TVM: Civil courts to be supreme on marriage laws

http://tvm.com.mt/news/2013/04/first-steps-to-make-civil-marriage-supreme/
10.4.2013

The 1992 Church-State agreement is to be revised. Following Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s statement that government was to move in this direction, when he paid a visit to the Arch Bishop Paul Cremona, the Foreign Office has issued a statement that the ball has been set rolling through a note verbale.

The government said that Malta’s Civil Courts should be supreme with regard to marriage laws. It was committed, however, to reach an agreement which would be satisfactory to both parties.

This was the reason why it was decided for the Foreign Ministry to write formally to the Holy See for negotiations to be initiated.

In 1992, the Holy See had secured an agreement with the Fenech Adami government that, Church annulment proceedings should supersede and halt civil annulment proceedings.