A leading Catholic bishop has warned politicians that “divorce weakens the fabric of society” as the Philippines moved closer to legalising divorce [1].
“I urge members of Congress to reconsider the proposed divorce bill and instead focus on promoting policies and programs that support marriage, strengthen families, and protect the well-being of all members of society,” said Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran of the central Philippines, in an interview with Catholic-run Radio Veritas.
The bishop said a “society that values strong, stable families is a thriving society”.
“Divorce weakens the fabric of society by eroding the foundation of the family unit. It leads to social fragmentation, increased poverty, and a host of other societal ills. By promoting divorce, we are contributing to the breakdown of social cohesion and the erosion of moral values,” Uy said.
Among the grounds for divorce [2] will be an already existing legal separation. That can be based on various fault grounds including abandonment without cause by a spouse for more than one year [3].
Divorce had been legalised in the Philippines in 1917 under the American occupation [4]. The grounds were expanded under the Japanese occupation during World War II. This was rescinded soon after the country became independent. In 1977, a law recognising some Islamic practices allowed muslims to divorce [5]. This also allowed ‘early marriages’ or ‘child marriages’ which allowed girls who had reached puberty to marry with the permission of a Sharia court. This latter element was not reversed until 2021 under legislation signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte.