redundant comments to yourself if your intention is only to harm the church.

Mr Geoff Gibson

Jun 23rd 2011, 13:18

@ The Borg family.

I have attended Mass on several occasions. What I didn't see or hear was a clear indication where my donation would be going. I also stopped going because I didn't see any reason to keep being preached at week after week, when I already led my life with a decent set of morals. A set of morals determined by law and my own (clean) conscious , not by what someone else forces upon me repeatedly.

Before you jump to conclusions, I am a christian.

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 01:00

Mr. Gibson

We are proud that our Churches are like they are. Nobody is forced to give out money. The Church does not keep a register to see who gave or who did not. That's why maybe your Churches in England are always empty because they look like ghost towns. Give us a break

Rita Smith

Mr Charles Falzon

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:13

Le mhux mibgheda imma meta tara flusek minfuqha hekk tirrabja....daqs kemm hawn istituti u nies foqra lil min il knisja setghet tat il flus kien hemm bzonn jonfqu daqshekk fuq id divorzju? Sorry imma ma naqbilx.

Mr Joseph Cassar

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:39

Min jaghti flus lill-knisja ma jaghmilx kundizzjonijiet, min ma jaqbilx ma jaghtix u ma jkun gara xejn.

Mr John Borg

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:55

Mr. Cassar you are so right. We go fooling people saying that Malta is 98% catholic. This referendum made me realise how many people are all-out against the church, telling it to shut up as though it wishes to harm society!

I repeat my same comment below:
If you attend church and really practice the teachings of the church, you should have never been in favour of divorce. Hence you would have been happy to have your money used for a cause you believe in and for this reason it was not wasted.

Better than spending it on the church feasts and fireworks, don't you think?

Mr elton grech

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:56

liema hi din l iskola tal knisja li toffri edukazzjoni privata b'xejn? jaqaw dawk li imbaghad jitolbu donation...u jghidulek ta' kemm trid tkun ukoll?

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 01:07

Mr Elton Grech

Mur qabbel id-donation mizera li jiehdu l-iskejjel tal-knisja ma skejjel privati u tara li l-Knisja veru taghallem b'xejn.

Rita smith

Mr Raphael Vassallo

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:08

'Does anyone know how much money the church spends on its schools and other institutions every year?'

Church schools are financed by the State.

Mr Steve Zammit

Jun 23rd 2011, 16:22

They are not!!!! Who told you? The state has enough schools to finance...

MALCOLM SEYCHELL

Jun 23rd 2011, 22:07

of course the state finances church schools. kemm hawn min qas qed jghix f dinja. mhux talli il gvern qed ittijhom il flus imma jitolbuk taparsi donation kull term......................

Mr John Cassar

Jun 24th 2011, 07:33

Steve, you check your facts. The church schools are financed by the state (ie by the tax payer's money) and then the church goes out and lavishly spends 180,000 on a misleading campaign.

I guess the election just cost the tax payer 4.18 million now.....

Mr Steve Zammit

Jun 24th 2011, 10:39

The state contributes to the teachers' salaries...that's true!! Ghankhom ragun!
However there are other expenses in running all these schools, don;t you agree!!!! Not to mention all the other institutions and the money involved....And again, our children attend these schools...

@ Mr. Seychel, jien qed ngthix f'dinja, u kif....nghix f'dinja b'nies li ghandhom kull dritt li jesprimu wriehom kif jahsbu li hu tajjeb u ta gid ghal kulhadd....tista taqbel jew le!!

@ Mr. Cassar, your comment is not just! Why misleading? Why lavishly? Didn't they have the right to voice their opinion. If I believe in something I will be willing to support those who are campaigning in its favour...even financially.

Mr Alfred Hili

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:07

The church teaches the Gospel of Christ. If you are a Catholic, then you don't seek to change the church history od faith and morals the moment your circumstances become difficult,

Olvin Galea

Jun 23rd 2011, 12:32

I never tried, all i am saying is that the church made a whole mess out of the campaign using the wrong arguments when it had the best options. Had they opted to explain better the nice value of chatolic marriage probably the result could have been different.

