Manila (CNN) — When Rowena Festin leaves her job as a congressional aide in Quezon City, Metro Manila each day, she returns home to three children and a husband. But her marriage, like many others in the Philippines, exists in name only.
“My husband wants another person,” she says. “We are living in the same house but both decided to live our own life.”
Although both have long wanted to legally end their marriage, the government will not allow them to do so. The Philippines is the only country in the world, aside from Vatican City, which lacks divorce laws.
But a bill recently filed in Congress provides hope for thousands of couples trapped in failed and often abusive marriages, by legalizing divorce. It comes at a time when Catholic Church leaders from across the world are holding an “Extraordinary Synod” in Rome at the request of Pope Francis to explore the Church’s position on issues such as family, marriage and divorce.
Catholic legacy
Divorce is not a new concept in the Philippines. It was legal during the American colonial period and Japanese occupation in the first half of the 20th century, but became prohibited with the enactment of the 1949 Civil Code.
Additional Reading
Divorce: Islam Versus Christianity
Categories: CHRISTIANITY, Highlight, Islam, Philippines, Utilitarian value
Jesus a.s. had rightly advised that husband and wife should not be separated. But it did not mean what the Catholics are practicing.
Jesus a.s. also did not recommend celibacy. All these habits are not part of any true religion. Catholics are suffering badly due to the bad laws which are against nature. Islam teaches that out of all bad things that God Almighty has allowed, the worst one is divorce.