Anti divorce lobby in national blitz to secure ‘No’ vote

As of last week, the no movement has embarked on an ambitious door to door campaign throughout all parishes in Malta and Gozo, with lay members from the Catholic Action, MUSEUM, Opus Dei, Cana Movement, Legion of Mary, and various other Christian inspired movements into convincing the undecided to vote against the introduction of divorce.

Priests and lay people have been spotted around the island with lists of names in hand, with computer print-outs seemingly quite similar to the ones PN street leaders would have before a general election.

As churchgoers will today hear an audio recording of Archbishop Paul Cremona read out a pastoral letter that urges people to fulfil their civic right and vote to show what they believed in, a number of activities have been lined up for this week where people are being urged to attend via repeated appeals on church radio RTK and Radju Marija.

Community radio stations which are run by some parishes are also emitting repeated messages urging a no-vote in Saturday’s referendum.

The radio stations are also re-broadcasting homily’s and messages by the bishops, the most recent being Friday’s speech in Fgura by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech where he appealed to people not to abdicate their “civic and Christian duty” and vote according to their values.

Reliable sources have told MaltaToday that a number of senior church officials are presiding over a committee within the Curia that is coordinating a national effort in hand with the anti-divorce movement.

New billboards, radio and TV spots, and news paper advertisements, including front-page colour adverts in GWU daily ‘l-Orizzont’ are set to appear this week.

The committee has reportedly devised a strategy to secure a ‘bring out the vote’ tactic from the elderly, especially those who reside within old people’s homes.

As lay groups and priests are touring all homes and individually speaking to the residents, families are being given names and contact numbers of coordinators who will be organising transport for the elderly to vote.

The organisation has reportedly found close support from the Ministry of Health and the Elderly, who through the secretariat has guaranteed ambulances, wheel chairs, buses and special needs transport.

Staff at government run old people’s homes have been put on stop-leave and informed that they will be paid over-time for their work.

Reliable sources have told MaltaToday that the anti-divorce lobby has taken over transport arrangements weeks ago and also devised a time-table on shuttle services from homes with carers to assist the elderly as they arrive at their polling stations.

Buses will reportedly have priests or nuns on board to recite the rosary during the trip, while anti-divorce activists will also be placed in street corners to picket around the polling stations.

The Curia is considering next Saturday’s vote as “crucial” for its centuries-long hold on Maltese society, not to also mention the political fall-out of a yes vote for the PN that has taken a definite stand against the introduction of divorce in Malta.

But as Prime Minister and PN leader Lawrence Gonzi has kept a very low profile during the campaign, former party secretary general Joe Saliba, who is known for his campaigning strategies has reportedly been quite active during the past few days and seen in the company of prominent anti-divorce lobbyists.

A central coordination unit has been set up in Lion’s Street, behind the Curia in Floriana where a number of telephones have been installed for coordinators to ensure a concerted logistical effort.

In Gozo, Bishop Mario Grech is also not sparing any expenses and has organised a similar effort.

Gozo minister Giovanna Debono who has repeatedly declared her anti-divorce stand, has made available all logistical support by her office to the no-camp.