Pope Francis OK’s Marital Separation

The Roman Catholic Supreme Leader signals change on the church’s solid tradition commenting on the necessity of marital separation.

Pope Francis has addressed damaging dynamics within families, saying sometimes the separation of a husband and wife may be “inevitable” or “even morally necessary” to protect the “weaker spouse or small children”.

Some troubled and battered spouses were unable to revive their marriages, Francis said yesterday.

“There are cases in which separation is inevitable. Sometimes it can become even morally necessary, precisely when it comes to subtracting the weaker spouse, or small children, from more serious injuries caused by arrogance and violence, by humiliation and exploitation … and by indifference,” he said at his weekly general audience.

Francis has been making a series of statements about family issues ahead of a much-anticipated October synod, or meeting, of bishops to address the topic.

The catholic leaders will take up many issues, including how the church can be more welcoming and flexible to divorced Catholics who marry without going through the Church process that declares their first marriage null. Church wedding is expensive and most working class Catholics, especially in the Philippines go through civil wedding rather than through Catholic Church.

“Let us ask the Lord for a strong faith to see with his eyes the reality of family life, and for a deep love to approach all families with his merciful heart,” Francis said.

Meanwhile, Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, is discussing a new a law that would slash residents’ property taxes by 80 per cent if they fix up their homes before the pontiff’s trip next month.

“Homeowners who improve or paint their homes’ facades” in the capital would be eligible for the benefit, according to a city statement.

It is aimed at making a special welcome for Francis, who is due in Bolivia July 8, says city councilor Sergio Siles, who sponsored the law.

The Philippines, aside from Vatican is the only Roman Catholic country where divorce is not legal. The Pope’s gray comment raised some mixed reactions and concerns from other devout Catholics on whether the Pope has guidelines on when marital separation should be considered necessary, or when not.

/Carla Gamboa/ Assisted Press

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