I would like to share with you the following article which was passed on to me by Natalie Haywood. I think she provides an interesting angle on the current debate.

I've lost count of the number of times I've been labelled selfish for deciding to vote against the introduction of divorce. Many have told me that it's all well for me since I have no motivation at all to seek it. That may be true, but only in part. Being happily married does not dull my ability to imagine what life may be like for those who are suffering in their relationship with their spouses. On the contrary, I regard these situations with the utmost compassion and care, fully understanding that every human being has the right to happiness. Yet at the same time, I also clearly understand that with every set of rights comes another set of duties, the rights being the pleasant side and the duties being a reality we'd rather do without. However hard we may try to escape them, they'll catch up with us sooner or later.

Divorce is only an apparent solution to problems deeper than meet the eye. It reeks of escapism and of a frenzied scramble for a quick fix. It may very well ease the immediate pressure. But do we realise the strong undercurrents we would thus create? I can't help thinking of a beautiful summer's day at the beach with clear calm blue sea. Inviting, in spite of a warning to beware of currents. I remember ignoring the sign, dismissing it as something that must have been forgotten there. I even secretly congratulated myself on the distance I was covering ... only until I decided to turn back. Oops, not quite such a strong swimmer after all. I hadn't been steadily swimming on my own steam after all. I'd been drifting! By the time I got back to shore I was quite exhausted, not to mention shaken.

Perhaps I was lucky that time, and now I pay more attention to warnings. We have our warnings. So many countries are now paying dearly because of the impact divorce has had on the nucleus of its society – the family. The foundations of a strong society have been eroded and now entire nations are crumbling. Before long (it only took a decade in Ireland) they realise they've made one huge mistake. Too late! How does one turn back?

In Malta we're still in time, having been in an advantaged position to watch and assess the experiences of other countries. We know our rights all too well. But are we really prepared to do our duty by our dear ones and future generations, or do we piteously lack the backbone we brag of.

Whilst many may argue that we should not stand in the way of the happiness of the few, it is reasonable to say that it is rather sheltering them from additional heartache. One understands the immeasurable suffering which dulls the beauty of all other aspects of life, but it would be doing them a disservice to take them from the frying pan into the fire. What we really must do for them is what they need, i.e. to support those whose marriages have failed, guide those who are heading for the rocks and commitedly provide serious marriage preparation for those couples who intend to tie the knot in order that future generations may be better equipped to face the challenges ahead.

This is not a time for a quick fix, but for courageous long term planning of the welfare of one and all for generations to come.