Updated: 294 divorce requests, 73 accepted
Updated - Adds comments by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando:
The courts in Malta and Gozo have since September, received 294 applications for divorce and upheld 73, Justice Minister Chris Said said in reply to a parliamentary question.
He said 284 applications were made in the courts in Malta and 69 were upheld. Another 10 requests for divorce were submitted before the court in Gozo and four were accepted.
Of the applications made in Malta, 202 came from couples that were already officially separated. 52 of the applications were submitted jointly. 23 divorce applications were made as part of separation proceedings and there were seven cases where the divorce application was made even though the couples were not officially separated.
In a reaction on his facebook page, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who sparked off the process leading to the introduction of divorce, noted that of the 284 applications made in Malta, 202 came from couples that were already officially separated.
"Glad to see the predictions of the NO camp were way off mark! They tried to give the impression that the introduction of divorce would lead to a complete breakdown in the local social fabric," he said.
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63 Comments
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Schembri Ray
Feb 3rd, 21:51
Don't be glad with something that went wrong Mr JPO
M Borg
Feb 3rd, 15:32
To all those who said and still say that divorce does not affect children this is what was reported today in a British newspaper :-
A study this week published in the journal Family Relations has found — this is never truly possible. for children not to be affected by divorce.
Researchers looked at broken homes where the parents still get on well, others where they co-operated and, thirdly, where there is very little, if any, contact.
Their discovery — based on the analysis of 1,000 families — was that children always suffer regardless of whether a split is amicable or not. And that comes as no surprise ..
Peddling the 'good divorce' myth does children no favours.
In so doing we are merely trying to assuage parental guilt by pretending that our offspring are eminently adaptable. When, in fact — assuming they have not suffered serious injury or abuse — divorce is likely to be the most catastrophic event of a child's life.
In fact, some studies on the long-term effects of divorce have found that the effects are far more stressful than bereavement.
When a parent or partner dies, they are gone. But when parents go their separate ways, children are left to deal with the on-going feelings of anger and abandonment; the confusion and disruption of new partners turning up on the scene; the pain of having to move aside for step and half-siblings.
The truth is, too, that divorced adults so often have the solace and excitement of new partners to fill the void. But for children, there are no such consolations.
Should we be thankful to the Divorce movement for the introduction of divorce ? I do not think so
.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2095712/Tanith-Carey-34-years-I-bear-scars-parents-divorce.html#ixzz1lKRjAj1J
Andy Farrugia
Feb 3rd, 19:36
Unfortunately, some of our so-called shining lights (bozoz tal-elf) only quote those studies which are convenient to their agendas. Other studies, like the one you mention, rarely feature in their vacuous discourse.
M Borg
Feb 3rd, 10:50
JPO remarked that he " was glad to see the predictions of the NO camp were way off mark ! They tries to give the impression that the introduction of divorce would lead to a complete breakdown in the local social fabric . "
Give it time , your " gladness "will change in four or five years time. Many did not realise that divorce meant " money ". Many will walk down the path of couples in other countries and cohabitat not everyone can afford divorce.
Those who will divorce will realise that marriage has now become something you can throw away and " move on " a phrase that was, and is, so loved by those in favour of divorce.
Many will then chose not to marry , that is when you will see the " breakdown in the local social fabric. "
Henry Samut
Feb 3rd, 10:36
The fact still remains that divorce is against the teachings of the Church without which Malta would be a pagan and problematic Island.... Was St Paul shipwrecked here in Feb in vain? Doesn't his feast next Fri rally support towards the Church and belief in its infallible doctrine?
Mr Christopher Xuereb
Feb 3rd, 13:48
I have been divorced for several years. I could not possibly care less if my divorce controverts the Church's, or indeed, Christ's own teachings. Since my divorce I have lived with another woman and have a very happy family that includes my children from my first marriage. If there is a God I shall take it up with him after my demise. In the meantime, will you naysayers please mind your own business and leave me to organise my own salvation
N. Galea
Feb 3rd, 14:23
Still going on with the church talking? The divorce is civil and has got nothing to do with religion. No saint can solve our relationship problems WE can and have to.
c p agius
Feb 3rd, 04:49
The introcuction of divorce lead to political instability, increase in fuel prices, the signing of ACTA behind our backs, the fall of the Euro...Those of Kristu IVA Divoezju LE were so damn right.
And stop complaining if Malta won'tmake it through the final stages of the Eurovision. Back in 2011, the writing was on the wall...WE were warned that Malta's fate will change for ever
Gerry Cowie
Feb 2nd, 20:06
I thought everybody had moved on since the divorce referendum. But no the little digs - the silly little anti-Catholic digs continue. The comical fanaticism of secularist apologists who have rejected the Church and moved overseas continues unabated. How does the Church make children "bastards"? One needs evidence to be taken seriously.
