DIVORCE
and the TEN COMMANDMENTS
A sin is
a wilful thought, word, deed or omission against the Law of God.
The serious sins, usually called mortal sins, are so called because
they take away the supernatural life of the soul, which is sanctifying
grace, as well as the friendship of God, the merits of good works
already performed and the right to heaven. "If the just
man turn himself away from his justice and do iniquity (...) all
his justices which he hath done shall not be remembered" (Ez.
XVIII, 24). "Depart from me, you that work iniquity" (Mt.
VII, 23).
Human laws
cannot forbid interior acts, such as intentions, projects, desires,
as such acts are impenetrable to the eyes of men. God, however,
by His all-seeing eye to which nothing is hidden (cf. Heb. IV,
13), extends his precepts not only to the exterior but also to
the interior acts of man. "From the heart," Our Lord Jesus
Christ says, "come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies" (Mt. XV, 19). A
close analysis reveals that divorce transgresses seriously, in
thought, word, deed or omission, most of the TEN COMMANDMENTS.
6th:
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Divorce leads to the mortal sin of adultery.
"Do not err: Neither fornicators, (...) nor adulterers (...) shall
possess the Kingdom of God" (I Cor. VI, 9-10).
9th:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.
"Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after
her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart"
(Mt. V, 28).
The possibility of a re-marriage in cases of hardship between
the spouses removes all protection against temptations to marital
infidelity.
Other
Commandments too are broken by divorce.
2nd:
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain.
Marriage is celebrated in church before the Altar,
thus, taking God as a witness of one's marriage vows. "What
God hath joined together" i.e. in the marriage ceremony, "let
no man put asunder" (Mt. XIX, 6) by divorce. Divorce then
breaks this solemn oath, which is made on the wedding day, in
the presence of God and of the Church.
4th:
Honour thy Father and Mother.
The primary goals of marriage are procreation and education of
children. By deserting one's lawful spouse and children
one neglects serious personal obligations regarding the up-bringing
of the children.
Moreover, the secondary goal of marriage is the mutual help and
love between spouses. Divorce offends against this too.
5th:
Thou shalt not kill...
... not just the body but also the soul, by bad
example, which is called scandal: "Woe to that man by whom the
scandal cometh" (Mt. XVIII, 6). A marriage breakdown, and
especially a 're-marriage', gives a very bad example and leads
others to follow suit. It encourages infidelity.
Children too are scandalised. Statistics and facts are there
to prove that children of divorced parents very frequently will
themselves divorce, later in life.
"He that
scandalises one of these little ones that believe in Me, it were
better for him that a millstone should be hanged around his neck
and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Mt. XVIII,
6).
Legislators who use their authority to bring this about, will
have a tremendous responsibility. "Give ear you that rule
the people (...) : For power is given you by the Lord and strength
by the Most High Who will examine your works and search out your
thoughts: because being ministers of His kingdom you have not
judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according
to the will of God. (...) A most severe judgment shall be
for them that bear rule. For to him that is little, mercy
is granted, but the mighty shall be mightily tormented" (Wis.
VI, 3-7).
7th:
Thou shalt not steal.
History shows that when the passion of lust is
let loose, many injustices follow. One need only cite the
divorces of Henry VIII from which followed the plundering of monasteries
and churches. Divorce is usually accompanied by a tug-of-war
in court between the couple for the custody of the children and
the ownership of the family goods.
8th:
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
How many lies precede, accompany and follow a divorce?
Sometimes even perjury when the case goes to court.
10th:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.
Greed dries up conjugal love. "The desire
of money is the root of all evils: which some coveting have erred
from the faith and have entangled themselves in many sorrows"
(I Tim. VI, 10).
In Conclusion:
"What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole
world and suffer the loss of his own soul?" (Mt. XVI, 26).
"What God hath therefore joined together let no man put asunder"
(Mt. XIX, 6).
_____________________________________
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