Divorce in the Philippines (in the Biblical context)
Divorce is not legal in the Philippines. It is clearly a legal issue but it’s absence in this country has a lot to do to our being a Roman Catholic nation.
Below are snippets from an article about divorce in the Philippnes in the Christian/Bliblical context; and what makes it an interesting read is because it favors it. It’s a refreshing to see bible verses cited while divorce is given a thumbs up.
Note that we’re sharing this not to convince anyone to make a stand for or against it. We simply urge the reader to have an open mind about the issue.
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(via Doctrines Unite) The Philippines is one of only two countries in the world that I know of where divorce is not legalized, the other of course being Vatican City. The subject I am about to embark upon is usually not openly discussed around these part.
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This would surely be a shock for Filipinos who have been schooled all their lives about the sanctity of marriage, knowing it is Jesus himself who commanded us, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate“ (Matthew 19:6).
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The Westminster theologians recognized that God has clear guidelines in the matter of marriage, divorce and remarriage. They recognized that sinful man would abuse any gracious act of God, presuming that his grace is license to do whatever is right in their own eyes. He was gracious to the Jews in allowing divorce, but they then divorced their wives for any other cause in addition to sexual immorality and desertion (Matthew 19:3). This was not God’s intention from creation, and it was not his intention when he granted them lawful divorce due to their hardness of heart.
Lawful annulment in the Philippines is commonly granted on the grounds of psychological incapacity, minority (a party below 18 even with the consent of parents), lack of authority of the solemnizing officer, absence of a marriage license, polygamy, mistaken identity, and incestuous marriage. Incest and polygamy fall in the lawful categories of sexual immorality and desertion, but the others are questionable pretexts at best. The only reason why annulment in the Philippines has not become an epidemic like divorce in the West is that only the very rich can afford the legal process.
If divorce is legalized, how is the church going to prevent its abuse, as can be seen in many other countries? Here, the true church has a great responsibility. First, premarital and marriage counseling is a must. One of the major reasons for failed marriages is the lack or absence of Biblical counseling. Second, the church has to be careful in determining whether the divorce is based on the Biblical grounds of sexual immorality or desertion. This process has to be done when a member files for divorce or intends to marry a divorced person; both cases have to have lawful grounds for divorce. Third, a member is to be subject to the elders of the church, and if he or she disobeys the determination and advise of the elders, he or she is to be subject to church discipline. Fourth, women who become “widows” (and their young children) because of divorce must be cared for by the benevolence of the church.
Historically, the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines has always been a tough nut to crack in the matter of divorce, and most of the 80 percent of Filipinos who are Catholics remain loyal to their church. But this intransigence and ignorance of the Biblical grounds for divorce has had disastrous effects on the Filipino family, particularly on women and children. It had also put many churches in various difficult situations when its wayward members see that the most viable option for them is to continue their sinful relationships. [READ FULL ARTICLE]