Mr Tommy Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 10:59

You can do what your coscience tells you.
Either way I think that you will be the loser. If you stop attending mass you won't be getting what you think that you are getting now from it. If you attend and stop contributing you will just be making yourself a scrounger, being able to donate to some good causes but not doing it.

Mr Geoff Gibson

Jun 23rd 2011, 13:26

@Tony Dali

If you find benefit form attending Mass, then carry on attending. If you don't like where the church spends it's money then do not contribute...it's not compulsory

If that leaves you feeling guilty, why not place your normal mass contribution into your favourite charity collection box? Could anyone object to that?

Simon Azzopardi

Jun 23rd 2011, 13:41

Tommy Vella, donating to a cancer charity is money well spent that is used effectively. There are various forms of Charity, and the church (if it is at all) is not the only one.

Mr Tommy Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 14:48

@Mr Azzopardi

You should polish your English comprehension. I never said that donating to the church is the only way to donate to charity.

I was answering Mr Dalli on his choice of attending the mass but not donating. He would be making use of a service while not supporting the charity that that service supports. For me that would be scrounging.

Ms Rita Smith

Jun 24th 2011, 01:14

You are free to do as you like but how wrong you are saying you are a practicing Catholic. Divorce is not in the Catholic dictioinary. You went against it's teaching and better find another Religion if you are having so many questions about what to do. Only you can solve your problem my friend.


R Smith

Simon Azzopardi

Jun 24th 2011, 09:16

Tommy, I guess we agree to disagree on that!

Mr Mark Zerafa

Jun 23rd 2011, 10:57

Jien bhalek ivvotajt IVA. L-IVA tieghi ma kinitx biss ghad-divorzju, imma kienet kontribut ckejken ghas-sekularizzazjoni tas-socjeta' taghna. Din ir-"rabja" mhix ghall-knisja per se, imma ghal-indhil eccessiv taghha fil-ligijiet tal-pajjiz u l-imposizzjoni tat-twemmin Kattoliku fuq cittadini li ghandhom twemmin differenti (jew l-ebda twemmin). Din ir-"rabja" hi ukoll reazzjoni ghan-nuqqas ta' sensitivita' tal-knisja lejn dawk li qed ibatu.

mary jane aquilina

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:02

Peppi issa ghaqqad grupp favur il-kacca ghax dawk ukoll minoranza (refernza ghax il-bicca taz-zwigijiet mhumiex imkissrin u dawk li ser juzaw id-divorzju huma minoranza nispera) siehbi. Ma ghandhomx dritt joqtlu ghasafar ghal gost?

Mr Alfred Hili

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:26

Now that the people have voted yes for divorce, now that our culture seems to want to treat marriage as anything except a sacrament and a life-long commitment, the church must make sure that those Catholics who are married in church are well prepared for it. The spouses must be aware especially of their lif-long commitment, their openess to children. If marriage is to be treated (or even worse celebrated) as a temporary arrangement rather than a permanent covenant, then there is little to say that fornication is wrong, or for that matter, adultery.

David Seychell

Jun 23rd 2011, 12:31

Peppi Azzopardi
"Jien nahdem biex issa jkunu jistghu anke jizzewgu l-omosseswali kif ghandhom dritt."

Homosexuals have the right to marry a person of the opposite sex, just like the rest of us. In fact, some gays do choose to get married and have children too.

