President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca delivered the opening speech during a plenary session of a conference organised by the University of Malta in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam and George Mason University on ‘Religious Marriages in the Mediterranean’.
The President said that such conferences are giving visibility to the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and research-based collaborations between international academic institutions, adding that this conference “is also an opportunity for academia to share knowledge about marriages, and in particular, the way marriages are understood – both legally and culturally – in our different societies”.
While acknowledging that some faith traditions have a more rigid definition of marriage, the President said that “we must also accept that it is a living and dynamic institution which is influenced by the developing needs, attitudes, socio-economic changes, and understandings of our contemporary communities”. It is essential for professionals and experts to take stock of contemporary situations and ask whether our laws are meeting people’s aspirations for justice and human rights.
Just as previous generations addressed the inequalities and injustices confronted by individuals who faced prejudice based upon racial restrictions on marriages, the President mentioned that “similar restrictions still apply in many parts of the world to same-gender couples seeking legal recognition of their relationships”.
“We must also be respectful of the diverse faith traditions in Malta and the Mediterranean, with their own developing understanding of marriage and its place in society”
The President said that the diversity of faith traditions and cultures – which has always been a characteristic of the Mediterranean Region – is a typical example of the cultural diversity that this region embraces, adding that on the other hand, the celebration of diversity and intercultural dialogue has a deeper meaning than the simple fact that people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds live together.
“Successful intercultural dialogue means that there is a commitment to promote processes of inclusion, where each community is encouraged and supported to preserve and share what is most valuable about its own distinctive culture and tradition”. This way, the richness of the Maltese culture and cultures across the Euro-Mediterranean region continues to prosper.
It takes successful intercultural dialogue, as part of a well-developed strategy of multiculturalism, to truly reflect the fact that diversity enriches our societies, said the President.
“I believe that culture and identity require a careful balance of collaboration and an openness to respectful cooperation. I believe that when we are committed to effective intercultural dialogue, then we must also be committed to the fundamental freedom of religion”, the President said, adding that this is why “I believe that a multicultural Malta must also be a respectful multi-faith country”.
“We must maintain an openness to dialogue with all stakeholders in the best interests of our societies”
When tensions arise between those who hold certain traditional perspectives and new challenges to the status quo, then it is profoundly important to analyse the way in which we talk about our differences.
“While also maintaining the integrity of our individual values, we must never close channels of respectful dialogue”, President Coleiro Preca stressed. “We must listen to the members of our communities and nurture a sense of active citizenship in our society as part of a healthy democracy”.
“I believe a healthy democracy dictates the need for structured and safe spaces for dialogue”
The President said that the President’s Foundation for the Well-being of Society has put this belief into practice by engaging in dialogue with thousands of people from all walks of life, faith traditions, and cultural backgrounds, adding that she’s pleased to see that through its work the President’s Foundation for the Well-being of Society is endeavouring to create a practical model of structured democratic participations.
“In fact, it was during a roundtable discussion organised by my foundation and facilitated by the Director General of the Foundation, Dr Ruth Farrugia alongside Dr David Zammit and Professor Susan Hirsch, that a report on the topic of this conference was created. That roundtable and report have directly contributed to the idea of holding this conference and I augur that further research shall be conducted in this important area both by my foundation, the University of Malta, academics, and other stakeholders”, the President said.
“Marriage has always been an institution of profound significance in many countries”
President Coleiro Preca said that marriage has been a permanent fixture of Mediterranean cultures as well as many other cultures over the world.
“While marriage as an institution has been a constant presence in our world, I believe that it is important for us to recognise that like any relationship between individuals, communities, and the State, it is in a constant and dynamic process of evolution”, the President explained. She referred to recent developments in Malta as an example, “where the Marriage Equality Act has made it possible for same-gender couples to have their relationships legally recognised and safeguarded”.
The President said that such statements in favour of equality, emanating from legislation which was enacted, and policy which was adopted, are a powerful example of Malta’s commitment to uphold universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of every member of our society.