Luke Lanzon
Feb 3rd, 00:32
If you guys get offended by our little digs I apologise, but you make it sooooo easy.
Censu Galea
Feb 2nd, 15:19
Once again, whoever is responsible for informing the readers of the times, has omitted the name of the person who put the question. It is not the first time it happened, and not only by this newspaper.
Andy Farrugia
Feb 2nd, 18:52
If you are referring to the MP who asked the question to the Justice Minister, let me see if I can make an accurate guess (even though you would never see me within miles of those august buildings). EB or JPO? Am I right?
Philip Hili
Feb 2nd, 14:58
Could you pleas stop BARKING?
jonathan galea
Feb 2nd, 14:14
probably paying €800 to apply for divorce is putting people off, besides the lawyers expensise
Henry Samut
Feb 2nd, 13:54
Divorse goes direclty against the fabric of our society and RC beliefs.... quite shameful really
Emma Xerri
Feb 2nd, 15:16
Broken marriages are not more shameful then broken legs. It happens and thankfully divorce is now available despite the best efforts of religious zealots.
Chris Mifsud
Feb 2nd, 18:17
I do not have ANY RC (Roman Catholic i guess) beliefs an I am sure there are many others like me.
Morana Axisa
Feb 3rd, 08:08
When a couple breaks up, that is a hurtful and painful thing. Whether it is married or not. Both persons need to be able to move on and restart afresh and that is not an easy thing to do, especially with laws which make it impossible. Well done Mr Pullicino Orlando for having the guts to finally move with the times and well done Maltese who voted in favor of Divorce!!
Carmelo Aquilina
Feb 2nd, 13:24
so where is the earthquake that we were promised if divorce was legalized in Malta ?
Anthony Galea
Feb 2nd, 19:04
You will see the earthquake in 20 years when the average Maltese 'family' lasts 3 years, when Malta will have a declining population (because of a more concerted effort at family planning), and when teen pregnancies start to explode along with STDs and abortions.
You see, passing the divorce law in 2011 was no problem-the problem is when all anti-family laws would be passed, and worse, when the immoral lifetestyle of Europe has seeped through enough.
You personalise divorce, looking at the short-term benefits, which I agree with wholeheartedly. We see the negative long-term effects of anti-family laws.
Anthony Schembri adami
Feb 2nd, 12:57
The divorce struggle makes me think how undemocatic we are. While Gonzi promised that the wish of the majority was certain he allowed his party a free vote,the leader of the Opposition was not so naive or sincere while many still label those who expressed their opinion as undemocatic ??
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 14:36
This has always been a mystery to me and the pappagalli keep on repeating it: how on earth did Gonzi make sure that the vate in parliament in favour of divorce was certain? Did he go round asking each MP how he was going to vote, whipped out his calculator and did the sums? Is that how our democracy works - with a calculator? Answers with facts please -no theories or fantasies.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 12:54
That's lot of people asking for divorce. They all nownhave a chance of restarting their life. Of course, had it been for to Lawrence Gonzi, they would have continued living a lie.
vella m
Feb 2nd, 11:59
To all the anti divorce,are you still Licking your wounds .LOL
Mark. Galea
Feb 2nd, 12:18
@vella m, please do not turn this discussion in a we won/we lost situation.
At the end of the day, the real losers are those who need divorce, since they have a problem (and a big one, I should say). Those who do not need it will not be effected, whether they voted in favour or against - as long as you are not talking from a political viewpoint and expect to gain some political mileage out of it.
Now that the law is available, the main objective of both the pro and the anti is how to reduce the need of divorces. I do not think it is healthy for the concerned couples to have 500 divorces instead of a 100.
N. Galea
Feb 3rd, 17:05
At the end of the day, the real losers are those who need divorce, since they have a problem (and a big one, I should say). Very sory to say Mark Galea but that is the most stupid thing you could possibly have said... Losers are those people that want to control and interfere in other people's lives. Such a strong statement you have done there... I hope you will never need a divorce but if you do one day... I bet you wont consider your self a loser.... You should imagine yourself in other ppls shoes before you go ahead and talk like a loser :)
Paul Barrett
Feb 2nd, 10:47
The importance of the divorce law was not and is not divorce in itself - it is the freedom to choose; the freedom not to be punished or trapped by an earlier mistake for the rest of your life; the freedom to start again.
Malcolm Alden
Feb 2nd, 12:43
Thank you!!
M Borg
Feb 3rd, 09:59
How right, everyone now has the right and " freedom to start again " and again , and again.
When will they put a stop to this freedom ?
What will they say to the many children this freedom has allowed them to drop along the way ?
