READ: Church Survey Shows That More Filipinos Wants Divorce Law to Happen

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Manila Philippines - On a recent survey about the favor of legalizing the divorce in the Philippines, it was surprisingly shows that Filipinos were agree and wants Divorce Law to happen in their country. 

It was the Catholic Church surveyed Out of 1,200 respondents, 39 percent said they "strongly agree" with passing a divorce measure in the Philippines while 13 percent said they "somewhat agree," according to results of the survey by Church-run Radio Veritas.

The results of the survey was released last Tuesday right after the House of Representatives approved a proposed measure legalizing divorce in the Philippines.

The predominantly Catholic Philippines remains as one of only two states in the world, aside from the Vatican, where divorce is outlawed.


Church leaders have repeatedly expressed opposition to legalizing divorce, arguing that there are already existing provisions for both canonical and civil annulments.

Radio Veritas president Fr. Anton Pascual described the results of the survey as “a wake-up call and a big challenge to the Catholic Church” which, he said, opposed divorce because this would further destroy the bond between  husband and wife.

“This is a wake-up call and a big challenge to the Catholic Church, especially since many of the faithful are in favor of the legalization of divorce here in the Philippines, the only country aside from the Vatican without a divorce law,” he lamented.

Father Pascual also said that this means the Church needs to preach more regarding the holy sacrament of marriage. 

The Catholic Church has been strongly opposing the proposal to legalize divorce in the country as this would further weaken the bond between the husband and wife who are encountering problems in their marriage instead of helping them fix it.

WOMEN AND YOUTH ARE MORE IN FAVOR OF DIVORCE

The results of the survey also given that more women favors legalizing divorce, 
with 43 percent saying they “strongly agree” versus 34 percent of men who strongly approve of the proposal.

The legalization of divorce is also more appealing to younger people, with 43 percent of those who agree aged between 13 and 20, followed by adults (40 to 60 years old) at 38 percent, young adults (21 to 39 years old) at 34 percent, and the elderly (61 years old and above) at 19 percent.


Filipinos who belong to the higher economic class are also more agreeable to a divorce law with a majority coming from Class B at 62 percent, followed by Class C2 at 55 percent, Class C1 at 48 percent, Class A at 46 percent, Class D at 40 percent, and Class E at 31 percent.

The survey also revealed that younger people support the divorce bill, with 43 percent of those who voted for strongly agree were aged 13 to 20 years old, while only 19 percent were elderly or those aged at least 61 years.


Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the authors of the divorce bill, said yesterday that Spain, which propagated Catholicism in the Philippines, and Italy where the Vatican is located, have their own divorce laws.

“These countries have similar provisions in their respective constitutions which mandate the state to protect marriage and family life,” said Lagman, a co-author of House Bill 7303 (Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines). 

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that only the Philippines and Vatican City are the only places in the world that do not have any law on divorce. 

Alvarez will even talk to President Duterte who is not favor on the divorce law due to the negative effects of the measure on the children. 

“We are ready to explain to the President. His concern was in fact discussed thoroughly at the House committee level, which guaranteed that the welfare of divorced couples’ children will be addressed,” he said over radio station. 


Source: ABSCBN News, Philstar