Fr. Jerome Secillano. Photo from cbcpnews.com
MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Thursday described as “concerning” the increasing number of people accepting “live-in” arrangements among Catholic Filipinos.
“Living-in is a recurring phenomenon in the country,” CBCP spokesperson Jerome Secillano told INQUIRER.net in a text message. “The fact that many Catholics are opting for it is truly concerning.”
Secillano added: “Living-in, though being practiced, is not the norm, rather it’s a deviation from an otherwise sacred and meaningful sacrament called marriage.”
He made the statement after the Veritas Truth Survey conducted by church-run Radio Veritas in January showed that many Filipinos believe that marriage is unnecessary before living together.
READ: Radio Veritas survey: More Filipino Catholics see marriage unnecessary before ‘living-in’
Some 45 percent of respondents said that matrimony is not a requirement before living in, 40 percent believe in a marriage-first arrangement, and the remaining 15 percent are undecided.
The online survey conducted from January 1 to 31, has 1,200 respondents nationwide, with a ±3 percent margin of error.
In light of the survey’s findings, Secillano said that there is a need “to intensify teachings on the beauty of marriage and the positive societal effects it contributes to the family and society.”
“Experience, however, would scar such beauty as many married couples would rather separate than cling-on to a ‘loveless’ and violent marriage.
“So, instead of subjecting themselves to a lifetime commitment, couples would rather cling to each other in ‘live-in’ arrangement,” Secillano added.