The Church urges its members not to embark on a divorce crusade

The bishops said that contributing “positively” to the divorce debate, Church members will not only be doing a service to the Church, but also to the whole of the Maltese society. “We ask everybody who contributes to this debate not to distort the love for each person ingrained in the Christian message by embarking on some kind of crusade, even in the case of clear signs of provocation.”

“In a pluralistic society there should never be just one opinion voiced and it is a disservice to democracy to try to silence other points of view!” the Bishops said.

The Bishops said that even when in clear signs of provocation, Christians must still spread the “Good News”, but not as a reaction. The bishops said that Christians "must still respect those who not agree with us to a point that one wants in love and humility to share one’s conviction with them without fear, but in convincing love."

Cremona and Grech said that even though most spouses still live to the commitment of marriage, “we are confronted with an increasing number of marriage breakdowns.”

These breakdowns bring much suffering and "it is a challenge which the Church and Maltese society at large have to confront.”

The Bishops said that "investing" in more stable marriages would decrease the likelihood of divorce. “How can one now expect that it [the Church] will not be speaking out for preventive measures by promoting and defending the stability of marriage?” the Bishops asked, referring to studies confirming that "society suffers" because of the introduction of divorce.

The Bishops said the Christian heritage had always helped families to “reared in stable marriages”, even in times of poverty and emigration. 

Grech and Cremona said, that whereas the Church’s mission is to promote the stability of marriage, divorce will shift the spouse’s commitment, making it easy to end one’s marriage.

The Bishops also urged Christians to choose marriage as value, promoting and defending it,  being in conformity with what they believe in.

“Each and every member of the Church is committed to fulfill the values of the Kingdom of God. They should realize that they are responsible to promote and defend the dignity of each person, justice in society, the environment.”

Referring to Pope Benedict’s speech at the welcoming ceremony in Malta, the Bishops said that Christians have “a mission to perform”. They said that as a nation, Church members must stand up for the indissolubility of marriage as a natural and sacramental institution.