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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