by Anura Guruge
I did not know this, but it is being claimed that the Vatican and the Philippines are the only remaining states that do not have laws permitting divorce — though I have since found that there are at least two caveats to this in the case of the latter; Muslims in the Philippines are permitted some latitude and marriages can be annulled. [I know that there are prominent Catholics in this country, Sen. Edward Kennedy and Sen. John Kerry immediately comes to mind, that have re-married after their Catholic marriages were annulled by the Church (no doubt greased by large amounts of largess to a local cardinal or bishop, most likely the aptly named 'OutLaw' given that both these wealthy Catholics were from Boston).]
Malta, another predominantly Catholic country, on July 25, 2011 (yes, just under a month ago), enacted a parliamentary law permitting divorce. This law, however, needs to be ratified by the President before it is expected to become the law of the land in October of this year. << link 1. link 2 >>
The new nuncio to this very Catholic, but grossly under-represented country when it comes to Cardinal electors, is 59-year-old Italian Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, who was previously the nuncio to Chile (where divorce was legalized in 2004, three-years prior to Pinto’s sojourn there). [Did you know that Ireland, grudgingly, only permitted divorce in 1997? Those poor suffering women!] Pinto, recently, has stated that it is a ‘point of honor for the Philippines’ that they do not permit divorce — though a bill to legalize it has been in the works for a few years.
As is to be expected, the Philippines also has draconian laws when it comes to reproductive rights, and predictably the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is strongly opposed to any relaxation of these — though I have to wonder, a loud, how many of these bishops (not to mention Filipino Catholic priests) have fathered bastards. [I don't even want to think of the nuns.] Come on, give those lovely women a break.
What is ironic is that though they kowtow the Vatican, the Vatican has treated them with off-hand disdain. Maybe the Vatican will respect them more if they showed a bit more resolve! From what I have seen the meek have never done too well at the Vatican. Yes, I know that the expectations are that they will get at least one cardinal at the next consistory — but it is POSSIBLE that the Vatican could make such a creation conditional; i.e., you change the laws no cardinal.
6 Responses to “Papal Nuncio Applauds Absence Of ‘Divorce’ In The Philippines”
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Malta also does not allow divorce.
David,
Aaahhh. Though I like to cultivate the impression of being haphazard I actually do do some research.
Malta passed an historic divorce bill on July 25, 2011. Sorry. It has yet to be ratified by the President BUT a law was passed. Check this.
But I will update the post.
Greetings!
Yes the Philippines is now the only country aside from the Vatican that does not allow divorce and I personally hope that it will remain that way for all eternity.Dont get me wrong. I know not all marriages are made in heaven. But marriage should be a conscius effort from the couple to do their best to make the marriage work out. Some couples just because they’re not happy anymore they look at divorce as the only solution which is not so… Happiness for me is also a choice. The couple must do things to make their marriage happy. So most of us here are proud that we are the remaining country that does not allow divorce. For most of us divorce will cheapen the sanctity of marriage. Because the couple can marry anytime and file for divorce anytime they just feel like it.
Regarding bishops fathering children I know of only one case. He already resigned around 9 years ago and went to USA. No news of him ever since. My uncle once mentioned that one former cardinal also fathered children but I have not read of any articles related to that matter. And my uncle is no longer Catholic. He’s not even a Christian anymore so it is just easy for him to say such things…
Dom,
As SOON as I read your comment, ME being who I am, it IMMEDIATELY struck me … so I checked.
http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/74044/
This is the OTHER SIDE of your argument.
Cheers
Dom,
OK, I am very busy today, but took a few minutes out to look at the OBVIOUS flip-side to your apparently congratulatory stance on repressive human rights laws.
So, as I immediately suspected, there is a high incidence of domestic violence, with fatality — which has to be the case if you don’t permit divorce. So a SECOND article.
Then having visited Manila, I remember the readily available prostitution (though it never interested me, I never believing in having to pay for sex (other than in the form of alimony) and preferring to get paid for my services if anything). So there is even a FULL Wikipedia article on Prostitution in the Philippines — and they claim, and I suspect the number is low, 800,000 women involved in prostitution.
I also KNEW that Filipino men, in general, like to ‘put it about;’ i.e., infidelity in marriage. So I find a government report citing 35% adultery rate among married males (which to be fair, by US or UK standards is low, BUT I suspect the government doesn’t really have all the facts — because from what I see it is a MAJOR crime to commit adultery). So here is the government report.
There were also 668,841 REPORTED case of illegitimate children born in the Philippines in 2008 — and we can all agree that the real number has to be higher. That is 37% of all children born in the Philippines in 2008 were bastards. Way to go. And I bet, that if we had the real facts, there would be quite a few Catholic fathers who were the fathers. Here is the report.
Having lived in Thailand, I also know that you have minor and major wives in the Philippines. Well I actually found a BOOK about this.
That is enough. So no divorce, no birth control — but prostitution, violence, infidelity, minor wives and lots of little bastards running around. God, be praised. A marriage made in heaven.
All I can do is shake my head in sadness, disbelief and incredulity.
Cheers.
As a maltese I have to confirm that the situation in Malta is as stated by Anura. The July law was passed after a May referendum resulted in a 53% vote for divorce. I feel that many treated the vote as a chance to protest against the government. Indeed if the referendum was carried out after the 2013 election which will probably see a change in government the no would have prevailed.