Let us for a moment reflect why we are thinking of introducing divorce in Malta. The starting point is marital breakdowns. We have a good number of couples whose relationship is on the rocks. We have married couples who, for one reason or another, are unhappy with their marriage. These are facts that no one can deny. Where do we go from here?

The obvious next step is to find out what is causing such marital breakdowns. We, as a society, have to worry that many families are finding it difficult to live a healthy, stressless relationship. It is therefore the responsibility of the state to delve deep into the matter and use all its means to come to the crux of the problem. By simply having recourse to divorce the state is shirking its responsibility. It is not looking for solutions but giving up on them.

Couples facing problems in their marital relationships need support. The question we have to ask and try to answer is why the number of couples facing marital problems is on the increase? What is causing individuals to give up so easily on their commitment to one another? Is it because they were not made for one another or because the world we are living in encourages promiscuity and values of dedication, selfless love, forgiveness, sacrifice and total commitment no longer exist in the family vocabulary? What is the responsibility of the state at this junction? Should we not as a nation discuss the family and see what is causing stress and problems on its members? If the main problems are unfaithfulness, stress, lack of sharing of responsibilities, finance etc. is divorce the solution to these problems ?

I am bewildered and cannot understand the meaning behind the pro-divorce slogan Yes To Divorce And Yes To Marriage. The real meaning of marriage is total commitment without reservation. There is no marriage without commitment and commitment means no to divorce. Trying to picture divorce as a civil right or value that enhances one’s relationship is sheer bluff. Let us not deceive ourselves. Let us not deceive our young couples who are preparing to commit themselves to one another in marriage by telling them that the solution to their marital problems is divorce. They will be encountering problems, they will be stressed out, they might have extramarital relationships but the solution to such problems is not divorce. The solution lies in admitting one’s fault, asking forgiveness and forgiving and doing one’s utmost to strengthen and enhance one’s relationship. This is the task and responsibility of the state (and the Church to help couples come out of their problems unshattered and strengthened. Yes there are problems. Yes there will be problems. But the solution is not divorce.