An Alternattiva Demokratika delegation, led by party leader Harry Vassallo, yesterday paid a courtesy call on Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.

A party statement said the delegation spoke on AD policies, insisting the party was in favour of family unity and would like to see stronger families, under less economic pressure so as to avoid the ills of separations.

"Alternattiva Demokratika empathises with all those who experience marital breakdown," Dr Vassallo explained. "Although we do not encourage divorce, AD recognises that we do have legal separations between couples and that it makes no logical sense to refuse divorce to persons who, as a last resort, want to divorce after all attempts at reconciliation fail."

"From a legal secular perspective it makes even less sense since the Maltese legal system has recognised foreign divorces also between Maltese couples, married in a religious rite, since 1975."

The delegation reiterated the party's stance against abortion and also explained its position on homosexuals.

"We have been clear in defending gays from unjustified prejudice, in private dealings, in their place of work and also in their status before state institutions," Dr Vassallo said.

"However, we have been clear in rejecting any proposal instituting gay marriages, since marriage is a term and concept established in law and culture to signify a permanent union of one man and one woman and would be inappropriate with reference to the union of persons of the same sex."

"We recognise that in our country persons of the same sex live together and they should be entitled to legal recognition."

Dr Vassallo also announced that AD's Gozo Regional Committee intends to organise a public seminar on the spirituality of the environment. A similar initiative was taken in Malta in 2002, where Fr Sean McDonagh, the author of Greening the Church, was the main guest speaker.

The Gozo Curia said Mgr Grech insisted that politicians should be guided by the Gospel and the teachings of the Church.

Mgr Grech welcomed the fact that the AD members were accompanied by their families and said politicians could work with others to promote the dignity of the family and the human being.