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The need for divorce in the Philippines

Last of two parts
(Part One)

What are the arguments against divorce?

1. These arguments are based mainly on religious grounds that marriage is a union of two persons by God lasting “till death do us part”.

However, it is unthinkable why God would continue to allow two persons living in perpetual conflict, committing sins against each other, injuring even their children in the process, through emotional or physical means.

2. The Catholic religion does not allow or recognize divorce outside of annulment (which means there was no marriage in fact, or the marriage was voided).

Yet in Italy, where the Vatican is, the government has long ago granted the right to divorce, even as it is not recognized by the church.

The separation of church and state must still be maintained, as divorce is a legal remedy in the same manner that a marriage is a legal contract that can be entered into and terminated.

3. Divorce is going to destroy families. Families are already destroyed by crisis or conflict even before partners even think of divorce.

Divorce is a remedy to free families from conflict and partners from failed marriages. Whats more divorce is a right, made available to those who want to end their partnership. Those who don’t can continue living the way they wish.

4. The law already grants legal separation. However, legal separation does not allow any separated spouse to remarry. It is unthinkable, especially for legally separated persons who have no reason for coming back to a failed marriage, why people should not be given the right to remarry and carry on their lives with full legal rights and enjoy the respect of their communities.

Therefore, spouses who are in broken marriages should not remain perpetually suffering from a failed relationship. Based on the increasing number of irreparable marriages that virtually place spouses on state of uncertainties, it has become morally and socially acceptable for many Filipinos to grant spouse of a broken marriage the right to remarry. #

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