Lawmakers disagree on 'till death do us part' in divorce bill debate | ABS-CBN
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Lawmakers disagree on 'till death do us part' in divorce bill debate
Lawmakers disagree on 'till death do us part' in divorce bill debate
Prison inmates and their significant others say their ‘I Do’s’ during a wedding ceremony at the Mandaluyong City Jail on September 20, 2023. Twenty couples tied the knot in a simple ceremony as part of Mandaluyong City’s reform and reintegration initiative. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File.
Prison inmates and their significant others say their ‘I Do’s’ during a wedding ceremony at the Mandaluyong City Jail on September 20, 2023. Twenty couples tied the knot in a simple ceremony as part of Mandaluyong City’s reform and reintegration initiative. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File.MANILA -- The debate of two senior lawmakers on the proposed divorce bill that is pending before the plenary session of the House of Representatives zeroed in on whether the phrase "till death do us part" in the marriage vows of couples had any biblical basis.
MANILA -- The debate of two senior lawmakers on the proposed divorce bill that is pending before the plenary session of the House of Representatives zeroed in on whether the phrase "till death do us part" in the marriage vows of couples had any biblical basis.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, principal sponsor of House Bill 9349 which seeks to reinstitute absolute divorce as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage, maintained it is not biblical but merely part of literature. SAGIP Party List Rep. Rodante Marcoleta for his part, insisted and quoted what he maintained was the pertinent biblical passage.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, principal sponsor of House Bill 9349 which seeks to reinstitute absolute divorce as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage, maintained it is not biblical but merely part of literature. SAGIP Party List Rep. Rodante Marcoleta for his part, insisted and quoted what he maintained was the pertinent biblical passage.
"Till death do us part. This is not even biblical. It started in the 15th century in England as part of a literature which had been followed by subsequent generations," Lagman said. "Itong till death do us part ay wala naman ito sa Bibliya, and I would challenge the distinguished Marcoleta to point to the Bible whether there is such a term there or a phrase there till death do us part. Wala po."
"Till death do us part. This is not even biblical. It started in the 15th century in England as part of a literature which had been followed by subsequent generations," Lagman said. "Itong till death do us part ay wala naman ito sa Bibliya, and I would challenge the distinguished Marcoleta to point to the Bible whether there is such a term there or a phrase there till death do us part. Wala po."
"Yun daw pong till death do us part is not biblical. I will humbly disagree. Ang sabi po ng Panginoong Diyos kung ano yung pinagsama ng Diyos ay wag papahiwalayin ng tao. 'Yun lang po ibig sabihin. Nasa Bibliya po yun. Walang sinuman ang pwedeng magpahiwalaydoon sa pinagsama ng Diyos," Marcoleta responded.
"Yun daw pong till death do us part is not biblical. I will humbly disagree. Ang sabi po ng Panginoong Diyos kung ano yung pinagsama ng Diyos ay wag papahiwalayin ng tao. 'Yun lang po ibig sabihin. Nasa Bibliya po yun. Walang sinuman ang pwedeng magpahiwalaydoon sa pinagsama ng Diyos," Marcoleta responded.
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"In Malachi 2: 16 tataglugin ko na po... Eto po is quoted from God himself. Namumuhi ako sa diborsiyo ng mag-asawa, sabi ng Panginoong Diyos ng Israel. At namumuhi ako sa taong binabalot ng karahasan ang sarili na parang nababalot ng kasuotan." (They claim "till death do us part is not biblical. I will humbly disagree. The Lord God said whoever God puts together let no man separate. In Malachi 2: 16, this is quoted from God himself, I am enraged by divorce, said the Lord God of Israel. And I am enrgaed by those wrapped in violence the way they are clothed.
"In Malachi 2: 16 tataglugin ko na po... Eto po is quoted from God himself. Namumuhi ako sa diborsiyo ng mag-asawa, sabi ng Panginoong Diyos ng Israel. At namumuhi ako sa taong binabalot ng karahasan ang sarili na parang nababalot ng kasuotan." (They claim "till death do us part is not biblical. I will humbly disagree. The Lord God said whoever God puts together let no man separate. In Malachi 2: 16, this is quoted from God himself, I am enraged by divorce, said the Lord God of Israel. And I am enrgaed by those wrapped in violence the way they are clothed.
