Gonzi: government to legislate on cohabitation, Archbishop expresses ‘disappointment’
Karl Stagno-Navarra Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday stunned an audience that included Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Archbishop Paul Cremona, by insisting he would move a bill on divorce and grant a free vote to MPs if elected prime minister.
Speaking during a national conference on marriage organised by Church organisation Progett Impenn, Muscat declared that “everyone deserved a second chance” adding that Malta had to take a clear position on divorce.
Muscat questioned what he said was the “hypocrisy” distorting the reality of an island with conservative laws, where “divorce could currently be obtained through the window and there was no way to control people getting it” – referring to those wealthy enough to file for divorce in European courts, and then have the Malta courts recognise the decree.
Muscat challenged Lawrence Gonzi to be “courageous” and allow his own MPs to a free vote on the matter, and also proposed the creation of a national forum on the family to prepare the country for a bill on divorce.
However, Muscat stressed that “divorce should not just be a platform for a second marriage but a focus on giving the first marriage the best chance and safeguarding it.”
He insisted the State “should not abdicate from its role in marriage preparation since this was something which was currently done solely by the Church,” adding that statistics released over the last 30 years have spelt a pattern of the decline in state marriages due to lack of preparation by both the spouses.
On the other hand, Gonzi embarked on a more conservative approach to the issue, by indicating his government’s intention to counter the calls for divorce by legislating on cohabitation.
He stressed his view on marriage was based on values. “Before entering into any commitments, one had to start from the premise of strengthening the family before addressing the problem of those whose marriage had broken down.”
Gonzi insisted that when one got married, he or she committed his or herself to be loyal in all instances and when one made a promise one should do his utmost to deliver.
Government – the Prime Minister said – had the responsibility to legislate, but legislation alone would not strengthen marriage. “We can discuss divorce but we have to focus on saving marriages,” he said.
He stressed on the need to understand the reality of those who opted to cohabit, instead.
Archbishop Paul Cremona, who intervened during the discussion expressed his disappointment at “both speakers”, saying: “I expected more practical proposals in the debate.”
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