The statistics you quote are clearly just descriptive of US society. There is nothing in there that says this was all caused by the introduction of divorce.

Without divorce, Malta is still going through a similar experience, albeit on a smaller scale. Have a chat with any teacher and they’ll tell you what a sensitive issue Mother’s and Father’s day have become in class.

Malta is acting like the proverbial ostrich in this issue, ignoring the fact that marriages are breaking down. You can only influence culture and lifestyles to a certain extent by legislating. What the state can do is to regulate matters when it is obvious that things are not working as expected.

Also, statistics extracted from another source about the US divorce experience goes to substantiate this arguement further.

Quote –

“ Married adults now divorce two-and-a-half times as often as adults did 20 years ago and four times as often as they did 50 years ago… between 40% and 60% of new marriages will eventually end in divorce. The probability within… the first five years is 20%, and the probability of its ending within the first 10 years is 33%… Perhaps 25% of children ages 16 and under live with a stepparent.
”
—Brian K. Williams, Stacy C. Sawyer, Carl M. Wahlstrom, Marriages, Families & Intimate Relationships 2006 – unquote

The small island of Malta can ill-afford to go through this social and economic scourge. The economic cost of a great disruption of a high magnitude will have an untold strain on our economy but also on our cultural and social roots.

Our common good comes foremost and demands that this issue of divorce is analysed objectively from a macro level.

Although I sympathise with the increasing number of legally separated, circa 13000 it is reported, many of whom may want to dissolve their nuptial contract, I am afraid that their plight should not take precendence on the common good.

Partisan politics is something that does not exist in my book. Most of you make the mistake of thinking that because I am an unknown, I do not know the jet set. Oh but I do.

All of the people I have commented on on this blog, I have met, bar Mintoff.

Perhaps you will say that my judgement is coloured because I have never received any favours from anyone, but then what would you rather have, an embittered man who has seen how the other side lives, or some fawning sycophant who owes everyone a favour?

I am still struggling to understand your political ideology, Kev.

Does that mean that if divorce is introduced, legal separation will finish?

[Daphne – No, it doesn’t mean that at all. Where there is divorce, you are free to separate without divorcing. It’s just that most people don’t. You separate when you no longer want to live with the person, so then you might as well divorce.]

The comment that being pro-divorce legislation does not mean that you favour divorce makes sense. I am totally against divorce or rather re-marriage but still don’t feel the State should take religion into consideration.

Divorce wouldn’t affect the sacramental side of marriage, just the civil side.

Those who don’t care about the sacramental aspect of marriage have no problem in co-habiting even if both are free to marry.

Those who believe in the sacramental aspect would carry on as they do today = live a celibate life if they separate.
So what is divorce going to change?

Instead of reading what was reported, wouldn’t it be better if you listen to the programme?
http://www.rtk.org.mt/ondemand.asp?cat=14

H. P. Baxxter – you could not have described this man better. I am convinced you are not basing your judgement of Pullicino Orlando on partisan politics. I share the same opinion as you regarding this character. I cringe every time I see him.

“There is no “rational” argument against divorce” … umm I got across this article today ..’Sons of Divorce Fare Worse Than Daughters’

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/sons-of-divorce-fare-worse-than-daughters/?src=me#x26;ref=health

[Daphne – Where there is divorce, Steve, there is no distinction between divorce and separation. What they mean when they say ‘divorce’ is marriage breakdown. We have that here, too.]

Heather,

Norman Lowell is on yours.