But let us for a moment imagine that we accept to discard the essential prerequisite of marriage to be a union between a man and a woman only, so as to accommodate gays who want to marry a person of the same sex on the basis that they are in love and committed to each other. In that case, a bisexual who loves a man(bisexual) plus a woman (bisexual) would have a legitimate claim to redefine marriage again so that it becomes a union of two or more persons, because just like we would have discarded the essential opposite-sex prerequisite on the basis of the love and commitment principle, consistency would require us to also discard the two-persons-only prerequisite basing on the principle that the bisexual is in love and committed to the two other persons. And what about a man who loves six women? And then what if a woman claims that she loves her dog? Just like we would have discarded the essential opposite-sex prerequisite on the basis of the love and commitment principle, consistency would require us to also discard the human-human-only prerequisite basing on the principle that a woman is in love and committed to her dog -just like the Imam ones said. The different possibilities would be limited only by our imagination.

Marriage is between ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN only because children are ALWAYS the result of a union between ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN only.

Philip Hili

Jun 23rd 2011, 23:16

@ Peppit Azzopardi.

Ara veru...........l-ewwel itkeskes, u titfa' l-hatab fuq in-nar, u imbaghd tilghaba ta' qaddis.
Pepp mhux ahjar tillimita kliemek forsi izjed johrog gid?
"Jien nahdem biex issa jkunu jistghu anke jizzewgu l-omosseswali kif ghandhom dritt."
Fliema universita' attendejt biex taf li iz-zwieg bejn l-omosseswali skond int huwa "dritt"?
Kabbruielek wisq rasek Pepp!!!! u min kabbarlek rasek issa qieghed jaqlahha!!!!

Mr John Borg

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:52

Mr. Brincat, it is YOUR money if you attend church. Which in turn, if you attend church, you should have never been in favour of divorce. Hence you would have been happy to have YOUR money used for a cause YOU believe in. If you do not attend church, your comment here is useless.

better than spending it on the church feasts and fireworks, don't you think?

Mr Matthew Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 10:25

Do you donate money to the church? if you don't then no one has wated your money.

If you do donate money then it's up to the church on how it is used.

Mr William Flynn

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:39


What's this rubbish that if people don't donate to the church, then it's not their business what the bishops do with the church's money?

Does the church pay income tax? If not, (and I don't really know) Maltese tax payers are subsidising (and therefore donating to) the church whether they want to or not and whether they are Catholic or not.

The parents and grandparents and ancestors of those who don't contribute any more, contributed and paid money to the church over the centuries, big time; including death-bed bequests.

Every red cent the church owns belongs to the people and should be directed for the good of the people not wagered on political adventures out of sync with the wishes of the greater majority and which are destined to failure.

Mr Tommy Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 12:42

@ Mr William Flynn

Could you inform us about the amount you contributed to the Church? We, who do contribute, trust her enough to keep on contributing without asking her for any rendering of accounts.

Mr michael catania

Jun 23rd 2011, 10:48

Same here Mario I too thought that he was honest and humble but by his comments as printed puts him back in my estimation of him.

Charlie Borg

Jun 23rd 2011, 10:56

Mario Sciberras et alia: What did you expect? A bishop who does not 'fight' tooth and nail against divorce? Go on: please tell me! What did you expect? He had a duty to fight against the introduction of divorce becuase divorce goes against Catholic teachings. In this matter, he is not at fault.

Kenneth Cassar

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:11

Jien nghid ghalija, nibza nghix f'dinja fejn il-Knisja Kattolika fejn jaqblilha tattakka b'kampanja ta gideb lis-sekularizmu, u fejn jaqblilha (bhal fl-Indja, ghax tinsab f'minoranza), taghmel kampanja favur is-sekularizmu.

Ray Gatt

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:35

Il-Poplu tkellem, u il-maggoranza tal-Poplu stmerr il-kampanja qarrieqa u giddieba li ghamlet il-knisja/il-PN/u tal-Le sabiex tbezza lil poplu specjalment dak anzjan. Taf li l-knisja baghtet nies fl-iskejjel governattivi sabiex ibezzghu tfal ta' disa' snin. Imisshom jisthu. Il-knisja ghanda u kella kull dritt taghti l-opinjoni taghha, izda il-limiti qieghdin hemm ghal kulhadd. U x'differenza hemm bejn il-knisja u l-politbura komunista???

