divorce

Q: What is divorce?

A: Divorce – Legal ending of a marriage.

Q: What is remarriage?

A: Remarriage – Marriage for the second time, after divorce ending an earlier marriage.

Q: What do the Sacred Marriage Vows say about divorce? Oppose

A: ‘Until death do us part’ (Sacred Marriage Vows) – Divorce would break the Sacred Marriage Vows made in the presence of God. During the ceremony, the couple promise to remain together ‘until death do us part’. These sacred vows must be taken seriously.

Q: What did Jesus say about ending marriage? Oppose

A: ‘What God has joined together man shall not separate’ (Jesus) – Marriage is a sacred covenant through which you become ‘one flesh’ in the eyes of God. This means that you cannot end your marriage with a divorce.

Q: What is the Catholic Church’s view on divorce? Oppose

A: ‘Divorce injures the covenant of salvation’ (Catholic Church) – Catholics are completely against divorce and believe it is a ‘grave offence against the natural law’. Remarriage is adultery.

Q: What is the Church of England’s view on divorce? Support

A: ‘Regrettably some marriages do fail’ (Church of England) – The Church of England was created so Henry VIII could divorce. The Church acknowledges some marriages do not work out and therefore allows divorce and remarriage.

Q: What did St Paul say about compassion and divorce? Support

A: ‘Clothe yourselves with compassion’ (St Paul) – St Paul taught Christians to be compassionate. Liberal Christians would allow divorce when it is the most compassionate thing to do – if the couple are unhappy and it is affecting the children. Remarriage is allowed.

Q: What is the Hadith’s view on divorce? Support

A: ‘The most hated of all permissible things’ (Hadith) – Divorce is allowed as a last resort in Islam. This is only after a ‘cooling off’ period and an attempt to resolve differences. Allow remarriage.