Senior catholic prelates reiterate stand against divorce

Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (screenshot from Global Peace Awards footage)

MANILA — Senior Catholic prelates reiterated the stand of the Church against divorce, in connection with the recent survey where 6 out of 10 Filipinos expressed support in legalizing divorce.

Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales noted that even if the survey showed 99 percent, if it’s wrong, it’s wrong.

In an interview, Rosales was asked if he believes in surveys. “Survey could be subjective also.”

On the other hand, Lingayen Dagupan Emeritus Archbishop Oscar Cruz supported Rosales’ statement.

“The bible says what God has joined together let no man put asunder, that is not a commandment but that is said by Jesus Christ based on the sixth commandment thou shall not commit adultery,” he said in a separate interview.

Likewise, he noted that regardless of the result of the survey that Church is still against divorce.

“The Church is duty bound to observe and to promote, to preach the teachings of her founder. Her founder teaches that marriage is sacred,” said Cruz, who is the head of the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

He added, “The Church whether it will win or not in promoting the Gospel, truth it is in defending the Gospel, truth in promoting it…whether she wins or losses that’s not her problem, her problem is to speak when things are wrong and to affirm when things are right”

On Monday, the Social Weather Station (SWS) announced that 60 percent of adult Filipinos are supportive of legalizing divorce in the country.

The survey conducted last November 27 to December 1, 2014, revealed that 38 percent “strongly” agreed and 22 percent “somewhat” agreed.

Twenty-nine (29) percent disagreed while 8 percent and 21 percent “somewhat” disagreed and “strongly” disagreed, respectively.