Divorce contradicts the value of marriage and changes its very
nature, the bishops of Malta have said.
Noting the failed promises of
divorce advocates, they emphasized that Christians must be accountable
to Jesus in matters of marriage and divorce.
Responding to those who “promote divorce,” the two bishops of the
island nation issued an Oct. 15 letter explaining the Christian view of
marriage.
Archbishop Paul Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech cited Jesus’ response
in Matthew 19 to the question of whether a man can leave his wife for
any reason whatsoever. Jesus referred his questioner to the Book of
Genesis, teaching that a man and a woman “become one flesh” and that
“what God has put together, no man should put asunder.”
Jesus said Moses permitted divorce “becaush of the hardness of your
hearts,” the Maltese bishops commented. “Not only did He enlighten them
on the beauty of everlasting marriage, but also highlighted the way this
could be achieved.”
It was impossible “to embrace a value and at the same time concede to
a reality which goes against that value.” Divorce “alters the intrinsic
nature of marriage” and once it exists “one cannot speak of stable and
everlasting marriage, as ordained by God from the very beginning.”
“At no point does Jesus specify any form of condition or manner in
which divorce could be instituted – he simply insists that once there is
divorce, then there is a shift in the nature of marriage,” the bishops
wrote.
They suggested Jesus’ response to contemporary support for divorce is
the same as it was in gospel times: “It is because of the hardness of
your hearts.”
“No Christian would have expected a different reply from Jesus. So,
even today, how can we expect him to say ‘Strengthen marriage by
introducing divorce!’?” they asked rhetorically.
Stating that attitudes must change, not marriage, they noted that
other countries introduced divorce to solve problems with marital
breakdown.
“Instead, the problems multiplied.”
Christian teachings against divorce are not an imposition but a
contribution to society, they wrote, appealing to all Christians to
protect these teachings.
“May Jesus’ words be a light for the Christian conscience: a moral
responsibility which must be upheld. It is to Jesus himself that the
Christian must be accountable, even in this matter of marriage and
divorce!”
SIC: CNA/EU