14/10/2025
“Is Divorce a Sin?” A Question from an 8-Year-Old Girl
On Sunday, during our Sunday School class (St. Gerald's Paris), an 8-year-old girl raised her hand and asked me,
Is divorce a sin?
It’s one of those innocent yet deeply profound questions that remind us how children see truth with pure eyes. I wanted to answer her through simple Catholic theology, philosophy, and a touch of our Zimbabwean culture.
God’s Love and the Family
I told her, “That’s a very good question. God loves families very much. When two people get married, they promise to love and take care of each other, just like Jesus loves us. Marriage, in its deepest sense, is a reflection of divine love meant to last, to nurture, and to build life.
What the Church Teaches
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1649–1651, 2382–2386) explains that marriage is meant to be forever. But sometimes, life becomes very painful or unsafe, and people separate for serious reasons. While divorce goes against God’s original plan, the Church also teaches compassion God never stops loving those who go through such pain.
In our Church, we believe marriage is a promise made before God that should last forever. But when love breaks down, we still pray for healing because God’s mercy is greater than our mistakes.
If staying together causes more harm, abuse, or a complete loss of peace in the family, then remaining together may do more damage to everyone involved especially the children. In such cases, divorce can become a necessary solution to protect life, dignity, and peace. The Church recognizes this painful reality and calls us to approach it with understanding, not condemnation.
A Simple Philosophical View
Philosophically, every choice carries meaning. Marriage is a choice to unite and grow together. When that unity breaks, pain follows but forgiveness and understanding remain paths toward goodness.
God made marriage so people can help each other become good and happy. When that fails, it hurts but love and healing are still possible.”
A Zimbabwean Cultural Lens
In our culture, marriage is not just about two people it’s about ukama (kinship) and kugarisana (living in harmony). Families and elders traditionally help couples restore peace and understanding. Even when separation happens, our culture teaches us to choose peace, forgiveness, and love for the sake of the children, the community, and the heart.
What I Told Her in the End
Divorce is not what God wants for us, but God never stops loving anyone. We must always pray for families, for love to grow, and for forgiveness to heal what is broken.
