Nationalist MP Charlò Bonnici annoyed at MaltaToday survey on divorce

The Nationalist MP Charlò Bonnici warns against the Maltese media – which he says is harbouring “the liberal faction” of the country – from “playing with numbers and percentages of how many people support divorce”, a clear reference to MaltaToday’s survey on divorce.

21 July 2010, 12:00am
by Matthew Vella

2 min read

Bonnici has declared himself against divorce in an opinion piece for Nationalist Party organ In-Nazzjon, but claims he can “still look at this issue in the most objective and balanced” of ways.

A MaltaToday survey has confirmed support for divorce has reached an all time high of 59%, in the wake of a private member’s bill to legislate for divorce presented by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando. This is the highest level of support for the introduction of divorce since 1995 when the first survey on this issue was held. The survey also shows that an overwhelming majority wants this issue to be decided upon through a national referendum.

Bonnici wrote that parliament must “soon enough, discuss the state of the family” and make an effort to strengthen the majority of strong marriages, but also discuss “some laws that must address the situation of those whose marriage has broken down.”

“What I don’t want in the meantime is that the liberal faction of this country, which seems to have spread well enough among out media, puts pressure on the way things should happen without keeping in mind the interest of children. I feel reports that play with numbers and percentages of how many people support divorce, are unjust.”

Bonnici adds that religion being part and parcel of the debate (he drolly writes that it cannot be ‘divorced’ from the subject), and that he feels insulted at those who “ridicule [him] for being guided by my beliefs” in his actions.

“The PN’s internal dialogue must be guided by its principles… we must not fall into the trap of political gain to throw out what we have always believed in… we must be guided by what makes us better than what makes us popular.

Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...

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Perhaps Mr. Bonnici can enllighten us as to what is the interest of children in the case of personal separation, the only remedy available now. The answer is that the situation of children with separation or divorce is exactly the same. So stop trying to muddle the issue by mentioning children or any other matter connected with adverse social effects of divorce. The fact is that there is no difference between divorce and separation where these effects are concerned. Admit once and for all, Mr. Bonnici, that your motives for denying this right to your electors are either political or religious or both.

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It is a common strategy of gonziPN that when poll figures are not up to their expectations they start lambasting them.

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Every intelligent human being knows that there is no difference to children between having separated parents and having divorced parents. Using children as an "argument" against divorce is disrespecting children and using them as a means to a fundamentalist religious end. That's child abuse in my books.

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"we must not fall into the trap of political gain to throw out what we have always believed in… we must be guided by what makes us better than what makes us popular." Paraphrasing: "we must not care about what a significant percentage of the people we represent believe in.. we must impose our own personal ideologies, which are the only right ones." So much for living in a supposedly pluralistic democratic society. What makes you think you are 'better' anyway? You are not. Far from it. Please avoid the sun this summer. The last thing we need influencing this country is another Charlo' tan. Bep.

Monique Cauchi •

If this person is against divorce then that is his opinion and he is entitled to it. The almost 60% of Maltese people who have voted in favour of divorce are also entitled to their opinion. Time for Malta to become part of the 21st century.

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How much do you thing U are PURE Charlo 'Your teammate Dr. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando knows what he suffered so we all must THANK him for what he propose You know what GOD said in tje BIBLE those who are PURE throw the first STONE no ONE did so please SHUT your BIG mouth