Children should be used in anti-divorce campaign – Fr Joe Borg

Media studies lecturer Fr Joe Borg wants to use children – tfal – from broken families as a weapon for the anti-divorce lobby. And the chief executive of the Public Broadcasting Services has admitted to being a ‘gun for hire’ for the divorce referendum campaign, although he has so far rendered his services to the ‘no’ campaign only.

These are some of the revelations from email conversations that strongly hint at the links between the ‘no’ campaign, the Church and the Nationalist Party in the campaign against the introduction of divorce for the 28 May referendum.

In the emails, seen by MaltaToday, Fr Joe Borg – a media guru to the Church but also an adviser to government – communicates with stock exchange chairman Arthur Galea Salomone and the no campaign’s chairman Andre Camilleri.

Fr Borg is suggesting that parish chaplains forward them a list of separated couples and children from broken marriages to speak “intelligently” against a law on divorce.

But Borg claims he is not referring to minors. In comments to MaltaToday, Borg said it’s important to give a voice to those “more vulnerable” to know what they think of the proposed divorce legislation.

“This is why I advised the participation of separated couples as well as their sons and daughters… I wrote they should be able to talk intelligently against divorce legislation, thus the word ‘tfal’ is used in the same way I use it when I say that ‘my brother and I, although of a certain age, are children of our parents.”

“I could not have been referring to minors as they cannot be reasonable expected to intelligently discuss the proposed legislation. I do believe, however, that we have to find a way of listening to children (even minors) as they are innocent victims.”

Borg told MaltaToday that even Labour MP Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca quoted studies that find children of divorce “at far greater risk for a host of ills than their peers from intact families.”

A lecturer on media ethics, Borg makes his suggestion to Galea Salomone, in an email discussing the stock exchange chairman’s forthcoming meeting with parish priests. Borg also suggests that Galea Salomone makes it clear that the ‘no’ movements expects the Church’s involvement “without making crusades or creating panic”, and to use the bishops’ pastoral note and the position paper issued by Borg and six other leading clergymen.

The position paper, which Borg says is approved by Archbishop Paul Cremona as “part of the Church’s position” recommends Christians to vote for or against divorce using “an informed conscience” above everything else. But a recent sermon by Gozo bishop Mario Grech made a veiled reference to this position paper when he claimed that conscience was “not dictated by theologians.”

Borg also tells Galea Salomone to ask the parish priests for “funds, and not just meaningless words but a serious contribution, parish by parish...”

Telling him to speak to them “clearly and strongly”, Borg suggests that parishes print two pamphlets against divorce to be delivered to each household, and to tap parishioners who own halls and such buildings that can be used by the ‘no’ movement.

In his contribution, Andre Camilleri also suggests that the chaplains understand that “Christians and citizens” cannot vote in favour of divorce. In yet another confirmation of the religious motivation behind Camilleri’s and his movement’s rationale against divorce, the deputy chairman of the financial services authority says: “Christians and citizens cannot believe one way in the Church, and another way outside it. They must understand what’s best for society, and exercise their right of expression, association, and vote in a way that conforms with their understanding.”

Anton Attard, on his part, has declared with MaltaToday that he is “not an active member in any movement. I was invited for one meeting which I attended.”

Likewise, he stated, he would attend any meeting by the pro divorce movement “should I be invited”.

Attard led the PN’s media campaign in the 2008 elections and today is the PBS chief executive. He was invited to a meeting with the ‘no’ movement over the organisation of a big sing-along stunt in the same way the PN had organised for the 2003 EU referendum and later for the 2008 elections.

According to the emails, Fr Joe Borg turns down a suggestion by Pierre Cordina – the radio deejay and husband of Mireille Bonello, who together provide the ‘no’ movement’s star anti-divorce couple – to use Julie and Ludwig’s song ‘Intensity’.

Borg turns down the song on the grounds that the YouTube video for the song only has 116 views, and suggests that Anton Attard organises a group of willing singers to join the ‘no’ bandwagon.

“This song wasn’t exactly successful,” Borg tells Camilleri and Arthur Galea Salomone. “It’s not even easy on the ear. Hard to sing or hum. I suggest we make a new one, in Maltese and sung by various singers who agree with the movement’s position. I suggest we speak to Anton to see if he can do this job.”

Galea Salomone chips in, saying that having a chorus of singers would provide ‘public endorsement’ and improve the movement’s public positioning.

Additional reporting by Nestor Laiviera