David Bezzina
Feb 2nd, 10:01
IN ITSELF,DIVORCE IS NOT SOMETHING POSITIVE.NO ONE WOULD LOVE TO GO THROUGH IT.HOWEVER,MARITAL BREAKDOWN IS A REALITY EVEN IF DIVORCE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.WHAT IS WRONG WITH GIVING PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE AT HAPPINESS.
Mr Mike Farrugia
Feb 2nd, 10:15
Switch OFF your caps lock pls.
Anthony Galea
Feb 2nd, 11:11
I'll take your comment seriously when you learn how to write without caps lock ;)
Deo Catania
Feb 2nd, 12:52
Farrugia u Galea....qiskom qatt ma rajtu xejn!!!!!
Mark. Galea
Feb 2nd, 09:52
@Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando
Why I agree that the current situation (before divorce law) was unsustainable, introducting divorce might not have the "magic" solution to all problems. "Social fabric" as you term it does is not something that is measurable (like surveys), and is highly subjective. The effect of divorce (good or bad) will be seen in the years to come, not in a couple of months.
The main problem with marriage is not divorce, but lack of commitment from at least one part. And to marry another person, just to show the previous wife/husband how "able" one is might not be the best of solutions. The people who cared less about divorce were actually those who "needed it most" to regularise their position.
Mark. Galea
Feb 2nd, 10:04
forgot to remark, that since this is a new legislation and we live in a country where property and inheritance are of such a high value, it would be stupid to apply immediately for divorce until water settles down and all the repercussions, both in favour and against are slowly digested and accepted.
I sincerely think that this law will have to be amended quite a number of times until it will become acceptable. Especially in the rushed way it was pushed and implemented. Most people voted in favour or against without even having an idea what it contained. A couple of speeches on TV and radio were enough to make up people's minds, instead of analysing the law ...
David Caruana
Feb 2nd, 10:15
"The effect of divorce (good or bad) will be seen in the years to come, not in a couple of months."
No it won't. You won't have anything to compare it with. You will never know how the situation would have been if divorce wasn't introduced at all.
Remember, rate of cohabitation and marriage breakdown has been on the rise at the same rate in Malta pre-divorce and the same in countries which had divorce legislation for many years.
I'm pretty sure that people from the No camp will be happy to give their interpretation of what could have been.
Pia Attard
Feb 2nd, 14:44
There will be no change. People won't get divorced just because it's available, in the same way that people don't get separated just because it's available. There is NO difference at all.
I Bugeja
Feb 2nd, 09:37
Now this is a source of (tax) income that the government should tap! After all married couples benefit from tax reductions etc etc. When they get divorced they can contribute something back!
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 2nd, 09:57
that is a very good idea!
Alfred Gatt
Feb 2nd, 09:26
Mr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando - Time will tell the destruction of the family that you have started.
Chris Mifsud
Feb 2nd, 09:46
He started? If this was about JPO and JPO only it would never have happened. Divorce is finally available in Malta because JPO got the ball rolling and because there are many many people, 54% of the electorate if i'm not mistaken, who believe that divorce is a right.
So stop this "destruction of the family" crap. You needn't worry. Happy couples will not be seeking a divorce just because it is there.
David Bezzina
Feb 2nd, 09:56
GO BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES MR.GATT !
David Caruana
Feb 2nd, 10:16
Boo-hoo Alfred Gatt!
Back to your corner now
joe galea
Feb 2nd, 10:39
Hallina !!!!!!!! ma tafx x'qieghed tighd siehbi id divorce hawn issa take it or leave it
B Attard
Feb 2nd, 11:34
Kieku tghid kien hawn kollox miexi bizzilla nghid ghandek ragun Sur Gatt. Izda min jasal ghad -divorzju mhux bilfors biex jerggha jizzewweg forsi biex jehles darba ghal dejjem mill madmad li kien ilu jgorr.
Jew forsi tirraguna ta' egojist ....ghax sew int sew kulhadd?
Mr Anton Portelli
Feb 2nd, 11:56
Mr Gatt Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando gave persons like me a chance to start a new life as married couples and not as "pogguti" like your catholic church wanted. Had it been for the bishops I would still have to stay "poggut" even after more than eight years separated. Thanks to Jeffrey I and my long time partner are now happily married!
Christina Pace
Feb 2nd, 12:48
by my reckoning, a family that is eligeable for the version of divorce implemented in Malta, is already a destroyed family. Carry on cruising the nile but eventually all rivers trickle down to the sea and maybe one day you'll get the bigger picture, after you get rid of your blinkers.
Mr r ebejer
Feb 2nd, 09:14
@Louis Ciantar.
u jekk il- hin kollhu jiggieldu il- genituri mhux trawma ukoll ghall- ulied??
