In presenting his Private Member's Bill for the introduction of divorce on July 6, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando misquoted both Mgr Charles Vella (founder of the Cana Movement) and Pope Benedict XVI.

Normally political parties represented in Parliament present and discuss new laws which are mentioned in their electoral programmes. The Leader of the Opposition is also in favour of divorce but he took care when announcing this and only said that if his party were to be elected, he would present a Private Member's Bill on divorce and give his MPs a free vote.

Dr Pullicino Orlando was elected to Parliament after accepting the Nationalist Party's manifesto as approved before the general election. He therefore has no right, under any circumstances, to present such a Private Member's Bill on an important issue that does not feature at all in the PN's electoral programme.

Surely those who voted for him were not voting for the introduction of divorce. Electors never give a blank cheque to MPs.

Wherever divorce, abortion, and euthanasia, stringent conditions were imposed at first but we have seen these regularly relaxed to the point that in some countries divorce is available at will, while abortions are practically on demand.

Since there is no mention of divorce in his party's electoral programme, Dr Pullicino Orlando should be man enough and withdraw his Bill.

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