According to my way of thinking, when an individual enrols himself/herself as a member of a club, society, association or any other group, he/she is morally and ethically bound to respect the statute, its set of rules, as the case may be. This is only common sense!

I am sure Deborah Schembri knew that her position in the Ecclesiastical Tribunal was not only to defend her clients (and obviously get paid by them), but also to promote the indissolubility of marriage according to the teachings of Mother Church. Unfortunately Dr Schembri wanted to have it both ways – earn money from her clients (quite naturally) and at the same time, campaign in favour of divorce. This is absurd and unthinkable! Besides, it was utterly unfair for her to accuse the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of “pinching where it hurts”. The tribunal acted correctly.

This is not a question of one being restricted to speak one’s own mind. By her outspoken attitude in favour of divorce, Dr Schembri is fighting against what she is supposed to safeguard and defend – the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage.

Honestly speaking, the first time I saw her on TV pronouncing herself and promoting the introduction of divorce, I said to myself that she should either dissociate herself immediately from the Ecclesiastical Tribunal or vice versa. It seems that common sense prevailed.