"Nibża' ngħix f'pajjiż fejn ladarba tkun tkellmet il-maġġoranza f'referendum,
kulħadd irid jivvota bilfors bħall-maġġoranza".

Xi drittijiet kien ikollha il-minoranza li ghanda bzonn id-divorzju kieku rebah il-LE. Jien ghandi dritt inkun kuntent f-hajti jew insib lil xi hadd bhalek li tipprova tisraqli dritt civili u thallini fil-limbu.

MaryJo Camenzuli

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:40

Kenneth Cassar:

Jiena nibża' ngħix f'pajjiż
fejn ħadd ma jista' jitkellem dwar twemminu
għax jaqbżu jgħajruh sekularisti mill-aktar aggressivi.

Nibża' ngħix f'pajjiż
fejn sar politikament inkorrett
li tgħid li teżerċita dritt mill-aktar bażiku,
li hu d-dritt ta' twemmin ħieles
u li dak it-twemmin ixxandru pubblikament.

Nibża' ngħix f'pajjiż
fejn il-qtil tal-għasafar huma u jbejtu ma jitħalliex (u sewwa),
imma sekularisti aggressivi diġa' bdew jagħmlu l-argument
biex il-bnedmin jibdew jinqatlu f'ġuf ommhom.

Nibża'.

Kenneth Cassar

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:32

@ MaryJo Camenzuli:

Anki jien kieku nibża' ngħix f'pajjiż fejn ħadd ma jista' jitkellem dwar twemminu, izda dan il-pajjiz mhux Malta.

Is-sekularisti ma jghajjrux nies ghax jesprimu twemminhom. Is-sekularisti jiddibattu u jargumentaw kontra twemmin zbaljat. Il-fundamentalisti jinterpretaw dan bjala attakk aggressiv, ghax jemmnu li huma ghandhom il-verita' kollha li ghandha tigi mposta fuq kullhadd.

Anki jien kieku nibża' ngħix f'pajjiż fejn ikun politikament inkorrett li tgħid li teżerċita dritt mill-aktar bażiku,
li hu d-dritt ta' twemmin ħieles u li dak it-twemmin ixxandru pubblikament. Izda dan il-pajjiz mhux Malta. Biss nitolbok tirreciproka billi thalli hielsa jesprimu ruhom dawk li ma jaqblux mat-twemmin tieghek.

Nibza ukoll nghix f'pajjiz fejn nies bhalek ihalltu lil min hu favur l-abort mas-sekularizmu, bhallikieku is-sekularisti kollha huma favur l-abort. Bazikament, nibza mill-pregudizzju u l-gideb sfaccat.

Mr Joe Gatt

Jun 23rd 2011, 08:58

Mr Stefan Kottmann-Soler

If the Church had contributed more financial assistance, it would have wasted more of it`s money, the result would still have been the same if not more votes for the `Yes Campaign`

In any case the Church at the present time, is too Rich and Powerful for the loss to have made any effect.

So it is no big problem for the church to throw people`s contributions away.

The Church should have helped the needy instead.

If one has to donate to a good cause, one needs to be careful and donate to an accountable and trusted institution

