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Divorce and marriage

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Caro (U1691443) on Monday, 6th June 2011

  This month Malta voted (52% in favour - not exactly an overwhelming majority) to allow divorce. The government seems to be going therefore to allow divorce, which will apparently leave only two nations not allowing divorce, the Vatican and the Phillipines, the latter surprising me a little.
  
  I suppose I am a little surprised that ALL countries, including all African ones, have such a definite legal conclusion to marriages. I don't know if early English society had divorce like that; pre-European Maori had formal arrangements for the end of a formalised relationship. That was a family arranged thing, though apparently a young couple could force the issue by sleeping together. I don't know what would precipitate a divorce in such a society.
  
  I think Christianity has always had the idea of divorce even if it is forbidden in some denominations, and the secular law has allowed it always (as far as I know) but what about other societies? Celtic ones? Indian ones? There must have been cultures where the linking of man and woman was more casual and there the unlinking too. Or do all societies, till our present western one, consider marriage a family/extended family/political concern and not really to do all that much with the wishes of the young people involved?
  
  And did those family concerns matter as much for a second marriage if one of the couple died?
  
  Cheers, Caro.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by jenny (U14149730) on Tuesday, 7th June 2011

  Rome famously allowed divorce, but it was always controlled by men, and was usually about property and politics.
  
  Good question though - whether there are any societies (other than RC ones) that don't/didn't allow divorce.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by JB on a slippery slope to the thin end ofdabiscuit (U13805036) on Tuesday, 7th June 2011

  The Vatican does do divorce but pretends it doesn't. See Princess Caroline of Monaco.
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Caro (U1691443) on Tuesday, 7th June 2011

  Malta too allowed divorce as long as it took place somewhere else. I presume that meant that the couple were taken as divorced back in Malta, but I don't know what that would have meant for re-marriage for the pair involved. I am not sure if the marriage was through secular law or completely tied up with the RC religious beliefs. There was already the opportunity for a long-drawn-out annulment or a legal separation document.
  
  I see the referendum question was: "Do you agree with the introduction of the choice of divorce in the case of a married couple who has been separated or has been living apart for at least four (4) years, and where there is no reasonable hope for reconciliation between the spouses, whilst at the same time ensuring that adequate maintenance is guaranteed and the welfare of the children is safeguarded?" Similar to referenda in NZ with far too many bits involved.
  
  Cheers, Caro.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by White Camry (U2321601) on Wednesday, 8th June 2011

  Caro,
  
  Malta too allowed divorce as long as it took place somewhere else.Β 
  
  What places didn't? If countries recognize each other's marriages they also would recognize their divorce decrees as well, wouldn't they?

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by RusEvo (U2126548) on Thursday, 9th June 2011

  Hi Caro,
  
  I would have thought that a Christian dominated nation like the Phillipines would allow divorce as there are biblical permissions that allow it in certain circumstances!!
  
  As for the Vatican, I would have thought that marriages in that state would be a more unusual thought than any notion of divorce!!

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Sambista (U4068266) on Friday, 10th June 2011

  There can be problems in Moslem countries, in that men can get a religious diverce, but women often can't, so cannot remarry.
  
  The old saying in Italy pre-divorce law reform was "There's no divorce in Italy, and only a Catholic can get one". Influential people (unless one of their relatives had a hand on the Pope, as Henry VIII found out) could usually get an anullment. Interesting (well I think so) fact - any children born during a marriage that was later anulled, and therefore legally never existed, remain legitimate.

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Sambista (U4068266) on Friday, 10th June 2011

  Oh nuts! I got that wrong! It's Jewish women who can't get a divorce unless their husbands agree.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by islanddawn (U7379884) on Saturday, 11th June 2011

  I would have thought that a Christian dominated nation like the Phillipines would allow divorce as there are biblical permissions that allow it in certain circumstances!!Β 
  
  Like other former Spanish colonies, the Phillipines is predominantly Roman Catholic, above 80% of the population I believe, therefore not surprising that they don't allow divorce.
  
  There are only two Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being East Timor.
  
  

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