"If the Lord God himself hates divorce, sino ba tayo na mga tao lang na nilalang niya ang siya pang gagawa ng paraan para isulong ito?" Marcoleta also said. (If the Lord God himself hates divorce, who are we who are just just his mere creations to advance it?)
"If the Lord God himself hates divorce, sino ba tayo na mga tao lang na nilalang niya ang siya pang gagawa ng paraan para isulong ito?" Marcoleta also said. (If the Lord God himself hates divorce, who are we who are just just his mere creations to advance it?)
Lagman stood pat on his argument.
Lagman stood pat on his argument.
"The phrase 'till death do us part' was forced popularization in the English speaking world following the 1st printing of the Book of Common Prayer in England in 1549. During time of Edward VI, when the average life span was 47 years old," Lagman said.
"The phrase 'till death do us part' was forced popularization in the English speaking world following the 1st printing of the Book of Common Prayer in England in 1549. During time of Edward VI, when the average life span was 47 years old," Lagman said.
"Yun na ang statement ni Jesus Christ to the Pharisees ay 'di naman doctrinal or cast in stone. Because in his answer to his conversation with the Pharisees, they made an exception. The exception is you can divorce an unchaste wife. So meron nang exception agad, " (So there is an exception)
"Yun na ang statement ni Jesus Christ to the Pharisees ay 'di naman doctrinal or cast in stone. Because in his answer to his conversation with the Pharisees, they made an exception. The exception is you can divorce an unchaste wife. So meron nang exception agad, " (So there is an exception)
"In the Pauline principles, St. Paul added another exception. A spouse who is an unbeliever and leaves this believing spouse left behind can remarry, and divorce the unbeliever," Lagman also said.
"In the Pauline principles, St. Paul added another exception. A spouse who is an unbeliever and leaves this believing spouse left behind can remarry, and divorce the unbeliever," Lagman also said.
"What if I am able to show you a particular Biblical phrase? Will you withdraw your sponsorship?" Marcoleta asked.
"What if I am able to show you a particular Biblical phrase? Will you withdraw your sponsorship?" Marcoleta asked.
"Show it now. If you are accepting the challenge could you show us where in the Bible this phrase till death do us part appears?" Lagman replied. "When we say till death do us part death here could be the physical cessation of life. But death also can be metaphorical. It can the cessation of love, respect, and tolerance. That is why marriages which have forfeited these qualities, of love and respect and tolerance can be the subject of divorce in all of the countries of the world except the Philippines and the Vatican."
"Show it now. If you are accepting the challenge could you show us where in the Bible this phrase till death do us part appears?" Lagman replied. "When we say till death do us part death here could be the physical cessation of life. But death also can be metaphorical. It can the cessation of love, respect, and tolerance. That is why marriages which have forfeited these qualities, of love and respect and tolerance can be the subject of divorce in all of the countries of the world except the Philippines and the Vatican."
"I'm citing 1 Corinthians 7:39 which reads, and I quote, 'A woman is obligated to stay in her marriage as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband dies she's free to marry whomever she wants only it should be believer in the Lord.' So till death do us part talaga. Kailangan mamamatay po yung isa para lang makapag asawa ka pa ng iba," Marcoleta said. (So it really must be till death do us party. One has to die to remarry.)
"I'm citing 1 Corinthians 7:39 which reads, and I quote, 'A woman is obligated to stay in her marriage as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband dies she's free to marry whomever she wants only it should be believer in the Lord.' So till death do us part talaga. Kailangan mamamatay po yung isa para lang makapag asawa ka pa ng iba," Marcoleta said. (So it really must be till death do us party. One has to die to remarry.)
"What the distinguished interpellator quoted is not the phrase till death do us part. In fact, what he said is only with respect to the women not to the husband. It is here that when the husband dies the woman can remarry but would be better if she does not remarry. That is completely different from T'till death do us part,' which is addressed to both the husband the wife," Lagman said.
