Reference is made to the letter by Fr Renè Camilleri (February 26).

I fully agree with what the learned theologian said in his letter that the way the divorce issue found itself on the national agenda was in the first place very unfortunate. He blamed the political parties for directly intruding on this important issue of divorce.

However, I disagree where he said that, I quote, “What I believe changed the scenario at the eleventh hour was the unexpected and unwarranted pressure exerted by a former President and by a Cabinet member to bring the party in government to change direction”. I fail to understand why Fr Camilleri blamed the two distinguished gentlemen simply because they expressed their Catholic convictions in public against divorce being introduced in Malta. As if certain people have no right to express themselves simply because they are who they are. Are we to understand the bishops are keeping a low profile in this important debate because they are the leaders of the Church in Malta? If this is so, the Ecclesiastical authorities are abdicating their absolute responsibility according to article 2 (2) of the Constitution whereby the authorities of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church have the duty and the right to teach which principles are right and which are wrong.

Are we to understand the issue of divorce is solely up to the people (Ċikku l-poplu, the man in the street) to decide?

I am sorry to state I completely disagree with Fr Camilleri in this regard. Whoever shies away from his responsibility to express himself in line with his convictions would be doing a disservice to himself and to those seeking the truth.

The divorce issue is not a matter reserved to any section of the public while others who enjoy some sort of status in the country are barred from expressing themselves and must stay put and keep their mouth shut. The people expect with great anxiety and are looking forward to see who would be standing up to be counted between now and the day of the referendum with particular regard to MPs who presently are supposed to be discussing a motion on the question to be put in the referendum.

Fr Camilleri closed his letter by stating it would be of great concern if in the wake of all this the Church would not come to its senses and put its house in order where marriage preparation is involved and to come to terms pastorally both with the way its tribunals handle annulment cases and the way it is responding to the problem of marriage breakdowns. Upholding our laws and looking at these problems merely from the legal and doctrinal perspective saves the façade but perpetuates the problems that make people suffer.

The above needs to be more specific because, as I see it, though I stand to be corrected, it seems to be saying it would be a catastrophe if the divorce referendum would not get a yes vote and so divorce fails to be introduced in Malta in the near and/or distant future.