Marica Agius

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:02

Facli li tghid lil haddiehor x'suppost kellu jaghmel. Facli tikkritika u tikkundanna. Hu aktar difficli li tibni, ssewwi u thobb. Il-Knisja dejjem kienet ta' mira ghal kull attakk min dawk li jiddeciedu li jippersewgwitawha. L-aghar mhux meta l-kritika tigi minn barra imma minn dawk li huma Mghammdin fl-istess Knisja ta' Gesu Kristu. X'ironija! Xogholna hu li nhobbu lil dawn hutna li ddecidew li minhabba pika jsawwtu lill-persuna tal-Arcisqof mahbub Pawlu Cremona.
L-effett tal-mibgheda hu qsim, pika u hazen.
L-effett tal-mahfra hu MHABBA.
Inhallu lll kulhadd fil-liberta kif wara kollox gara fir-referendum. Kien ikun hafna ahjar li flok niddeciedu ahna l-kbar u li suppost maturi, immorru fl-iskejjel fejn insibu hafna studenti batuti minhabba 'ommhom jew missierhom' u naraw huma x'riedu ghax wara kollox huma l-vittmi.
Issa nirrispettaw ir-rizultat tar-referendum ghax hekk titlob demokrazija.
Jalla nahdmu favur il-familja u l-ghaqda. Il-bqija kollu paroli fil-vojt :Made in Malta.
Il-paci maghkom.

Mr M Borg

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:37

Maybe you were not in Malta during the campaign !

Maybe you were not here to witness the anti- church campaign by all those who were in favour of divorce.

Maybe you were not here to read all the articles printed in favour of divorce on certain newspapers.

Maybe you were not in Malta when certain TV stations were airing in favour of divorce and against the church .

If the IVA did not spend any money on these, then this proves that IVA was helped for free ???

The Archbishop was not trying to " buy decent people out ", the Archbishop was trying to pass on the message that " decent people " do not resort to divorce or cohabitation .

Mr Tommy Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:04

A purely senseless comment. How were the billboards, adverts, mailshots paid for and by whom?

Ms Sabrina Borda

Jun 23rd 2011, 12:52

@Mr Borg,
Maybe this and maybe that, so many maybes coming from you in defence of a church that obviously has much more money it wishes to throw away according to these headline news here. It is not as broke as it claimed earlier during the campaign.
One thing is for certain, the Rich bishop cannot accept that we have a democracy in Malta where his money has no power over good REASON. You and the bishop may not like it, but for Malta this is great for decent people the right to claim dignity as their own.
It is only some like you who believe that those who have to, or need to resort to divorce are not decent people. The majority of Malta together with Europe showed you and the bishop they disagree, evidently showing your knowledge of decency may be very limited.

M Cassar

Jun 23rd 2011, 08:30

Ghalfejn ma tkellmitx il-knisja qabel ir-referendum tal-EU? Ghalfejn ma hargitx fil-berah dak li kien qed jippreokkupaha? Fejn Kontu? Tinsewx li issa l-Maltin jafu li ahna Ewropej daqs haddiehor u jisthoqilna drittijiet daqs haddiehor. Now its tooooo Late!!! Ghalxejn tibku....messkom tkellimtu car qabel ir-referendum tal-EU!!!!!

Plus hekk.... ahjar dawk il-flus tuzawhom biex tghallmu l-koppjij qabel jizzewgu u anke tghamlu laqghat ghall wara z-zwieg ukoll.

Ezempju iehor car: Fejn qeda l-Knisja bhalissa? Araw daqsxejn..innotaw... ma tkellmet xejn dwar il-500euros li ried jaghti Dr joseph Muscat karita'!!!! Din mhix ipokrezija?
Araw ma semmiet xejn kif l-MP's hadu 500 fil gimgha u l-poplu maghfus!!!

Fejn hija l-knisja? Din mhix ipokrezija? jew ghanda xi agenda mohbija? jew ghanda xi simpatija ma xi partit politiku?

Mr Tommy Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 10:45

But there's a difference between paying taxes to Caesar or tithes to the church, the former are mandatory with fines and imprisonment if not paid, while the latter are purely voluntary.

Mr Peter Korsten

Jun 23rd 2011, 19:50

Yes, I fully respect and defend the right of the Church to made itself heard. To wish anything different would be pure hypocrisy.

But the fact of the matter is that the Church has a lot more power and influence than I have, and whilst the Church undoubtedly believes what it does to be best for everybody, I do not agree that everything the Church does is beneficial for all. Most of what it does is beneficial, there's no doubt about that.

