From Malta to Hungary, Change is the Common Theme

Living in a global village forces us to face certain facts.  One fact that we must all confront is that our world is changing.  Global demographics are being scrambled around, principles that have governed societies for years are now being deserted, and the French soccer team for 2010 World Cup consisted mostly of players with darker complexion.  However, the most important change that is now taking place is the re-formation of family.  The current legislation of European states speaks volumes of attempts being made to redefine family.  This change is evident in the transformation currently taking place in two European countries, Malta and Hungary, both of which are members of the European Union.

Malta is a country that is very dear to my heart.  It is one of the last strongholds of Catholicism that has survived the vicious assaults of secularism in modern Europe.  It is nearly impossible to go anywhere in the tiny island without being reminded of the Catholic culture that encompasses all aspect of life.  Most importantly, it is the island where St. Paul’s wreckage landed him nearly 1,950 years ago.  The Holy Spirit attests for the generosity and loving nature of the islanders when the Scripture says the Maltese “showed unusual kindness.  They built a fire and welcomed [escapees of the shipwreck]” (Acts 28:2). The generosity and kindness of the islanders have only intensified since they embraced the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ.  To this day, they continue to welcome all sorts of refugees and offer them much help with a most commendable Catholic spirit.  I have personally spoken to people who have experienced these traits of the Maltese people.  Perhaps some of them are reading this post now and can testify to what I am writing here.

Unfortunately, Malta is about to undergo a tempestuous change.  The front where the war is being waged is the building block of civilization, the family.  Up till now, divorce was illegal in the island.  The law only permitted annulment or separation.  In the case of annulment, a marriage is deemed invalid under special circumstances, such as an undisclosed sickness or an uncommitted partner.  Separation is only possible if there is adultery involved.  In the latter case, no one is permitted to marry again.

This law mirrors Catholic doctrine of marriage, where a divorce is not allowed because “what God has joined together, no man can separate” (Mark 10:9).  On May 28, the country will hold a referendum to introduce divorce to the civil law.  The dissolution of marriage in Malta is a definite sign that Malta will join the rest of the western hemisphere in its decadence and corruption, especially in hot issues such as homosexuality, abortion, and sexual promiscuity.  Once marriage is undermined, all sorts of wickedness begin to creep into a society.  No doubt, the unmarried will seek fulfillment of desire elsewhere, such as pornography or illicit sexual partnership.  Naturally, unexpected pregnancies will rise, which means that babies who sleep safely in their mothers’ wombs will have to be extracted, first by tearing their limbs apart, and then vacuuming them out and into the garbage bin.  View Catholic anticipates a tumultuous upheaval to take root in Malta.  This change will definitely stain the fabric of innocence that has clothed the tiny island.  Recent history of Europe and North America clearly demonstrates that once marriage, traditional marriage, goes out the window, every type of wickedness under the sky begins to slither and crawl in. 

Approximately 820 miles northeast of Malta, another European country is seeking to abandon this culture of death and join the ranks of jolly pro-lifers.  On April 18^th, Hungary approved of a new legislation that bans both Homosexual Union (gay marriage) and Abortion as well.  This legislation has been the object of malicious criticism, namely from the ranks of homosexual activists and pro-choice groups. Hungary was formerly a member of the Soviet Bloc.  Communism, of course, has no regard for family.  Change of status quo in Hungary is a clear sign to modern day leftist revolutionaries that destruction of traditions is not always a welcomed change or a positive direction where the path of natural progress must inevitably unravel.  

With the Hungarian example, an observant analyst clearly sees that change is not always constructive.  With the Hungarian example, one finds an instance where leftist agendas of undermining the family are abandoned and forsaken because they have been tried and implemented, but to no avail.  Having been through this experience, Hungary can stand up and say it plainly and loudly, “Europe, go back to your roots.  Go back to your Christian roots.” 

Both of these two examples deal with change.  One of them is constructive, while the other is destructive.  One seeks to eat away at the heart of human civilization, the other attempts to rebuild and nourish the building block of human civilization.  Malta and Hungary form a perfect paradigm where the dialectic of transformation between old and new is visibly stated and can be unmistakably read.