Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, the Nationalist MP who fell from grace after the last election amid controversy over land he owned in Mistra, yesterday presented a 34-page draft law on divorce.
In a surprise press release, Dr Pullicino Orlando, 46, quoted the Pope and the founder of the Church's Cana Movement to drive his point home that this legislation had to be introduced regardless of the country's predominant Catholic belief.
"The aim of the Bill is to dissolve marriages which are irrevocably broken down to prevent the greater harm to the common good which is caused by the present local situation in which remarriage is impossible and unregulated cohabitation is rife."
He said divorce should only be granted to couples who had been living apart for at least four of the previous five years. "This will ensure that no one files for divorce capriciously or on the spur of the moment," he said.
Dr Pullicino Orlando said it was unjust for separated people to be emarginated from society by not being able to remarry and take part in a stable, healthy family environment.
"A further aim is the elimination of the discriminatory situation which arises with regard to couples who cannot seek a divorce overseas. Divorces granted overseas are recognised by the Maltese state."
The Bill also proposes that all possible avenues for reconciliation have been exhausted before the institution of proceedings.
"I know that most of my colleagues, me included, adhere to the Catholic faith.
"We cannot, however, allow our religious sentiments to interfere with our obligations towards citizens who wish to regularise their position in society following an irrevocably failed marriage."
Dr Pullicino Orlando concluded by quoting Mgr Charles Vella, the founder of the Cana Movement, who said in an interview with The Sunday Times that "divorce will not lead to marriages in Malta disintegrating" and "the roles of the Church and the state should not be twinned".
He also quoted Pope Benedict XVI saying: "It is not the role of the Church to build a just state but that of citizens and politicians."
The entire Private Member's Bill is available at www.timesofmalta.com.