I read the interview that Michael and Juliet Mifsud gave (March 29). Reading the caption in bold type for me was more than enough.

The couple from Għarghur, practising Catholics, are reported to have said about the divorce issue that “This is a completely secular issue and by voting in favour of divorce we are not in any way going against our religion.”

I am sorry to tell Mr Mifsud that he has got it all wrong. He is misinformed! It is simply not true that supporting divorce is just a matter of opinion regarding the secular issue. Catholics are obliged to stand by the teaching of Jesus Christ and not preach or support otherwise.

May l quote here the pastoral letter that the bishops sent to the clergy in Malta and Gozo, dated March 19: ‘’As for marriage, the words of Jesus Christ are clear and confirm the will of the Father Almighty that as from the beginning of creation... that what God has united let no man put asunder. (Mk 10, 6 - 9). This shows that marriage is of itself permanent.

Further down in the pastoral letter the bishops put it clearly, in black and white, that on the decision to vote in favour or against divorce, “the Catholic person has to take it in the light of his/her belief.

For the Catholic any law that proclaims marriage is not for good, goes against the will of God the Father. So the Catholic who is in favour on divorce creates in himself/herself a gap between what he chooses and his/her beliefs; which decision is going to leave irreparable consequences. When the Catholic knows that his/her decision does not compare with the teachings of Christ, as explained to us by the Church, he/she is not free from guilt if his/her decision does not compare with this teaching – for when he/she conciously and liberally goes against the moral law he/she will break his/her relationship with God the Father of Jesus Christ”.

So please, will all practising Catholics, abide by the law of God.