Divorce

I am sharing with you the latest statement of the Catholic bishops regarding divorce in the Philippines. Nothing new, but...

I am a clinical psychologist. I believe in therapy. I believe in seeking causes and addressing the needs of the partners, and "re-programming" if possible, and bringing about reconciliation in a relationship. (If the Coronas and Basas can do it, why can't everybody?)

I have written a full length book on "how-to" enhance, make happier, a same-sex relationship. I believe in making relationships better. I encourage couples to work on their relationship, to get help in counseling, to do all they can, and often help them do so.

I have not researched the "reasons" divorce advocates give for trying to legalize divorce. Seemingly these arguments have been succesful in every country in the world -- except the Philippines.

My own common sense approach is that sometimes people like Senator Escudero and Senator Pimentel (...not the parents. I know them. They were my neighbor, and we were in Mass together every day, and they will be together forever) -- find that their marriage is "irreconcilable" -- and every government in the world recognizes that -- except the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines.

It is the only legislative body among all the 200 plus countries of the world which bases the continuation of the unworkable relationship on the religious arguments alluded to in this Inquirer article.  It is called NO NO NO, sex-negative theology. I say it over and over, sex-negative theology does not come from the Bible or from Jesus.

The article reminds us again of the power of the Catholic bishops in this country -- where the Congress makes laws out of fear of the power of the bishops. As a result they deny people of every religion and non-religion a human right that people of every other country can use for their quality of of life.

Church remains firm against divorce—CBCP
Philippine Daily Inquirer
5:57 am | Friday, May 25th, 2012

The Roman Catholic Church remained opposed to divorce, a Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines official declared Thursday as he reminded married couples that marriage was a life-long commitment.

Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, issued the statement in reaction to Senator Pia Cayetano’s call for renewed deliberations on the pending divorce bill.

“We should protect the sanctity of marriage, as marriage is a life-long commitment. Any marital problem cannot be solved by divorce. What will solve it is finding the root cause of the problem,” Castro told reporters.

Cayetano had said that it was “high time” that discussions on the divorce bill were restarted following public disclosures by two fellow senators, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, that they had ended their marriages.

Castro, however, said there was no need to legislate or enact a law on divorce. He pointed out that the state, under the Constitution, was mandated to protect marriage, which means that the government should “strengthen” the institution.

Castro advised couples undergoing a marital crisis: “Seek perfection in marriage. Do not seek a perfect husband nor wife nor a perfect marriage.” Jerome Aning