"What the distinguished interpellator quoted is not the phrase till death do us part. In fact, what he said is only with respect to the women not to the husband. It is here that when the husband dies the woman can remarry but would be better if she does not remarry. That is completely different from T'till death do us part,' which is addressed to both the husband the wife," Lagman said.
"I did not know that my good friend the sponsor is after the exact word 'till death do us part,' but it was only a matter of romanticizing it," Marcoleta said. "The biblical anchor is the same. I hope my good friend could comprehend the simple import of this biblical passage. It is still till death do us part...It cannot be interpreted in another way."
"I did not know that my good friend the sponsor is after the exact word 'till death do us part,' but it was only a matter of romanticizing it," Marcoleta said. "The biblical anchor is the same. I hope my good friend could comprehend the simple import of this biblical passage. It is still till death do us part...It cannot be interpreted in another way."
Earlier in their exchange, Marcoleta quizzed Lagman on why he is pushing for the divorce bill when he had a happy marriage.
Earlier in their exchange, Marcoleta quizzed Lagman on why he is pushing for the divorce bill when he had a happy marriage.
"The divorce bill, once it becomes a law, is not for everybody. Majority of the marriages in the Philippines, I think overwhelming majority of the marriage in the Philippines are enduring and loving relationship, just like my marriage with my late wife Cielo. And to my mind, those happy marriages should not be affected by the passage of this bill," Lagman said. "This bill is for the exceptional circumstances where marriage has hit the rocks and is beyond repair. While it is said that marriages are solemnized in heaven some of them plummet into hell irremediably."
"The divorce bill, once it becomes a law, is not for everybody. Majority of the marriages in the Philippines, I think overwhelming majority of the marriage in the Philippines are enduring and loving relationship, just like my marriage with my late wife Cielo. And to my mind, those happy marriages should not be affected by the passage of this bill," Lagman said. "This bill is for the exceptional circumstances where marriage has hit the rocks and is beyond repair. While it is said that marriages are solemnized in heaven some of them plummet into hell irremediably."
Lagman stressed that the state has the responsibility to secure spouses and their children from a house on fire. "This is the reason why I have introduced this bill even before my wife and I celebrated our golden wedding anniversary. This is not for happy marriages, it is for marriages which have crumbed and are beyond repair so that there is need for them to be given relief or a lifeline so that they can be rescued from this constant conflicts which even would affect their children."
Lagman stressed that the state has the responsibility to secure spouses and their children from a house on fire. "This is the reason why I have introduced this bill even before my wife and I celebrated our golden wedding anniversary. This is not for happy marriages, it is for marriages which have crumbed and are beyond repair so that there is need for them to be given relief or a lifeline so that they can be rescued from this constant conflicts which even would affect their children."
Marcoleta, however, argued it might fall under the character of a class legislation.
Marcoleta, however, argued it might fall under the character of a class legislation.
"And we should not do that because all laws are supposed to be applicable to citizens of the republic. We're not supposed to legislate something that should only be for use of a few, of a special class." Marcoleta said. "I will not agree with the proposition that the divorce bill should only be for those marriages which are at the bring of collapse. Who is going to make a judgment that a certain marriage is now supposed to be terminated by way of a divorce?"
"And we should not do that because all laws are supposed to be applicable to citizens of the republic. We're not supposed to legislate something that should only be for use of a few, of a special class." Marcoleta said. "I will not agree with the proposition that the divorce bill should only be for those marriages which are at the bring of collapse. Who is going to make a judgment that a certain marriage is now supposed to be terminated by way of a divorce?"
Lagman disagreed. "This is not absolute. Members of the same class who are effected by the same circumstances, would not be class legislation, if a law is passed for their benefit or for their needs. So this bill is not class legislation."
Lagman disagreed. "This is not absolute. Members of the same class who are effected by the same circumstances, would not be class legislation, if a law is passed for their benefit or for their needs. So this bill is not class legislation."
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