Watch: Former divorce campaigners welcome bishops' guidelines on communion

Former divorce campaigners Evarist Bartolo and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando called a press conference this morning to welcome the bishops’ new guidelines which would allow estranged couples to receive communion.

The Education Minister kicked off the conference – which the Nationalist Party said was being held to deviate attention from serious corruption allegations – by referring to the controversy created by the divorce campaign six years ago.

Mr Bartolo recalled that the campaign had prompted some claims that the Virgin Mary was "crying" at the prospect of the introduction of divorce and that upholding such a right could lead to an earthquake, "while we were personally told we were going to hell".

Back then, the campaigners had made sure the issue would not turn into a religious war and they believed the Church had a right to express itself, he added.

Following the release of guidelines dealing with the implications of Amoris Laetitia, Mr Bartolo said he would like to thank the bishops for taking a brave step and making it easier and more humane for separated and divorced couples to remain part of the church.

Noting that the Church in Malta had gone through an evolution and was...