Could not agree more Daphne. I really think religion is the biggest problem in society. You don’t have to be religious to have good moral values or be a good person. Most religious beliefs have immorality to them. To be quite honest, I think religion is the most brainwashing thing accepted in today’s society and people need to be able to think for themself.

[Daphne – Fine, they’re given that message because no porn videos are available, so they switch to cable TV and find hardcore porn there, something our heroes appear not to have noticed. Yes, there are hardcore porn broadcasts on cable TV.]

True that these are slowly dying and with it we are adopting other nations’ way of life, but I beg to ask which other countries who have let the sewers of immorality into their homes can boast of having happy and contented people?

[Daphne – Come on. We have little or no porn and we can’t exactly boast of having happy and contented people, but rather the opposite. It’s a sea of broken marriages and drug-addicted kids out there, with the rest complaining about poverty.]

If only we as a nation can understand that the ways of the world.. even as confirmed by Jesus himself when he claimed that his kingdom was far away and that the Prince of Earth was Satan, if we can again become a people who base our lives on true values, the whole discussion of divorce etc would be insignificant.

But unfortunately the evil that lives in the world is stronger than the good, and slowly but surely .. Have a simlpe glance at Facebook comments by the average Maltese.. you only see abuse, bad language etc etc. Now go onto similar wall of people for example from Nigeria.. and you will see that those people are far closer to real values and the western world, which has been taken over by materialism and consumerism.

[Daphne – You know what? I think religion – or rather the approach to it – actually IS the problem here. But we won’t got into that because I’m wiped out and fitting in these comment-uploads after an already late night. The reason for those Facebook stupidities is not lack of religion but lack of manners and commonsense, to say nothing of lack of IQ.]

” the only affect porn has (if any) is environmental with extra tissues being used! ”

So you’re saying that as a Catholic, you believe and abstain (or attempt to abstain) from pornography not because you believe it is beneficial to yourself, but on a somewhat dogmatic basis.

Though it may also affect one’s spiritual well-being, I believe pornography can have negative psychological effects on youths, I’d be surprised if it didn’t have actually.

If that effect is substantial enough (as the Catholic Church believes), to have a tangible (negative) effect on the individual and society, then it falls in the same basket of drugs.

Well your comments are certainly informative, even though not in the way you intend.

“thus to a certain extent country laws are influenced by ”private” morality (take divorce, abortion, cohabitation etc.. etc..)”

They may be influenced but they still cannot impose the majority’s beliefs on the minority.

“A majority always imposes its ‘beliefs’/values and ideas on the minority (granted it does not infringe their rights)”

Agreed, in fact seeing porn (or anything else legal) in a private area like your house/room is in fact a right!

“but why is it okay to ban drugs but not porn? ”

Oh come on be serious, drugs affect negatively society as a whole, the only affect porn has (if any) is environmental with extra tissues being used! Any substances that affect us, like medicines and illicit drugs have to go under rigorous tests in any civilised and democratic country – drugs like cocaine etc do not pass the test, simple as that, hence they are illegal. many have tried to prove porn is actually harmful (forget sinful) in many countries – no one ever managed!

“Catholics are called to contribute to society on all levels, including i politcs.”

Obviously, Catholics are members of society too, but contribution does not include imposing their particular morals on a minority/others – besides, purely for arguments sake it is very arguable whether Catholics (i.e. church goers) are a majority any more.

you said: “The worst thing about it is the fact that Dr. Vassallo never said he prefers living in Iran or that he wants to ban pornography… So who came up with this stuff?…The media, of course”

Quoting the times quoting the horse: “He stressed that his Iran comment should not be taken to mean that he agreed with certain Iranian policies such as the hanging of gay people.”

The link for your leisured consumption:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100613/local/pl-can-kick-me-out-mp

I didn’t encounter any repudiation of his the original report in the article.

Goerge Lucas says:
TUESDAY, 15 JUNE AT 0226HRS: No wonder we are never gonna win the Eurovision.
Reply:
Marcus Flores: Put it down to wartime-commotion while our singers’ parents were still gestating, or bad cheese in the singers’ childhood, Georgie!

Harry Purdie says:
MONDAY, 14 JUNE AT 1903HRS
Look not back, brave Marcus, lest ye be turned into a pillar of salt.
REPLY:
Marcus Flores: Your sense of humour tickles me pink………
Like most commentors, you are high on form; but low on content. I wouldn’t dare scratch your belly for all the gold at Fort Knox, you know. I am also worried about the state of your health. I’ve only got me; yet you call me “ye”. Something wants tinkering with, my friend!
The Italians have a good expression for the naive, and the artless: Son dolce di sale, they say! In keeping with my convictions that true love is measured by sacrifice and complete self-abnegation, and in deference to this nation, I would willingly let myself be turned into salt.

@ Antoine Vella

Whatever. If say it was a typo I can assure you it was. Besides, I would have thought that with all your boasting of being logical and rational you would have understood that my level of English (of course, not up to your standard) I would know the difference between ‘spur’ and ‘spurn’. Anyway, in pure outdated PN-style you’d rather attack the form than the substance, and if even that fails, you can always call them elves.

Pity the apostrophes are gone – f’tieghek, b’mohhi… imma x’taghmel…

red nose says:
THURSDAY, 10 JUNE AT 1337HRS
The article reminds me of an office paper shredder!
Reply:
MARCUS FLORES: shredders can tear off your own fingers if you don’t use ’em right! just like intelligence, or beauty, or high-explosive: they all require prudence, HUMILITY, and know-how to use safely………………… without inflicting self-damage!