Ask not what marriage can do for you – zolabytes

When Archbishop Cremona invited us to ask what we could do for marriage he probably wasn’t thinking of Fausto’s analytical skills. Our main zolabyte contributor returns with reflections on the archi-episcopal invitation.
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Speaking recently at a conference, Archbishop Cremona said that “everyone should ask himself what he/she could do for a more supportive environment for marriage”.

I found the statement somewhat amusing. It felt like one of those awkward situations where you genuinely ask someone how an abstract principle (“strengthen marriage” in this case) can be translated into practice and in reply you get your question thrown back.

Progett Impenn, an umbrella campaign whose members are the Cana Movement, Caritas Malta and the Archidiocese’s own Family Commission and who organised the conference, have some ideas of their own. Now, brace yourselves and tighten your seatbelts because Progett Impenn’s policy proposals for “strengthening marriage” are sure to sweep anyone off his feet. In their recent report For worse NOT for better (so titled because it was issued in response to a private think-tank’s recommendation to introduce divorce) they proposed:

• The setting up of an Inter-Ministerial Committee to plan and execute a holistic strategy in favour of marriage and family;
• Marriage and family courses included as part of the curriculum at every level of education;
• A strengthened National Family Commission to propose and monitor legislation, administrative decisions, curricula and media productions which promote the family based on marriage and
• Family-friendly housing policy especially for low-income couples wishing to get married.

What can I say? Two proposals involve committees, usually an attempt to hide a state of cluelessness by delegating the search for solutions to others (and let’s not forget that a camel is a horse designed by committee). The courses about “marriage” at “every level of education” will be given to people who, according to the state statisticians who also spoke at the conference, are not expected to reach that point in their lives before fifteen years (average marrying age having risen to the early thirties).

While the first three points are insipid, the last is odd. I thought the Government had been doing just that for years through the schemes of the Housing Authority. Unless, that is, “family-friendly” there is codeword for “more”. In which case it might be worthwhile reminding the “more” married couples already receive. Married couples can file a single income tax return and pay lower rates. In the case of social security married and unmarried pay the same rates (there is, it should be said, a “marriage grant“). But in the case of a contributor who had been married the surviving spouse (who would not have paid any contributions) is guaranteed a pension for the rest of his or her days even though the surviving spouse would not have contributed a cent of insurance.

Oh let’s not forget the Ministry of Finance’s scheme allowing newly weds to recoup VAT on expenses related to their wedding reception. As this ludicrous government form for the scheme reminds us you get VAT back on expenses for the big day at the hairdresser’s, beautician’s, tailor’s, florist’s and even for the choir singing in church. Ah, which brings me: did you know that you’re equally eligible in the case of expenses related to priestly ordination? But not, it seems, if you’re a bachelor who’d like to celebrate, for example, University graduation.

No VAT-free parties for you. Make good use of the time and ponder on the Archbishop’s question. Think of the money you are made to pay towards creating a “supportive environment” for other people’s marriages. Not that it seems to be working or anyone noticing that it isn’t working. In other circumstances that would have been described as a waste of taxpayer money. But, hey, marriage is to be strengthened … and no questions in that regard asked.

Fausto Majistral
for J’accuse Zolabytes

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Zolabytes is a new rubrique on J’accuse – the name is a nod to the original J’accuser (Emile Zola) and a building block of the digital age (byte). Zolabytes is intended to be a collection of guest contributions in the spirit of discussion that has been promoted by J’accuse on the online Maltese political scene for 5 years.

Opinions expressed in zolabytes contributions are those of the author in question. Opinions appearing on zolabytes do not necessarily reflect the editorial line of J’accuse the blog.
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