Writing under the above heading (MaltaToday 31 August) the Hon. Evarist Bartolo stated: “as a member of parliament I am ready to vote in favour of a bill introducing divorce in Malta. I am all in favour of long lasting marriages. But why should I deny the opportunity to start afresh to those whose marriage has failed?”
This is surely the sort of statement that political candidates should publicly pronounce when contesting elections, as this is what a mature voter seeks in forming his conscience to vote for those candidates who will stand up for his principles and values. I for one, being a practising Catholic, have always voted and will always vote for those candidates who witness to my Catholic beliefs when taking political decisions. This I do, because I believe that my Catholic beliefs are conducive to a sound and healthy society for the benefit of the common good.
Mr Bartolo continues: “The Catholic Church has every right to talk about the indissolubility of Catholic marriages and has every right to deny its followers the possibility to marry again after their first marriage dies but it should not expect politicians to make laws in parliament as if they are legislating only for practicing Catholics.”
Mr Bartolo should know that the Catholic Church does not deny its followers anything and does not force anyone to follow its teachings. Catholics are always free to follow or continue following the beliefs required of a practising Catholic. What the Church rightfully expects is that those who decide to follow their Catholic beliefs should also witness to its Gospel teachings in whatever status they have in society. Also, for Mr Bartolo’s benefit, a marriage, whether Church or civil, never dies unless it is annulled.
Mr Bartolo then refers to a speech made 40 years ago by a Catholic politician, John F. Kennedy, in which he spoke about the separation of Church and State. Mr Bartolo states that Kennedy is probably still admired by many members of parliament in Malta and questions how many of them are ready to learn from him and follow his reasoning when it comes to passing laws the Catholic Church does not approve.
John F. Kennedy is not necessarily the ideal Catholic model, and although I personally admired him as a politician, in my opinion, he understood the separation of Church and State, however misunderstood the relationship between religion and politics.
In conclusion I must state that the model I refer to is Christ’s teachings in the Gospels and the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church.

Godfrey Leone Ganado
Swieqi