Originally posted here CBCP News
Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (Photo: Raymond Sebastian)
MANILA, March 24, 2015— The Catholic Church cannot conform her teachings about divorce to the dictates of the world, Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said.
Even if a new survey showed that 60 percent of Filipinos want divorce made legal, Rosales said no one can change the teachings of God to suit what people want.
“Even if it is 99 percent (surveyed favor divorce) what is wrong is wrong,” Rosales said.
He said the Church cannot change her doctrine on divorce because it comes from the Divine Law.
Those who argue that the Church should change its stand on divorce are asking the institution to overrule God.
“It’s in the Bible unless you don’t believe in the Bible,” Rosales said. “There are just too many bright people nowadays.”
The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed that about three of five Filipinos favor the legalization of divorce for “irreconcilably separated” couples.
The poll also showed that 60 percent of the 1,800 respondents agree that couples in irreparable marriages should be allowed to divorce so they can get legally married again while 29 percent disagreed.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Archbishop Oscar Cruz said those who argue that the Church should change her teachings on divorce are asking the impossible.
“The Bible says what God has joined together let no man put asunder,” said Cruz.
“The Church is duty bound to observe and to promote the teachings of Her founder, and Her founder teaches that marriage is sacred. Whether it will win or not in promoting the Gospel truths, that’s not Her problem anymore. Her problem is to speak when things are wrong and to affirm when things are right,” he said. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)