similarly to the bishops of buenos aires, the bishops of malta issued guidelines in january 2017 which state, "despite the fact that this ideal is not at all easy, there may be couples who, with the help of grace, practice this virtue [continence] without putting at risk other aspects of their life together. on the other hand, there are complex situations where the choice of living "as brothers and sisters" becomes humanly impossible and gives rise to greater harm (see al, note 329)." the guidelines continue, "if, as a result of the process of discernment, undertaken with 'humility, discretion and love for the church and her teaching, in a sincere search for god’s will and a desire to make a more perfect response to it' (al 300), a separated or divorced person who is living in a new relationship manages, with an informed and enlightened conscience, to acknowledge and believe that he or she is at peace with god, he or she cannot be precluded from participating in the sacraments of reconciliation and the eucharist (see al, notes 336 and 351)."