The Catholic Women’s League (CWL)-Philippines voices out its stand against the approval of the House Bill instituting Absolute Divorce in the Philippines.
This was learned from lawyer Roselima Cuyno-Abapo, a member of the CWL national Board of Directors
The nationwide women’s organization’s stand came in the wake of the House Committee on Population and Family Relations’ August 17, 2021 endorsement for plenary approval of an unnumbered bill instituting absolute divorce in the Philippines. The said bill is sponsored by Albay Representative Edsel Lagman.
Together with the Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ALFI), the CWL is crafting its resolution against absolute divorce in the Philippines.
It is noted that the present Philippine Constitution defines marriage “as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State.”
Furthermore, the present Family Code of the Philippines recognizes marriage as a “special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life”.
The CWL ladies and the Alliance have noted that “those who suffer the most in a divorce are the children. Also, studies have shown that two out of three unhappily married adults who avoided divorce or separation ended up happily married five years later and that divorce can provide no real benefit that is not available through legal separation. A survey of divorce rates around the world suggest that if it is permitted here in the Philippines, at least one-fourth of our marriages will end in divorce. Thus, divorce should not be the automatic solution”.
“Simply put, divorce will redefine Marriage. Marriage counsellors observe that majority of marriages seeking divorce are actually annullable marriages.”
Our government can instead put its resources, efforts and attention into providing sufficient marriage counselling programs and services, making civil annulment procedures and review inexpensive and even recognizing the civil effects of Church annulment and declaration of nullity of marriage, the Alliance noted.