But not all, and its meddling in civil and political affairs is an example of the not-so-beneficial activities. Leave politics to the politicians; it's not like we have a shortage of Catholics among them.

Ray Gatt

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:14

It's €1.16.

Ray Gatt

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:12

X'kampanja hi tal-IVA???. Mela insejt li kull ma kellhom kienu erbgha posters u ftit air time fuq it-TV u Radio. Mhux fuq Net u 101. Possibli ma' ndunajtx li bejn iz-zewg kampanji kien hemm bahar jaqsam? IVA GHAD DIVORZJU - u ir-rizultat hadd ma' jista jhassru. Lanqas EFA. Il-knisja kienet qieghda tajba qabel id-divorzju bil-mijiet iwarbuha kuljum, u issa bl-indhil taghha bhal ma ghamlet fis-60ijiet kompliet tgharraq is-sitwazzjoni.

Philip Hili

Jun 23rd 2011, 23:28

@ Ray Gatt

Eh! iva, tajba din!! Jigifieri il-moviment "iva" ma ghamilx kampanja?
Forsi ghax kien hemm Jos + ic-chairman jew xi ssejhulu tas-super one imdahhlin?
Tajjeb. Imma kien ikun izjed xieraq li almenu jiddikjaraw bhal ma ghalet il-knisja l-involviment taghhom sew finanzjarju u anke fiziku fil-kampanja ghax nghiduha kif inhi, trid tkun altru MAZZUN biex tibla' li l-moviment iva ma ghamilx kampanja!!

Ray Gatt

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:04

Cut out the parables crap Mr. Edward. The people have spoken simply because all the sin and hell rubbish that the church and individuals like you come out with is outdated for today's day and age.

Is this why they're always collecting money in church and sending envelopes at home pretending to be for the missions here and there.

ALL HYPOCRITES.

Kenneth Cassar

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:05

Where is your proof that divorce is evil?

Mr Joe Gatt

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:10

Mr K.M Edwards

`San Gwann ate honey and locusts and had no roof over his head.`

Regarding the latter, the Archbishop could take up camping?

Re your first suggestion, It sounds to be a very healthy diet indeed, Yummy Yum, but eating Locusts nowadays may be a problem, since there is a campaign to destroy them by pesticides.

How about some Fat Juicy Rats instead? Hmm... Nice and Tasty

L Galea

Jun 23rd 2011, 00:44

Very well said. Hit the whole argument in one sentence.

MALCOLM SEYCHELL

Jun 23rd 2011, 07:18

Maybe you cannot donate Euro 180,000 but you can surely stop donating to any organisation which the church is involved in. Il ftit tal-hafna jaghmel id-differenza.

MALCOLM SEYCHELL

Jun 22nd 2011, 23:39

They ignore everything which doesnt suit their finances. Divorce is a normal practice all over the world and even the church abroad asks you to get divorce first before you apply for an annulment.

But obviously here they have a monopoly over the state(thanks to EFA and Gonzi) so for annulments people have to spend money and in return the church can get some income.

Your observation is perfect about the no campaign. Mgr Cremona could have invested a million euro or more because they would have achieved the same result. When the people want change nothing will stop them till the change happens.

Europe knows something about this stupid reasoning. They spend billions of euro over multiculturalism and people still reject it, and the more time passes the more people are coming agressive towards it because it is anti nature and do not want it.

L isqof immissu induna li il poplu tkellem u qalilkhom tindahlux iktar f hajjitna ghax ma nafdawkhomx u ma naqblux maghkom.

Philip Hili

Jun 23rd 2011, 00:29

@ Malcolm Seychell

Tkellem ghalik please!!!

Michael Hudson

Jun 23rd 2011, 11:35

Dear Mr. Scerri, your comment is the best. Very well said. That money could have helped a lot of families which cannot make ends meet.

