Divorce remains illegal in the Philippines

But supporters of the measure say they will continue to work for change in one of only two countries where divorce remains illegal – the other being the Vatican.

A bill to legalise divorce was passed by the Philippines Congress, but the Senate ended its session earlier this month without giving it a hearing.

Ending a marriage in the Philippines is only achievable through annulment or “nullification”.

But the fee can be many thousands of dollars, and the process does not consider domestic violence, abandonment or infidelity as qualifying grounds.

The divorce bill, if it had been made law, would have compelled courts to provide free legal and psychological assistance to low-income petitioners, cap lawyers’ fees at 50,000 pesos (around NZ$1,500), and mandate divorce petitions be resolved within a year.

The bill’s co-author, Arlene Brosas, said it was “unacceptable” that the Senate had refused to tackle the measure given the “strong public demand”. She said her Gabriela Women’s Party will refile it when a newly elected Congress convenes in July.

Senate President Francis Escudero had argued the bill would “create divisiveness”. He suggested that the grounds for nullification could be expanded while avoiding the word “divorce”.

Some of the Senate members are facing mid-term elections in May, and fear of a backlash from the Catholic Church has been put forward as one reason for a reluctance to address the issue.

Fr Jerome Secillano of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said divorce contravenes the Church’s teachings on marriage, and would ultimately destroy families.

He also argued the number of domestic abuse victims would “double” as divorced men would “have another chance to be violent again” to new spouses.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes divorce as “a grave offence against the natural law”.

But “separation of spouses while maintaining the marriage bond can be legitimate in certain cases . . . .”

And “If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offence”. (CCC2383)

FULL STORY

Filipino divorce activists vow to fight on – UCA News (AFP Manila)

Catechism of the Catholic Church