Should divorce be so painful?

Following a campaign supported by the Times newspaper, legal chiefs have called for an end to outdated divorce laws forcing couples to allege fault or blame because “they keep people trapped in loveless marriages”.

This is supported by Lord Mackay, a Christian and former Lord Chancellor, and by the former High Court judge Sir Paul Coleridge, founder of the Marriage Foundation who is quoted as saying “the current laws… fuel acrimony, hostility and pain, and make good, long-term relationships between two parents caring for children impossible… there is already divorce by consent or ‘on demand’, but masked by an often painful and sometimes destructive legal ritual. There is also no evidence that the current law does protect marriage. Reform of the divorce law is long overdue.”

Graham Nicholls from Affinity comments:

“We want to support any changes that improve the lengthy, acrimonious and costly process for those going through a divorce. Many of us involved in pastoral ministry have seen the damaging effects on the people involved, especially the children, and how the legal costs can often leave both partners struggling financially.

However, recognising that we are all sinners, and sometimes marriages do break down irretrievably and must be ended, we want to uphold marriage as a serious commitment. We do not want to re-enforce the idea that marriage is a casual commitment that can be broken without consequence – the equivalent of joining or leaving a club or association. Marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and woman and we want to strive to maintain that.

This also points up to us the need in our churches to be encouraging marriage preparation and enrichment courses. We need to guard our own marriages and equip people in our churches to face the challenges ahead.”