Archbishop Cruz: Priests should intervene in marital disputes

A FORMER president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and a high-ranking Church official said that priests should intervene on marriage issues and the act is grounded on the Church’s teachings.

“I perfectly understand where these critics are coming from. But they must realize also that whatever it is we say concerning marriage is never our own personal views, but God’s. What we know and share about marriage comes only from Jesus,” said retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz in a recent interview over TV Maria’s Know The Truth program.

The statement was released following a renewed discussion on the possible legalization of divorce in the country after public opinion pollster Social Weather Stations revealed that three out of five Filipinos favor its implementation.

READ: 3 out of 5 Filipinos want legalization of divorce – SWS survey

He said that clerical intervention on marriages is also grounded on the clergy’s experience on communicating with the faithful.

“We have entered so many homes. We have been a part of many families’ lives. We have seen things. Therefore, the complaint that we are mere ‘outsiders’ with respect to marriage cannot hold water. In fact, right inside the confessional, we are always confronted with countless stories relating to the married life,” he said.

Cruz, who is the current judicial vicar in the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal, explained that although priests are viewed as “outsiders” in the married life, having parents and siblings who are married gives them the idea on the problems that are faced by couples.

He also said that the Church places importance on marriage as other sacraments derive from it.

“Without marriage, whom will priests baptize? Without marriage, who will be the next generation of clerics, brothers, and nuns? To tell you the truth, the Holy Father himself is a fruit of his parents’ marriage,” Cruz said. AC

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