Schembri intends to contest Ecclesiastic Tribunal ‘ban’ post referendum

Speaking during a debate held on Sunday morning, Schembri said that she would wait until the divorce referendum is past before seeking redress. “Opening a case now would distract people from what matters about the divorce referendum,” she said.

She also criticised the way she was banned from the tribunal without a chance to have defend herself or with no concern to how her clients would be represented.

She “I was never told if I can resume my work within my tribunal, or if I am still suspended, or whether the ‘ban’ is permanent or temporary,” she said – despite how she was assured personally by the Archbiship that he would look into the situation and get back to her.

“I have only received a letter from him saying the same things that Curia PRO Fr Charles Tabone has said to the media, nothing more.” She also hit out at the way she was not kept properly informed of the situation by the Church, despite how she was directly affected by the decision.

“First, my client was informed before I was that my warrant was being withdrawn and I could no longer represent her. Then the reason for my dismissal was communicated to the media before it was communicated to me,” she said. “I question how I am always the last to know.”

“I repeat – I have never spread false doctrine about the indissolubility of marriage,” she said, emphasising that she was never given a chance to defend her position or appeal the decision.

She said that while she is not overly concerned about her ‘ban’ despite how she enjoyed working within the Tribunal, she said that she is more worried about the rights of her clients in how they are not free to chose which lawyers represent them.

She hit out at the agreement that the State has with the Church in that it allows the Church’s courts to have supremacy over State courts.  She said that his ban constitutes a breach of her clients’ fundamental right to choosing which lawyer to represent them.

She also accused the State of failing to protect the fundamental human rights of the Maltese citizens by allowing the Church Courts to have supremacy over State Courts.