Gonzi favours 28 May because he wants studies to confirm the negative impact of divorce
Nationalist backbenchers were gob smacked to be told by their Prime Minister that he favoured the date of the 28 May for the referendum on divorce.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the date would allow him to see through studies on the impact of divorce on the family. Gonzi, who is fervently against divorce, now favours a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ referendum.
He told MPs that he would expect the Institute of the Family at University to carry out an impact study on the introduction of divorce on the family and for the ultra conservative (see interview pg 10) Helen D’Amato who child commissioner to carry out a study on this too.
The Prime Minister is caught between two stools: on one side he has the pro-divorce MPs led by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and on the other, the ultra-conservatives led by Austin Gatt.
But he has the conviction of the majority of his parliamentary group, who oppose divorce.
Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat said in a statement late last night that he favoured the 28 May as well but he is insisting on his original motion, which states that the referendum should focus on the ‘divorce bill’ as proposed by Pullicino Orlando.
Read more in MaltaToday's printed edition
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Check this out -
http://www.um.edu.mt/familystudies/board
Can anyone can predict the outcome of the study to be conducted by these gentlemen/ladies?
duncan abela •
Let us hope that the institute of the family will not get enmeshed in a pseudo non objective exercise not worthy of our academic alma mater. The last thing we want is for our University already heavily biased towards the party in power to become a vehicle for giving academic credence to government and the church already entrenched positions . It will be essential if a serious study is going to be carried out that the researchers declare their personal beliefs and attitude towards divorce and that the research questions posed investigate, cover and test all aspects of the family and the effect divorce has on it as well as comparatively utilise the vast amount of findings already established abroad . A serious scientific study while properly done is very useful it will certainly take much more time than the three months left before the proposed referendum. Also a proper study of the economical, social and legal impacts of divorce requires expertise much beyond I suspect the capabilities and maturity of what I presume is a small institute. I must admit that I had never heard of it before but then institute spawning has become quite prolific. The Senate of the University has the duty to take a hard look at any new proposed research of this nature and monitor it through external assessors of diverse ethical and moral beliefs.
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Has anyone noticed that the following feasts fall on the following day and thus would provide an excellent occasion for propaganda?
29 May The Annunciation Tarxien
29 May St. Augustine Valletta
29 May St. Paul Munxar (Gozo)
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I am confused about this. What will the University say? How could a divorce not impact adversely on a family? It represents the breakup between two spouses. It is the role of parliament, the courts and society generally to help partners cope with the new situation. Stop this nonsense about the common good and the sense of guilt that parties are made to go through when their relationship breaks up.
NO ONE IS IN FAVOUR OF DIVORCE. It is not like a winning at a lottery. But divorce is necessary for some individuals. People deserve a second chance. And a third chance if need be. Parliament should respect citizens and allow them to make up their own minds how to organsie their lives. Stop interfering. Dejjem tridu tilhqu salib haddiehor.
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"He told MPs that he would expect the Institute of the Family at University to carry out an impact study on the introduction of divorce on the family "...all the people in this Institute are fervent (pseudo) Catholics and ultra-conservative. So we know what the results of their investigations will be...How deceitful!!!
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they still believe that the majority of the maltese people can easily be manipulated as they do still believe, that the maltese people can be afraid with the MORTAL SIN! Malta is their last country, that they still think can be and will be controlled , by the preaching of MORTAL SIN- HEAVEN OR HELL!
They are still thinking that the majority of the maltese people are afraid from the MORTAL SIN-
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RESIST OR SERVE!
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The study is: TIME to manipulate with preachings:
A: The Church will enter almost soon as its is confirmed from the parlament the date of the referendum.
B: communications via Vatican---->Church in Malta------>Meetings place
