Priest to Catholics: Don't join bandwagon supporting divorce

A Catholic priest urged Catholics not to support what he called a "bandwagon" seeking to support a proposed measure allowing divorce in the Philippines. “Even if we are the only country in the world that has not legalized divorce, it does not mean that we have to join the bandwagon that supports it," said Fr. Jerry Oblepias, Director of the Family Life Ministry of the San Pablo Diocese. In an article posted on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website, Oblepias said “divorce remains to be part of the death culture that seeks to destroy the family. Once the family is destroyed, degradation of values is surely at the doorstep." Some lawmakers had broached the idea of legalizing divorce in the Philippines, after the the dominantly Catholic state of Malta in the Mediterranean voted in favor of allowing divorce in a non-binding referendum. However, Oblepias said Catholics in the Philippines should stand on the side of morality no matter what happens. “It is good to stand out uniquely in terms of morality. No to divorce," he said. “Our uniqueness is a sign of our faithfulness to Him. Christ is not asking us of anything. He is just asking us to be faithful to Him," he added. Earlier, retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said it was okay for the Philippines to have the distinction of the only Catholic country not to have a law allowing divorce. Cruz heads the CBCP national appellate marriage tribunal. - VVP, GMA News