The responsible vote by Catholic MPs (2)

Many have been commenting on how MPs should vote in favour or against the divorce Bill following the referendum result.

At this stage, it is important to reflect on the fact that although 53 per cent of those who voted are for divorce it does not mean that the overwhelming majority of the Maltese people are in favour of divorce.

As argued by Albert Camilleri, in Leħen is-Sewwa of June 25, in reality only about one-third of the electorate voted for divorce. From an electorate of 325,102, only 122,547 voted yes.

Therefore, 202,555 citizens – incorporating 107,971 no votes, 92,411 who did not vote and 2,173 who invalidated their vote – did not vote for divorce.

There was also an amount of voters motivated by certain considerations, including those seemingly altruistic ones.

The majority of the people would therefore appreciate a responsible vote from their MPs. A No vote from the Prime Minister, for instance, would consolidate his original stand in favour of society and in line with Christian beliefs, which benefit a whole people.

Every MP, same as every citizen, has to carry the responsibility of his/her decision.

This is a reality whether one is convinced of it or not, whether one is a believer or not, whether one is a Catholic or not.