Divorce
bill anti-family
MANILA --- Members of the clergy said the
divorce bill, which passed the committee level at the House of Representatives last
February 21, is against the family.
With this, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo
Bastes expressed disappointment over the lawmakers’ decision to pass the
measure at the committee level.
“This is a very disappointing
development. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in the world where
divorce is forbidden. The Church should rally against this law by showing the
disastrous effect of divorce that destroys the family, the basic unit of
society and the domestic Church,” he said.
“Divorce is a direct affront to the
law ordained by God and specifically reiterated by our Lord Jesus Christ!” the
Catholic prelate added.
Bastes is hoping that legislators
will see the sanctity of marriage and also the effects of divorce in nations
where such law is implemented.
“The destruction of families by
divorce is indeed a project of Satan, the enemy par excellence of God! Would
that our lawmakers open their eyes and hearts to the beauty of upholding the
dignity of marriage and to the horrendous situation which divorce has caused in
all countries of the world,” he said.
Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee,
said Congress will betray its mandate if they pass the divorce bill.
“Divorce is anti-marriage and anti-family!
By passing this measure, Congress betrays its mandate to protect our country’s
legally and morally declared social and inviolable institutions!” he said in a
post on his Facebook account.
The Catholic priest noted that they
support the protection of rights of parties involved but such rights should
coincide in protecting marital unions.
“The Church is all for the
protection of rights, especially of the aggrieved parties in marriage. But
protection of rights should go hand in hand with upholding our cherished
institutions like marriage,” he said.
“While divorce may indeed vindicate
the rights of women, as Congressmen believed, it is unfortunately to the
detriment of marriage and family as sacred institutions that should otherwise
be protected by the State,” Secillano added.
A technical working group of the
committee on population and family relations headed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman
approved a substitute bill that consolidates several measures which seek to
legalize divorce in the country. (Ferdinand
Patinio, PNA)
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