THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged Filipinos to remain calm and reflective over the proposed Divorce Bill, according to a statement released over the weekend.
CBCP President Pablo Virgilio David, who signed the statement, incorporated the Tagalog expression “maghunosdili muna tayo at mag-isip-isip” as an appeal to those eager to introduce an Absolute Divorce Law in the country.
The CBCP statement referenced the biblical verse, “What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Mt 19:6), emphasizing the Catholic Church’s unwavering adherence to this teaching, even in nations where civil divorce is legal.
The statement also urged reflection on personal family experiences, such as parental conflicts and misunderstandings, questioning the potential impact if civil divorce had been an option during those times.
“Think about what could have long happened to your own family if civil divorce had already been available when you were much younger,” the statement reads in part.
The CBCP commended lay ecclesial movements and family-oriented organizations for leading the debate on civil divorce’s pros and cons, sparing bishops and priests from “ad hominem arguments.”
David further elaborated that as spiritual and moral leaders, the Church can propose but never impose, encouraging reasoned public discourse. He questioned whether there might be a reason the Philippines remains one of the few countries without legal civil divorce, urging a thorough consideration before embracing divorce.
The statement highlighted the constitutional provision recognizing the Filipino family as the nation's foundation, advocating for strengthening family solidarity.
It argued for exploring existing legal remedies for marital crises without introducing divorce, suggesting that the absence of a legal civil divorce should make couples deliberate more carefully before committing to marriage.
“Should not both institutions of Church and State explore more effective ways of maximizing these remedies without ‘throwing away the baby along with the bath water,’” the statement reads.
