Anti-divorce movement launched, but sympathising politicians remain unknown

No politicians were present at today’s launch of an anti-divorce movement, chaired by MFSA director-general Andre J. Camilleri. They will be known however, on the first official activity by the movement.

The movement is set to enter the national debate on the introduction of divorce, with its Chairman Andre J. Camilleri explaining that it will back its anti-divorce stand “with facts” and eventually take a stand on whether the decision should be taken through a referendum or in parliament.

He explained that the movement aims to participate in the civil debate about divorce, stressing that this was not a solution for separated couples.

Camilleri argued that divorce weakens the bond of marriage, making it temporary and “flimsy” and added that a logical consequence of such weakening, effects all of society.

He called on government to focus its energy in boosting marriage preparation, provide services for those with martial problems and try to reduce the hurt of people in broken marriages.

Camilleri argued against the perception that was being created through sections of the media that Maltese marriages were breaking up at a very fast rate, when statistics compiled through a 2007 survey showed that 88 per cent of persons in current relationships said they were satisfied or very satisfied by their relationship.

The initial personalities that have endorsed the anti-divorce movement are popular DJ Pierre Cordina, his wife TV presenter Mireille Cordina, separated TV presenter Joyce Cassar, the Chairman of the Malta Stock Exchange Arthur Galea Salamone, University student Albert Sciberras, accountant William Buckle, senior lecturer Mario Pace and Cana Movement President Anna Vella.

