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Divorce movement saying yes 'to family's destruction' - Church editorial
Gensillum.com leader rails against media imbalance ‘against family’ on TVM and in print media.
20 November 2010, 12:00am
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
2 min read
An editorial piece penned by Gensillum.com editor Fr John Avellino today (Saturday) has decried the creation of the ‘Iva’ movement, as “a movement that says ‘yes’ to the destruction of the family”.
With a media house of its own, and some 359 churches (78 of which are parishes), the Church weekly is declaring that a “net imbalance” now exists against the family as the Iva campaign, which includes representatives from the three political parties, starts gearing up.
“We hope we won’t be accused of hindering discussion the country. We’ll most probably be accused of defending the Church’s ‘hold’ on Malta and that we want to dictate and control what goes on in the country. Absolutely not. We want the Church and those against divorce to have a chance to say their part.”
The editorial also declares that a strong imbalance exists in the Maltese media, in part due to the popularity of presenters like Lou Bondì and Joe Azzopardi, who “many a time publicly declared they are in favour of divorce.”
“Of course, they have every right to be in favour of divorce, but the fact that their programmes are broadcast on the national TV station, which has a public obligation, can bring about the advancement of the agenda they believe in.“Discussing a topical matter is part of the station’s obligation, but that a presenter declares his stand is debatable to us, if not downright unethical.”
Avellino also takes umbrage at “another great imbalance” from the print media’s opinion makers.”
A swipe at the political parties refers to their “harmonious engagement” to join forces in a common front to see divorce introduced in Malta, referring to Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando – who presented a private member’s bill on divorce – Labour Evarist Bartolo, and Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Michael Briguglio.
“As things are developing, it seems we have a net imbalance against the family unless there is a concrete initiative from those who believe in the family to stick their necks out and defend it.”
Avellino also points out that the politicians in the Iva movement are bringing about an agenda that was not part of their parties’ electoral programmes. “Bartolo says he has the approval of the Labour leader, while Pullicino Orlando seems to have took it upon himself to dictate to his party or parliament what to do so discussion of his Bill moves forward.”
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
Keith Goodlip •
"The Catholic Church will NEVER be destroyed because Jesus said so."
Interesting statement as the catholic church did not exist in JC's lifetime. Catholic church was invented by a biblical entity known as St Paul, YEARS after the death of JC.
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Divorce is a human right. To say that divorce destroys a family is b.s. If the family have reached the stage where a divorce is the only way forward, then that family is ALREADY destroyed. Divorce is the healing process, not the ultimate destroyer.
But you can guarantee that the, oh so corrupt, Catholic church in Malta will only favour it's dearest backscratchers. Just like any other Communist organisation in that philosophy.
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Oh, silly me. Homosexuals are against the family. Those who are married and in favour of divorce are against the family. And who is in favour of the family, I ask? Well, well, well! Men and women who take the vow of chastity and never marry. Has this anything to do with their sexual orientation, I ask? If they are so in favour of the family and heterosexuality, why don;t these silly fools show their credentials and start their own families!
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@David Lexicon - "The Catholic Church will NEVER be destroyed because Jesus said so." Keep dreaming! You will always find fools to believe in nonsense but that is hardly a credit to human nature. The greater menace to society are intollerant people like you.
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It is sad to read the below interventions an all out attack against the clerical establishment. The divorce issue has turned as a way how to discredit the Catholic Church. Well I have news for 'minnfommirrih', 'JCC'. The Catholic Church will NEVER be destroyed because Jesus said so. The Catholic Church is not perfect. There is good enough in the Church for someone to be saved and there is enough evil for someone to be damned.
Divorce is a menace to society. My parents were separated for 18 years and after that time they found love again between them. God does not change His 'laws' (laws of love) in order to accommodate our selfish, sinful and deranged desires.
We all separate ourselves from God's grace through His Church at our own peril.
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What the CHURCH EDITORIAL should focus on; is the families whose lives were destroyed by the clerical sexual and other abuses that were inflicted upon innocent children.
Some of whom committed suicide and others who cannot have a normal life.
A Billion Dollars of compensation in the USA alone through the generosity of the faithful.
What hypocrisy !!!!
DIVORCE is a better alternative than ANNULMENT because it protects the rights of women and children recognising their needs through family obligations and does not suggest that the marriage was a sham or never existed.
Thiis immoral doctrine has kept Malta in the dark ages long enough.
We already have a U-TURN on condoms, so perhaps these arrogant hypocrites will stop trying to ruin lives through interference.
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Divorce can not destroy family's simply because family's who apply for divorce are already destroyed and divorce will give them the chance to start a new family. Most of the couples who are separated already have other family's with new partners and have children. with the implementation of divorce those people will have chance to make there new relationship recognizable instead of living looking like they are doing something wrong. The church should start a movement to try and minimize separations instead of divorce so at least when introduce, divorce will be givin to couple who have no chance of fixing there marriage.
I do not need divorce my self and the implementation of divorce will not change my view on marriage. one should consider everything before taking the decision on getting married that way maybe separations and divorce can be minimized.
Joe Tanti •
First I am for divorce,not that I need it myself,but who am I to say no to the sufferings of others? Fr.Avellino is complaining about the imbalance in the local media namely the national satation TVM,I think he has a debatable point there,so let is give the same amount of airtime to the anti-divorce movement if the church gives the same amount of time from the pulpits in the parish churches to the pro-divorce movement.That still leaves the church the confessionals which to their hearts delight they would exercise their issues with the added bonus of imposing fear of mortal sin on especially the old and the gullible.In democratic Malta of 2010 this will be a democratic solution .What says you,Fr.Avellino?
