'Phl should be honored for being last bastion vs divorce'

MANILA, Philippines - Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto yesterday said the Philippines should be honored for being the last bastion against divorce.

Archbishop Pinto said the Filipino people should continue to preserve and value their families amidst efforts of some legislators lobbying for a divorce bill.

“I think it is a point of honor for the Philippines and in keeping the family with the traditional according to the doctrine of the Church, of course in the Natural Law,” he said.

The Social Weather Stations (SWS), in a survey conducted last March, reported that 50 percent of adult Filipinos agreed that couples who separate and cannot reconcile should be granted divorce so they could remarry.

The survey also reflected that 33 percent of the 1,200 respondents disagreed and 16 percent remain undecided.

The proposed divorce bill has also gained the support of some legislators like Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Wikipedia reported that apart from the Vatican, the Philippines is the only country that does not have some form of divorce.

Just recently, the parliament of the predominantly Roman Catholic Republic of Malta approved the Divorce Law.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has been strongly opposing the passage of the Divorce and Reproductive Health bills that they believe would weaken the foundation of Filipino families.

“The bishops are entitled to intervene and they did in fact with their declarations. This is their own,” said the Italian Archbishop.

When asked if the Vatican was pleased with the CBCP’s efforts to combat the proposed Divorce and RH bill, Archbishop Pinto said, “To give judgment is not my task. My task is to corroborate with the bishops.”

During his stay in the country, Pinto would be visiting the dioceses and prepare for the appointment of incoming bishops.