AD welcomes Church-State agreement revision

Alternattiva Demokratika welcomed the government's initiative to start the process of revising the Concordat between Malta and the Holy See signed in the early nineties by a Government led by the Nationalist Party.

AD Spokesperson for Social Policy and Civil Rights Angele Deguara, said: "Alternattiva Demokratika has called for this agreement to be revised on many occasions since it believes that the Ecclesiastical Tribunal should not be given precedence over the Civil Courts in annulment cases."  

She added that it is unacceptable in a secular country for the Church Tribunals to have such civil repercussions.  

"This is also clearly stated in our electoral manifesto.  AD believes that while the Catholic Church should be given its due recognition as an important and respected social force in Maltese society, no religious creed or institution should be privileged over other beliefs in a modern, pluralistic and democratic society," Deguara said.

AD's electoral manifesto states: "The provisions of the Church State agreement relative to annulment proceedings before the Ecclesiastical Tribunals should be amended. This should be carried out in order that such proceedings do not take precedence over proceedings for annulment before the civil courts."