Mysterious anti-divorce leaflets inscribed with an emotive message supposedly from the Virgin Mary have been described as “a disgraceful abuse of our most sacred symbols” by media lecturer Fr Joe Borg.
The leaflets have reportedly been distributed close to churches and in other public places throughout Holy Week.
It is unclear who is responsible for the leaflets – the recently-formed Moviment Kristu Iva, Divorzju Le denied producing and distributing them, while Fr Hayden Williams, who offers pastoral assistance to adherents of the alleged apparitions of Our Lady at Borġ in-Nadur, also distanced himself from them.
However, Fr Williams said he had seen different leaflets seemingly connected to the alleged messages of Our Lady at Borġ in-Nadur and that the leaflet in question may be one of them.
Underneath the image of the Virgin Mary, the leaflets in Maltese state: “My children, I beg you with tears in my eyes, that in these last few weeks, you encourage others to get together in the recitation of the rosary to ensure divorce is not introduced in your country.”
The message concludes with the words: “Do not be afraid to say no. Don’t be afraid to show your beliefs. Thank you for listening to my call.”
Fr Borg, a prominent anti-divorce opinion writer, has slammed the use of Our Lady by an element of the anti-divorce movement, saying the contents of the leaflet border on the sacrilegious.
“Church leaders had committed themselves to not organising a crusade (yet) the distribution of these holy images is just another sign of the crusade that is being mounted by individuals within the Church and which is gathering momentum,” he said.
A Curia spokesman said the Archdiocese was not aware of the leaflets in question and stressed that the position of the Church authorities on the divorce referendum has already been made clear.
“It is the mission of the Church to teach the truth according to the Gospel marked by full love and respect towards all. It is also the duty of the Church to encourage believers to pray for God’s light and guidance.
The way this is done by individuals and groups who are not directly engaged by the Church authorities remains their own responsibility,” the spokesman said.
But Fr Borg thinks the Church must do more to stop such “abuses”, which “are doing untold harm to our Church”.
“People should be persuaded to vote against the proposed divorce legislation because there are very good social and legal reasons to do so and not because of pseudo-religious pressures.
“Faced by the campaign of bullying initiated by the yes-lobby, those against divorce should engage in meaningful dialogue with the large number of people who are still undecided. Rational arguments and respect for people’s consciences is the only way forward,” Fr Borg said.
The leaflets reminded him of the holy pictures of Christ crowned with thorns that were distributed during the politico-religious controversy of the 1960s. Back then, people were told that voting for Dom Mintoff meant putting another thorn on the head of Christ.
“Fifty years have passed but many in the Church have learned nothing from that conflict,” Fr Borg added.