Updated | Zwieg bla Divorzju call JPO's foreign divorce comments 'shocking'

Adds reply by MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando to the Moviment Zwieg Bla Divorzju.

Anti-divorce lobby Zwieg Bla Divorzju have accused Nationalist MP and divorce bill promoter Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando of seeking to “turn the institution of marriage into an exercise of individualist convenience” after saying that he would seek a divorce abroad if the divorce is not passed by referendum

Pullicino Orlando’s comments were made in Marsaxlokk at a Moviment Iva public debate, where he illustrated how he could take up domicile in his daughter’s London address, and apply for a divorce six months later via internet.

Zwieg bla Divorzju said his comments “were shocking.”

In a reaction on Monday, Pullicino Orlando said that what was shocking was that Zwieg bla Divorzju had accused him of presenting a private member's bill aimed at stimulating a parliamentary debate about divorce for personal reasons. "I hope that they will now stop attributing improper motives to me. I reserve the right to take legal action if they persist in doing so."

Pointing out to the legal discrepancy in Maltese law were divorces obtained from foreign courts are rubber-stamped in Malta, on Sunday Pullicino Orlando said: “I ask the legislators: is this fair on those who can’t do the same?” 

Moviment Iva chairperson Deborah Schembri said this is what others are doing to obtain a divorce, whilst those who do not have the same opportunity are forced to cohabit: “In a country where democracy is supposed to reign, the state is distinguishing between those who afford to obtain foreign divorce and those who can’t.”

Schembri said if divorce is introduced, no one will be forced to go against his Catholic beliefs. “If one believes that marriage is forever, that it is a sacrament and it is indissoluble, divorce will not affect him. Divorce in fact has nothing to do with the promise made in front of God at the altar and the contract signed at the church. That contract will remain valid.”

Schembri was replying to a 35-year-old man - who has obtained an annulment and is about to get married again – who asked her with what authority was she telling him that state should dissolve what God united. “Divorce will affect the civil marriages – those contracts which are signed in front of the registrar. During the first four months of this year, there were more civil marriages than Catholic marriages. These do not have any religious ties and cannot apply for annulment,” she said.

Asked whether the introduction of divorce will pave way to abortion and euthanasia, Schembri said that when a law is passed, legislators have to look into whether that law breaches fundamental human rights and whether it will create chaos in the country, amongst other things.

“This is a tactic used by those who oppose divorce to create fear. Let me assure you that we have no ‘hidden agendas’ to include abortion or anything else. I, for first, am against every form of abortion.”

Schembri added that whoever argues that divorce and abortion are connected “has ulterior motives.”

She also refuted claims by the No movement that divorce will bring a new wave of poverty. “They are not looking at the real picture. Today, 90% of separations are regulated by the couple themselves and, in the cases were the children are old enough and the woman is working, alimony is given only to the children.”

Schembri said that law will always safeguard children. “Divorce only poses questions on the maintenance of the woman. But, realistically speaking, nowadays women are already refraining from asking alimony, in the case the husbands ask back and because they work.”

Referring to comments made by lawyer Bernard Grech from the ‘No’ movement where he said that last year, 80 men preferred going to jail rather than pay alimony, Schembri said he did not give the whole truth.

“Even though the men went to jail, they are still forced by law to pay the maintenance which they did not give.”

Schembri assured those present that the settlements already agreed upon in the separation cases will not be affected by divorce. She also reminded that one third of the children born today are born out of marriage.

She said that divorce would regulate the children’s situation: “Presently, in the case that a parent dies before a testament has been done, the children born out of the first marriage will receive a third more than the same parent’s children born out of the second relationship.”

She added that even worse than the legal distinction was the social stigma attached to those born out of wedlock.

Schembri said she could not understand why divorce cannot be introduced today, “when Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, former President Eddie Fenech Adami, Fr Rene Camilleri and Fr Peter Serracino Inglott have all acknowledged that divorce will be introduced in Malta one day.”

“Why shouldn't today's people benefit as much as tomorrow's?” she argued.

Present at the debate was also former housing minister Alfred Portelli, who said he will be voting in favour of divorce because – due to his work – he has first-hand experience of the problems and suffering of those who want to get married but cannot.