Catholic group against divorce says separation allowed, abuse victims don’t have to stay

Catholic group Couples for Christ (CFC) is calling for the government not to pass the absolute divorce bill, as it said it is willing to start a people’s initiative to void the measure should it be enacted into law.

In Vonne Aquino's report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, CFC spiritual adviser Fr. Joel Jason said the Catholic Church allows legal separation, though this measure does not allow individuals to remarry.

“Hindi kailangang manatili nung babae at magpabugbog nang magpabugbog...Pero ‘yung legal separation na ‘yun is not the dissolution of the marriage, they may live separately but the marriage bond remains,” he said.

(The woman does not have to stay and continuously get beaten...But legal separation is not the dissolution of marriage. They may live separately, but the marriage bond remains.)

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), for its part, said the government could provide assistance to women who are victims of domestic abuse and violence, and that the Family Code of the Philippines could be amended.

“Church, government, let us bond together, let us be proactive. Nakita natin ‘yung mga loopholes, pasukan natin, anong intervention ang gagawin natin?” CBCP spokesperson Fr. Jerome Secillano said in the same report.

(We saw the loopholes, let's use them, what intervention are we going to use?)

Under the existing Family Code, violence against women and children (VAWC) is only grounds for legal separation, which does not allow legally separated couples to remarry.

READ: Divorce in PH: For better or worse?

A recent SWS survey found that half of Filipinos nationwide support the legalization of divorce for irreconcilably separated couples.

The House of Representatives in May approved on final reading the proposed measure on absolute divorce, with 131 lawmakers voting in favor of the measure, while 109 voted against and 20 abstained.

Its principal author, Albay representative Edcel Lagman, denounced what he described as hypocrisy of religious groups as he cited canonical divorce, and that even Pope Francis called for divorcees to be given communion.

“Masyadong maraming hypocrisy ang ginagawa ng religion eh sila mismo ay mayroong canonical divorce na tinatawag na dissolution of marriage, at ang Santo Papa mismo nagsabi na ang clergy should accommodate divorcees at sila ay bigyan ng sacrament of communion,” he said.

(Religion does too much hypocrisy, but they themselves have a canonical divorce called dissolution of marriage, and the Pope himself said that the clergy should accommodate divorcees and give them the sacrament of communion.)

Lagman also noted that the measure gives a fourth option for couples whose union has already been damaged.

“‘Yung sa annulment of marriage, ‘yung grounds should be before or during the celebration of the marriage, hindi after. Ang karamihan ng mga causes for divorce ay after the marriage. Kaya hindi pwedeng i-amyenda na lamang ang Family Code. Kailangan magsabatas ng isang option na tinatawag na Absolute Divorce,” he said.

(In the annulment of marriage, grounds should be before or during the celebration of the marriage, not after. Most of the causes for divorce are after the marriage, so the Family Code cannot be amended. Another option for Absolute Divorce should be enacted.)

The Absolute Divorce Bill or House Bill 9349 was transmitted to the Senate as contained in a letter dated June 10, 2024. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News