DIVORCE

HISTORY
Divorce is a legal action between married people to terminate their marriage relationship. It can be
referred to as dissolution of marriage and is basically, the legal action that ends the marriage before the death
of either spouse.

THE 1857 MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ACT

Allowed ordinary people to divorce. Before then, divorce was largely open only to men, and had had to
be granted by an Act of Parliament, which was hugely expensive, and therefore was open only to the rich.

Under the new law, women divorcing on the grounds of adultery, not only had to prove their husbands
had been unfaithful but also had to prove additional faults, which included CRUELTY, RAPE and INCEST.

A private members’ bill in 1923 made it easier for women to petition for divorce for adultery, but it
still had to be proved.

In 1973, the divorced was allowed on other grounds including DRUNKENNESS, INSANITY AND
DESERTION.

DIVORCE REFORM ACT

In 1969, allowing couples to divorce after they are separated for two years (or five years if only one of
them wanted a divorce). A marriage could be ended if it had irretrievably broken down, and neither partner no
longer had o prove “fault”.

The most celebrated divorce case in history remains that of Henry VIII versus Pope Clement VII. The
battle began in1527, when Henry tried to force the pope in annulling his marriage to Catherine of Aragon,
who failed to provide him with a male heir.
 COMMON REASONS OF DIVORCE

• Infidelity
Extra marital affairs are responsible for the breakdown of most marriages that end in divorce.
• Money
Because of different financial goals and spending habits, Money can cause a power struggle that can
strain a marriage to the breaking point. Money and stress do seem to go hand and hand for many
couples.
• Lack of Communication
Communication is very crucial in marriage and not being to communicate effectively quickly leads to
resentment and frustration for both, impacting all aspects of a marriage.
• Constant Arguing
From bickering about chores to arguing about the kids, constant arguing kills many relationships
because they feel they are not being heard or appreciated.
• Weight gain
It can be odd but weight gain can cause the other partner to become less physically attracted while for
others, takes a toll on their self-esteem, which tickles into issues with intimacy and can become a cause
of divorce.
• Unrealistic expectation
These expectations can put a lot of strain on the other person, leaving you feeling let down and setting
your spouse up for failure.
• Lack of Intimacy
Not feeling connected with your spouse can quickly ruin a marriage because it leaves couples feeling
as though they are living with a stranger or more like roommates that spouses.
• Lack of Equality
When one partner feels that they take on more responsibility in the marriage, it can alter their view on
the other person and lead to resentment.
• Not being prepared for marriage
Some couples have blamed not being prepared for married life for the end of their marriage.
• Abuse
Physical and emotional abuse is a sad reality for some couples.
 EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN
Divorce can be a difficult time for a family. Not only are the parents realizing new ways of relating to
each other, but they are learning new ways to parent their children. When parents divorce, the divorce
on children can vary. To children, divorce transition can be experienced as an adjustment rather than a
crisis. Since the children in a divorce vary, the effects vary too.
• Poor Performance in Academics
Trying to understand the dynamics of the family may leave them distracted and confused. It can be
seen in their academic performance and the more distracted they are, the more likely they are not able
to focus on their school work.
• Loss on interest on Social Activity
Divorce can affect children socially. They have a harder time relating to others and tend to have less
social contacts. Some of them feel insecure and wonder if they are the only family gotten divorced.
• Difficulty Adapting to Change
Through divorce, they can be affected by having to learn to adapt to change more often.
• Emotionally sensitive
Divorce can leave children feeling emotionally sensitive. Feelings of loss, anger, confusion, anxiety
and many other all may come from this transition. They need someone to talk to or someone who will
listen to lessen the effect of divorce.
• Anger/Irritability
Children processing divorce may display anger to their parents, themselves, their friends and others and
this may be a lingering effect of divorce to them.
• Feelings of Guilt
They will wonder why divorce is happening to their family and may blame their selves for it. Guilt can
increase pressure, can lead to depression, stress and other health problems.
• Introduction of Destructive Behavior
Sometimes, divorce can affect them by being rebellious, acquired smoking, habits or prescription of
drug use.
• Increase in Health Problems
They can be prone to sickness due to lack of sleep, depression and deteriorating health signs.
• Loss of Faith in Marriage and Family Unit
Children who have experienced divorce are more likely to divorce when in their own relationships.
 BIBLICAL VIEWS
Christian views on divorce find their basis both in biblical sources dating to the giving of the law to
Moses and political developments in the Christian World long after standardization of the Bible. According to
the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus emphasized the permanence of marriage but also its integrity. (Mark 10:1-9 and
Matthew 19)
In the book of Matthew, Jesus says, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce
your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for
sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.
The Catholic Church prohibits divorce, and permits annulment. Annulment is a legal procedure within
secular and religious legal systems for declaring a marriage null and void.

WORLD VIEW
Divorce is very common to other countries now a days. It is sometimes necessary in escaping abuse,
violence, toxicity, resentment or wanting what’s best for the children. The Philippines and the Vatican City
are the only places that don’t want divorce as their last option.

PHILIPPINES & DIVORCE

Although Philippines prohibited divorce, moves are underway to legalize it. A recent survey showed
more than half of the Filipinos are in favor of allowing divorce “for irreconcilably separated couples”. The
resistance of the Catholic Church to the divorce bill is increasingly seen as not in the interests of the public but
only the interests of the Catholic Church.
One reason why some government officials wants to pass the divorce bill because it is sensible and an
even “inevitable” next step after the passage of the country’s reproductive health law in 2013, which allowed
poorer Filipinos in particular access to birth control.

GROUP MEMBERS
ANNA LYN BANCOLO
LENI GRACE MADALAG
NORMAN GASPAR NANGLOY
CAMELIZA ESTES
DIANE LEN VILLARMA
BSA2