What strikes me (from afar) is that the divorce debate is now to be decided by the Maltese people of faith instead of being the issue of the elected political parties that are to uphold democracy.

Diehard Roman Catholics attending Mass know the Church’s stance that marriage is a permanent bond; therefore the faithful will not consider divorce even if it becomes available! But why should couples (married civilly) who do not attend religious services be put in straitjackets?

This is a sign of intolerance as is practised in multicultural Indonesia where Ahmadis, a Muslim sect, are accosted by Sunni Muslims. Must Maltese Muslim couples “contract civil marriage” or are they “exempted”?

Freedom (of and) from religion does not seem to exist in Malta. It reminds me of suffocating Saudi Arabia where Islam rules de facto.