Divorce a reflection of ‘human weakness’ – Catholic group

MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic lay organization appealed to the government to reject proposals for a divorce law, which it claimed was “a reflection of human weakness.”

Couples for Christ (CFC), the country’s biggest Catholic renewal community, issued a manifesto against the divorce bill.

“We strongly urge our country’s leaders NOT to weaken the marriage bond but instead to work more aggressively to strengthen the family,” CFC’s manifesto said.

A more vigorous implementation of Executive Order No. 209, s. 1987 or the Family Code, “is a more viable option by which to elevate our people into a society of law-abiding, emotionally stable citizens,” it added.

House Bill 9349 or the Absolute Divorce bill, which was passed in the House of Representatives with 131 affirmative votes, 109 negative and 20 abstentions, has been transmitted to the Senate. Earlier reports said the bill received 126 yes votes.

CFC argued that broken families caused by divorce would bring emotional, psychological, financial and physical forms of pain, especially for children.

“No marriage is perfect. However, marriages formed in love and mutual understanding can be happy, enduring and fulfilling,” it stated.