13/07/2022
JOINT STATEMENT OF CATHOLIC FAITH DEFENDERS IN LUZON AGAINST LEGALIZATION OF DIVORCE IN THE PHILIPPINES
We, the CATHOLIC FAITH DEFENDERS OF LUZON, express our firm stance in the teachings of the Catholic Church and strongly oppose the legalization of Divorce here in the Philippines.
DIVORCE IS AGAINST GOD AND THE NATURAL LAW
“What therefore God has joined together, let no man dissolve.” - Mark 10:9
Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death. Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery.
Divorce is also immoral because it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2384-2385)
DIVORCE HARMS THE FOUNDATION OF THE SOCIETY, THE FAMILY
Marriage is spouses’ vow to God and the State “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do [they] part.” The essence of marriage is its PERMANENCE and INDISSOLUBILITY—without which, marriage becomes meaningless and not different from mere partnership contracts.
Divorce strips all marriages (existing and to-come) of this essence and reduces them into ordinary and temporary contracts subject to the whim of the engaged parties. Legislating divorce selfishly serves only marriages with dysfunctional spouses. It does not take into consideration the desire of those who remain faithful to their vows and prefer to keep this vow ESSENTIALLY PERMANENT and INDISSOLUBLE. Divorce disorders ALL families while failing to resolve the root cause of most issues and difficulties of Filipino families, and much worse, it creates complicated and harmful situations to the lives and well-being of children.
DIVORCE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
According to 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article 15, Section 1: "The State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development." It also clearly defined "Marriage" as "an INVIOLABLE social institution, is the FOUNDATION of the family and shall be PROTECTED by the State" in Section 2.
Family Code of the Philippines or the Executive Order No. 209, Article 1, also defined marriage as “a special contract of PERMANENT union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life."
Existing laws also already provide the needed penalty for abusive partners and protection for victimized spouse and children (e.g. RA. 9262 or VAWC, RA. 7610 or Anti-Child Abuse, etc.).
DIVORCE DOES NOT SOLVE THE SUFFERING OF FAMILES
While recognizing the suffering of those in dysfunctional families, we believe that severing their weakening ties brings more harm than good to the society, and worse, to the children. Authentic help to the suffering families must be oriented towards ending the cause of suffering and not towards ending the families themselves.
We propose instead that our legislators should give more priority to the following:
1) improving Family Values Education programs that involves religious leaders or their representatives;
2) lessening the focus on promoting contraception and more on pre-marital and marital character development programs;
3) strengthening policies that protect children from dysfunctional families;
4) promoting programs which offers help to families experiencing difficulties and challenges; and
5) alleviating, if not, ending poverty, crimes, substance addiction, and other root causes of suffering of families.
We encourage all Catholic Faith Defenders to help in this cause, PRO DEO ET ECCLESIA (for God and the Church).
