No study showed that children were better off with divorce, Labour MP Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca argued at an activity of the anti-divorce movement today.
During the same activity, Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo, chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, said that teachers who spent a lot of time with children had not spoken up during the divorce campaign, and separated couples had also not been heard.
His comment, during a business breakfast held by the anti-divorce movement, was backed by Ms Coleiro Preca and the former Children's Commissioner Sonya Camilleri.
Ms Coleiro-Preca said the British Association of Teachers had spoken about the negative affects of divorce on children, such as behavioural problems.
Mrs Camilleri said that as a former teacher and commissioner, she agreed that teachers and other professionals, such as psychologists who worked with children, were not speaking out enough. She said that of the 400 cases she had heard when she was commissioner, most of them related to family break-ups, particularly when parents had new partners.
She mentioned one case of children who were upset because their father wanted them to call his new partner Mum and call their mother by her first name.
In other comments, Mr Vassallo said that what he had noted in this divorce campaign was 'anger' by both camps.
There was anger by the 'no' movement because they felt there was a lot of misleading information, divorce was being imposed and the campaign had come too suddenly.
The Yes camp was showing anger at those who did not want divorce.
Ultimately, he said the two movements recognised that marriage was important and they cherished the family.
He believed that the outcome of the referendum would change Malta, whatever the outcome was. However, he was urging everyone to continue working to strengthen the family.
Ms Coleiro Preca said no study showed that children were better off with divorce.
Lawyer Bernard Grech said there was a lot of talk of conscience, but he feared that people opted for what suited them and not for what was ultimately the right choice. He feared that MPs were trapped in a dangerous snare between the rights of children and the interests of parents. If children had a vote, the outcome would be a 'no'.
The business breakfast was addressed by Anna Vella, Labour MP Carmelo Abela and Nationalist MP Charlo Bonnici.
Dr Vella said divorce 'is contagious' because mankind chose to run away when problems arose and ultimately children would suffer as a result.
Mr Abela said that if the 'yes' vote triumphed, problems for families would multiply.
Mr Bonnici said children, then women, would be among the first to suffer, followed by society itself.
Dun Ang Seychell said that last Sunday a fellow priest asked him to celebrate one of his (Fr Seychell's) two Masses and he allowed him to. He later learnt that the priest has told the congregation in Zejtun not to be Pullicinelli – an allusion to the surname of MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.
While, he said, this was unethical of the priest, some people understood him as calling them Pulcinelli (clowns) and they walked out.
Fr Seychell said that it the no movement wins on May 28, that would only be the end of part one. Part two needs to go on with the strengthening of the family unit.