Christina Pace
Feb 2nd, 13:00
@ Mr Ebejar and Mr Ciantar
B'din il-verzjoni ta divorzju it-tfal la se jbatu iktar u l-anqas inqas min qabel. Ftakru li biss wara 4 snin legalment jew fattwalment separati koppja tkun eligibli ghal divorzju. F'dawk l-4 snin it-tfal ikunu diga ghaddew mil-esperjanza li il-genituri taghhom ma ghadomx jinhabbu romantikament u xaktarx ikollom sieheb/ba gdid. Jigifieri lanqas il-punt li it-tieni zwieg ihawwad mohh it-tfal ma jghodd ax bih jew minghajrhu dak li jkun xorta jista jkollu relazzjoni ohra.
Il-vantagg tad-divorzju hu li nies pogguti issa ghandhom l-opportunita jirregolarizzaw ir-relazzjoni taghhom u jiehdu drittijiet daqs haddiehor fejn jidhlu affarijiet civili u finanzjarji bhal servizzi socjali, taxxi, banek etc. Dawk li ghadhom iridu jghidu li id-divorzju ifisser hazen missom jisthu ax fil verita famikja eligibbli ghad-divorzju hi diga imfarrka u l-unika agenda li jista jkollom hi b'egoizmu kbir ma jaqsmux l-istess drittijiet ta min ghamel zball fil-passat.
Mark Brincat
Feb 2nd, 09:07
Ix-xitan deffes denbu!
William Flynn
Feb 2nd, 09:06
Nice to see some Gozitans getting another chance at happiness in spite of their bishop's fanatical intransigence in the matter of divorce.
What are the figures for the Catholic church's divorce comically called annulment?
@ Louis Cutajar
Iva, imsieken l-ulied in a bad marriage whether the parents divorce or not.
Also many children born to long term “living in sin” couples can now see their parents properly re-married.
William Flynn
Feb 2nd, 09:06
Nice to see some Gozitans getting another chance at happiness in spite of their bishop's fanatical intransigence in the matter of divorce.
What are the figures for the Catholic church's divorce comically called annulment?
@ Louis Cutajar
Iva, imsieken l-ulied in a bad marriage whether the parents divorce or not.
At least the children aren't turned into bastards as in a Catholic church divorce.
Also many children born to long term “living in sin” couples can now see their parents properly re-married.
B Attard
Feb 2nd, 11:39
Catholic church's divorce comically called annulment
Very wise comment Mr. Flynn. For me annulment seperation and divorce yield all to the same circumstances where children are involved.
Pauline Busuttil
Feb 2nd, 08:56
ser inkomplu inkissru l-familja u veru msieken l'ulied.
Robert Callus
Feb 2nd, 09:16
Do you really believe they were happy united families before they got the divorce?
Luke Lanzon
Feb 2nd, 09:21
Dawn in-nies diga kellhom familja imkissra......qabel ma dahla id-divorzju.
G Zammit
Feb 2nd, 09:51
Obviously you or anybody else that agrees with you have no idea what 'msieken l'ulied' means. You think they are not 'msieken' when they hear non stop arguments and probably physical abuse between the parents? Do you really think it is a healthy enviroment for children to be raised in that sort of ambient? Dont you think this ambient will not have an effect on them phychologically in the future? PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND. and get this in your head ( and this goes out to anybody else that agrees with Ms Busuttil ) IT IS ONLY SELLFISH TO LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN LIVE IN A HOUSE WHERE THE PARENTS CANNOT GET ALONG AND ARE CONTINUOUSLY ARGUING. WHY DONT YOU TRY SITTING IN A HOUSE WITH PEOPLE ARGUING NON STOP FOR 24HRS AND SEE IF YOU CAN TAKE IT.... I garantee it will drive u insane, and thats just for 24hrs!!!
Janet Bayes
Feb 2nd, 08:48
so why are there ONLY 73 accepted? Are the rest in the pipeline? Are they refused?
J Shaw
Feb 2nd, 08:38
The stats in a couple of years time will also show that divorce requests will take over separation requests as the former supersedes the latter. This substantiates the argument that was always stated in favour of the legislation divorce, primarily that divorce is identical to the process of separation with the added clause that one can then civil remarry. For detailed information check www.divorceinmalta.com
Michael Camileri
Feb 2nd, 08:25
Good.... now these people can get on with their lives :)
Louis Cutajar
Feb 2nd, 08:43
imsieken l-ulied
chris montebello
Feb 2nd, 08:56
@ louis cutajar
U jekk jisseparaw mhux minn l- istess trawma jghaddu l- ulied?
Daniel Theuma
Feb 2nd, 09:01
@mr. cutajar ghax l-ulied ikunu f'sitwazzjoni ahjar ma genituri miggieldin