Ms A. Axisa

Jun 23rd 2011, 08:45

Imbaghad mur oqghod b'halq in-nies!
Il-Knisja la tista titkellem u lanqas tista' tiskot hawn Malta.
Fejn hu d-dritt tal-kelma? Fejn hi l-liberta' tal-espressjoni?
Kulhadd ghandu din l-opportunita'..mela ghaliex il-Knisja le?

Sandro Pace

Jun 22nd 2011, 22:51

Jekk nigu f'dan, u la dahhalt lil Kristu, il-Knisja ippridkat il-kelma ta' Kristu 'Li jghaqqad Alla ma jifirdu hadd'. U jekk nigu f'dan ukoll, jekk hemm xi hadd li tielef it-triq ta' Kristu huma dawk li kkampanjaw ghall-'Iva'. Ghax ghenu biex tigi michuda din il-kelma. Facli wiehed jigustifika ruhu bis-separazzjoni bejn Stat u Knisja. Imma l-punt jibqa li ma jistax ikollok zewgt Allat.

Ghal min jemmen dejjem......

Marc Buhagiar

Jun 23rd 2011, 00:17

@Sandro Pace - what of those in a civil marriage (bir-registru)? Should they not get a shot at divorce because of selfish 'Christians' like yourself?

It is ok to have a religion, but imposing it on other people is wrong.

Philip Hili

Jun 23rd 2011, 00:27

@ Sandro Pace

Prosit tal-kumment tieghek.
Issa ha terga' tinqala l-bibja. Dalwaqt nibdew naqraw kwotazzjonijiet mill-bibja, IMMA MHUX KIF SUPPOST TA, IZDA KIF JAQBILLHOM!!

Issa naraw jekk jghidux minn iffinanzjon lil tal-"Iva". Nahseb li s-sur Michale Falzon zgur li le ghax ftit ilu ma kellux biex jaghmel rapport fuq il-bini u talab lil Gvern biex jiffinanzjah!!!! U kumbinazzjoni rajt xi tnejn bil-kopp qabel tidhol il-Belt ghax issa ma tistax toqghod f'bieb il-Beld jigbru ghal din l-assocjazzjoni tal-bini li s-Sur Falzon huwa ic-chairman taghha.

Mr Kevin Tanti

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:09

Ghidta int fl-ahhar. "Ghal min jemmen". U ghal min ma jemminx jew mhux kattoliku, b'liema dritt iccahhdu minn dritt CIVILI

Ray Gatt

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:52

Taf min ghandu zewgt Allat Sur Pace, dak li lil fidili tieghu heddidhom li l-ghada tar-referendum ma' jkunux jistghu jitqarbnu. Dak li jabbuza mit-tfal innocenti u jhassrilhom hajjithom. Jew xi hadd bhalek li ssabbat fuq il-mejda u tghidli LE ghad drittijiet civili tieghek. Tahseb li Kristu japprova dawn l-affarijiet? Egoismu u Ipokrizija grassa.

Issa hudu pacenzja kolla kemm intom ghalien dak li iddecida il-poplu ma' jhassru hadd.

Mr G Micallef

Jun 22nd 2011, 22:17

Innocent children of future divorced couples might disagree.

Gordon Farrugia

Jun 22nd 2011, 22:55

Mr G Micallef ->> disagree you say? its always better than having parents who are 'pogguti' - that gives children no rights whatsoever. That's what makes me believe that the Church's struggle was all about power - it feared that the 'church marriage' will lose its importance if divorce was introduced and would be relegated to second class. The status quo of having partners living with each other having kids without any legal recognition whatsoever isn't beneficial to anyone; more so children or women (whose partners may as well just walk away anytime....)

Ray Gatt

Jun 23rd 2011, 09:39

No Mr. Micallef. What about innocent children of cohabiting couples who are not even allowed to be baptised and according to the church are living in sin. Do you think they'll agree?

Mr Tommy Vella

Jun 23rd 2011, 10:47

@Gordon Farrugia

Do you mean to say that from now on we will have no more pogguti?

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