A divorce bill has been filed in the Philippine Congress that would allow unhappy couples to legally terminate their marriage.
The bill is expected to have little chance of passing, considering the still considerable opposition to divorce in the Roman Catholic-majority nation. At least three Catholic bishops have already voiced their opposition against the bill, according to Life Site News.
"Divorce spawns a host of problems, especially for children. It weakens the institution of marriage. Already we see many families being separated by work," Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said in a statement as he referred to the huge number of Filipinos who are forced to find work overseas in order to support their families.
"Let us not move towards a weakening of marriage but instead endeavour to encourage maturity, fidelity, self-sacrifice, respect," he added.
Meanwhile, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said lawmakers should focus on creating laws that support marriage and not weaken it. "We already witness the havoc that divorce is doing in many countries. I hope we learn from them," he said.
As for Lipa Bishop Ramon Arguelles, he said countries that allow divorce have "invited disaster, degeneration and strife."
The bill, which has been filed in the House of Representatives for the fifth time by the Gabriela Women's Party, is also being opposed by many legislators despite the contention of its proponents that it would save couples from "abusive or irreparable marriages."
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said it is closely monitoring the movement of the bill.
The bill seeks to allow divorce only when married couples face "irreconcilable differences that have caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage," or when the couple have been separated for two years and that their reconciliation is "highly improbable." There was no mention of what couples should do with their kids should they divorce.
President Rodrigo Duterte has already expressed his view that he does not believe in divorce. He said he believes married couples should stand together through thick or thin "for the sake of the kids."