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Alfred Galea
Andre should be worrying about the BOV and the 43,000,000 euros it lost its investors instead of divorce. And Arthur about insider trading at the MSE.
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These bunch are the experts and control freaks of what goes on under the bed sheets and the ones who have decided that people should not have a second chance to happiness. Thats it, the world is a place to grieve and to suffer in misery! This is not what God wants and all the world's countries except Malta and the Philippines) are a witness to it! But the cherry on the cake is the separated lady: she should know better!
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Sur Andre j Camilleri mhux ahjar THALLI lil min ghandu il PROBLEMI ta Zwieg jipprovaw JIRRANGAWHOM huma milli kullhadd irid jindahal fil PROBLEMI ta haddiehor Jekk inti ma ghandekx problemi irringrazzja lil ALLA pero ghoqod ATTENT ghax jekk ghandek it tfal jistaw il quddiem JINKWETAWK HUMA
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This anti divorce movement is absurd. Fundamentalistic and Fatalistic and hypocritical in nature. It tries to control people. Anti Divorce people get a real life and open up your mind to the universe out there it is infinite!!!!! You must be a sad bunch of people for imposing your beliefs on others!!! Perhaps you want to distract the maltese nation from the real problems! WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY!!!
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yes who the hell are you mr.andre j.camilleri!??? maybe a pure hypocrit - just go and f8ck off you son of a bit8h- you will never tell anyone what to do- you asshole- you talk shit- people will still do what they want , you motherfuc8er.maybe you have a long horn that you cannot even pass from your door- just fuc@ off you son of a bitc8- LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
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Mr. Camilleri if i want a divorce who the hell are you to tell me what to do?I am a divorcee ,and like those 88% am also very satisfied with my current relationship.
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"Camilleri argued against the perception that was being created through sections of the media that Maltese marriages were breaking up at a very fast rate, when statistics compiled through a 2007 survey showed that 88 per cent of persons in current relationships said they were satisfied or very satisfied by their relationship". And how many of those 88% satisfied or very satisfied by their current relationship are separated from their spouse? Camilleri does not say.
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What information? You are wrong Mr Camilleri move on with the time,do not send Malta back.People will hurt more if they stay in unhappy marriage.Children will hurt more when their is no love and fighting in the family.
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When reading about this set-up, the word that comes to mind is paraventu. The Church is afraid to front this movement hence no priests form part. It had to find surrogates. Although none of these people are clerics, they are still not secular by any stretch of the imagination. The Church has been trying to come up with non-theologic arguments to stop divorce in order to prevent a divorce refendum from becoming a referendum on the Churtch itself and its over-reaching and intrusion in public life. In my opinion this effort will not be successful and the divorce debate will be between the secular arguments in favour and the opposing religious doctrine of the Cathoilic Church.
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How was that for freedom of expression, of thought and of association? Sure, hiding behind the ridiculous "brancaleone" one can be daring enough to vilify anyone. "motley crowd", "rotund TV presenters", "forces of obscurantism", "keeping the Maltese enslaved", "marionettes", references to "inmates of Auschwitz" (show some respect, idiot), "orchestration, cahoots, bla, bla, and other bilge". This rag really breaks new ground in journalistic standards; new ground in depravity. Andrew Farrugia alias afar3 PS Waiting for the usual drivel from we-know-who!
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What a motley crowd! Chairman of this, chairman of that, directors of the diocesan bank, rotund TV presenters, Cana movement... what next? But perhaps they are not so motley and there is method in all this. Well, I guess it was to be expected that the forces of obscurantism should gang up and insist on keeping the Maltese enslaved to the Church, willly nillly. Don't these people feel used, made to look like marionettes with strings pulled by others? There will be studies and statistics. We are all reduced to a statistic just as the inmates of Auschwitz were reduced to a number tattooed on their forearm. And then, no priests! You see, the Church has nothing to do with this. These are just good, public-spirited Catholics working for the good of the community, saving it from itself, pre-empting it from setting off a disaster of its own making. Why am I tormented by the suspicion that someone in the Church, possibly in consultation with someone high up in the government, sent for Dr. Andre' Camilleri and suggested that he chairs this movement, that he selects as members people from different "walks of life", even someone separated? Why does such vocabulary as orchestration, cohoots, underhand, deception, imposition, contempt of the population, disrespect for civil rights, etc come to my mind?
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Isabelle Borg
Just a bunch of oppressors.
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Lol @ Anti-divorce movement! Not so funny is the fact that these people will vote in a referendum, thus deciding on YOUR conjugal life! A referendum on divorce is UNETHICAL and only possible under the PNPL farce!
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Alfred Galea
Kelinu, of course, they're just fronting the No side so that the PN won't be seen as the party of No when divorce is finally introduced. That's why exPM and ex POTR Eddie will be the "Richard the Lionheart" of the No crusade.
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This is a thinly disguised attempt by the Catholic Church in Malta to distance itself from the divorce debate. The majority of the members of this group has current or past connections to the Church. Dr. Camilleri is a an-ex official of the Catholic Actiona and University Catholic Guild. Dr. Galea Salamone is a director of the Church owned APS Bank. Another one is president of a Church organisation. So far they have tried to give a secular opposition to divorce but most probably this message will be lost in an ocean of religious 'arguments' against divorce legislation.
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Aravind
@ Knocker.... Is it back then ....Malta is saved ..Praise the Lord !....Very good of her to join the Anti Divorce Movement- Legislation but slightly hypocritical but then we are all used to her hypocrisy .She will be joining the Anti Domestic Violence Group next for sure . On a personal note i believe the option for Divorce should be made just that, An option when all else fails . Painful as i am sure Divorce is... The pain is there especially if children are involved when a marriage is over and constant bickering is not healthy for anyone .
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... 'scuse me, folks. I forgot to mention that Mgr Charles G. Vella was the brigadier-general of Sir Michael Gonzi's forces back in the 1960s. More recently he pronounced his pro-divorce sentiments (to the befuddlement of all who cared to listened), now he is changing tactics. He is publicly lauding RCC over his great service (sic) to Malta (service, my left foot) and now he is intruding, in his ripe old age, 80 something, in the politico-religious milieu of his native Island after having had a good time with his friend Verze` (and guess who?) super-playboy Silvio Berlusconi who is successfully making Italy the laughing stock of the Western world.
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Have a look at what the Bidnija Witch has said:"I welcome the launch of the Anti Divorce Movement (which I suppose, strictly speaking, is actually the Anti-Divorce-Legislation Movement) because it is led by people whose opinion we can respect and take seriously, a prerequisite for proper debate. I don’t imagine there will be anything in the way of hysterics coming from Andre Camilleri, who is director-general of the Malta Financial Services Authority, and Arthur Galea Salamone, chairman of the Malta Stock Exchange." The plot thickens, my friends. Daphne vs JPO, we're in for some fun! I smell more spin coming from Don Charles Vella, RCC's self-avowed friend (vide Lehen is-Sewwa, 18 December 2010). JPO is right to feel like a puppet on RCC's string as he was prior to the last elections when he was caught trying to swindle us all in the Mistra affair.
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Luke Camilleri
Why not Fr. Charles Vella , founder of CANA movement whose opinion on divorce was aired in last saturday's program on One TV Bla Agenda, whenhe commented on the record number of marriage annulments given? http://public.di-ve.com/streaming/on_demand_event_encoding.aspx?id=4520&backUrl=streaming/on_demand_event_programs.aspx&groupID85
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Divorce is being presented as a solution to failed marriages. I would suggest the 'NO' camp not to explain why divorce is not good. Instead it should try to suggest another solution to divorce. A solution not BEFORE a marriage has failed but after. I expect the 'NO' camp to be secular. The minute it mentions church/god I would take their statements with a pinch of salt.
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Alfred Galea
[He explained that the movement aims to participate in the civil debate about divorce, stressing that this was not a solution for separated couples] So what is the solution of separated couples?? Shacking up with someone else?? And what is the difference between separated couples who had their marriages annulled and those who are divorced?? Re-marrying seemed to work for them, why not for divorced couples??