Alfred Galea •
Just an individual doing what his bosses expect from him. I'd have been surprised if this mouthpiece didn't say anything.
I mean, what the hell does he know about marriage?? He never married.
Fader, go to Africa and try and bring more sheep to the fold.
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There is no such imbalance in the debate. What the Church is now facing is a country that is no longer being dictated by silly old fools dressed in clerical drag. The younger generations are simply too intelligent to be manipulated by Avellino and his lot. To say that those who favour divorce are against the family is simply a gross misrepresentation of the 'Yes' Case. But then that's how the Church flourished in the past ... through lies and misrepresentation. If Avellino is so much for the family, why does he not start one himself? Yea, I wonder why? Any guesses?
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Fr. Avellino talks about imbalance forgetting that the church ropes in God himself. Can you be more imbalanced than that?!
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Are the people running the church trying to destroy it?
Malta has one of the highest rates of marriage break downs ...and Malta does not have divorce legislation. Absolute proof that divorce does not itself promote marriage breakdowns just as much as funerals do not promote deaths.
It is therefore strange that the church paper should come out with such an outragious claim.
In influencing Maltese Values the Church is also subsidised by taxpayers funds running into millions channeled into church schools.
Still we have an environment that promotes marriage breakdown. Should we not therefore examine the role that of the Church in Marriage breakdowns?
It is the Church that is contributing to marriage breakdowns.
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divorce will do that? ROFL- from always were and wil be these - still marriage is and will be nice - its all love- if love is finished than the marriage is finished- shut your stupid mouth you asshole avellino and all the church who speaks such- so from always and is and will be- seperated , concubines, cheaters and all of sorts how can you speak such ? you are just an asshole- like those who can speak and say against these things- they say our marriage is good! well that would be great:) But what if you think that it's only good?:) what if your husband/wife has been or is betraying you?;-) what if our sons or daughters needs such law? remember , what goes around comes around that is to all of us;-) let's make a divorce law for who needs it- or we prefer to call people (pogguti) so we think we have a better state- when maybe we cannot even pass through the door:D -and speaking of Tv programmes :you are included in the maltese constitution - you asshole - Dr.lawrence Gonzi , This is all your fault- Just do it quickly in the parlament - get it quickly - you are going to cause a lot of trouble to this country- with the chucrh as your alliance................................
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"who wanst to speak of destroying? you think all people are hiden from all the evil that the church did and is doin? All know that there are millions of Chatolic that are and do good- but the main ones are evil- they are the real anti christ- which according to your bible will be destroyed - The vatican is reponsable for all wars murders killing of Millions of people ,down with the church - read read and read- you use Jesus as a shill to attraxt . bunch of demoniac state of pedophiles etc... worshippers of moloch - like they use to burn the so called witches -heretics - down to you ... if you have millions of followers you have millions against you....... never endinggggggggggg
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Of one of the greatest crimes against humanity: (1939-1945) That the Catholic Church through its deliberate placement of key figures including loyal Catholics Mussolini, Hitler, Franco and Fr Stalin S,J. and through its financing of a second European arms race including the deliberate extension of the war is directly and ultimately responsible for the deaths of in excess of 63,000,000 people between 1939 and 1945.
What is of supreme depravity and inhumanity is that this was done by an organization that maintains the façade of being a “good” religion headed by a position known as “his holiness”. Furthermore, that the Catholic Church did profit on this terrible act of evil.Of open contempt for church law for the purpose of promoting crimes against humanity: (1953 to present) That the Catholic Church has well established laws and cases of excommunicating individuals after their death from actions considered heretical.
That these laws enabling a dead person to be excommunicated have been available for use for over three hundred years. That at the death of Fr. Joseph Stalin S. J. the leader of the Soviet Union in 1953, there was sufficient evidence both that Fr. Stalin was Catholic and had ordered some of the greatest atrocities of human history including reputedly the death of over 60,000,000 innocent people. That at no time since the end of Word War II until the present day has any Pope ever sought to excommunicate Fr. Stalin S. J. That such inaction, and deliberate concealement of his status even until his death of being a fully empowered Catholic priest and of even being Catholic by itself implies the tacit support of Stalin’s actions, regardless of any public statement by the Vatican to the contrary.
Don’t forget all of the above scoundrels worked together hand-in-glove, their complicity of war, mass murder and genocide kept silent by historians protecting the Vatican.
Patricia Marsh •
Dear Fr. John Avellino, I totally agree with you not directly about your comments on divorce but as you have well said: 'a strong imbalance exists in the Maltese media, in part due to the popularity of presenters like Lou Bondì and Joe Azzopardi, who “many a time publicly declared they are in favour of divorce.” Those two untouchables also publicly declare their favour towards nearly all GonziPN policies. They should never be allowed to present programms on the state TV. When Bondi and Peppi declared themselves in favour of Malta to join the EU, prior the referendum, just to name one example, the church never opened its mouth to tell us that there is a strong imbalance. I'am sorry to tell but you and your church is getting some of the medicine that the PL and its leaders have to swallow week after week!
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Get a life John Avellino! You stink of hypocrisy!
So the 'Moviment Iva' is saying ‘yes’ to the destruction of the family but your annulment doesn't?! Oh right, for an annulment your Church receives around EUR800 per case, so that I guess is OK?!
Pharisee!
P.S. Min jobzoq fl-arja, jigi f'wicchu, Gann!
