RENEWABLE MARRIAGE CONTRACT

To all the maniac here is a compilation which I am sure will interest you. Take time to read and be happy casue sooner or later- you will be free.

MARYLAND

“Until death do us part” is a section of the marriage vow that has long since become subject to amendment. But even divorce will be unnecessary for marital termination—at least in Maryland—if two state legislators can persuade their colleagues to pass a newly proposed law. It calls for making marriage a three-year contract, with an option to renew every three years by the mutual consent of both partners. Any disagreements over alimony, child custody and the like would be settled by a court as they are now.

The bill’s sponsors are Mrs. Lena K. Lee, 58, a widowed lawyer who was happily married for 22 years, and Mrs. Hildagardeis Boswell, 37, a divorced law student who was unhappily married for four months. Both women, who are Baltimore Democrats and black, deny any Women’s Lib connection and do not expect the bill to gain passage this year. So far, most of the other legislators are treating the bill as a joke (typical crack: “I’d vote for it, but my wife won’t let me”). But the two women have already received a variety of serious inquiries about their idea from all over the U.S. as well as five other countries.

“We have to offer something more than the same archaic marriage pattern, the same mind-draining guilt,” says Mrs. Boswell. “This bill is particularly aimed at helping youth,” adds Mrs. Lee. “Across the country today, young people are living together, Shacking up,’ as they call it, and disregarding old-style marriage vows. We’re also hearing from many older people who were victimized by the present divorce setup. Personally, I’m for marriage—mine was a success —but marriage is under threat. Let’s find out what it takes to adapt or modify it to a new generation’s needs.” The two plan to keep on reintroducing their bill until it passes—or they are not reelected. Their own renewable contract with the voters is good for four years at a time.

PHILIPPINES

MANILA, Jan. 13 (PNA) — Several lawmakers on Tuesday expressed disapproval on a proposal that would mandate a 10-year limit on the validity of marriage contract.

Women’s party list group Isa-Ako Babaeng Astig Aasenso (1-ABAA), which is gunning for a seat in the May party-list elections in May, plans to put forth a measure requiring couples to renew marriage every 10 years so that it would not be voided.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said he was not in favor of the proposal as it was against his Catholic beliefs.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson also junked the proposal, saying couples who want to get out of the marriage can resort to annulment.

“Okay na yung legal or de facto separation and civil annulment of marriages ngayon,” he said.

Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, a pastor, said making marriage renewable reduces it to a “mere legal contract” instead of a relationship.

“What is happening to our values? That’s what happens when people don’t believe in absolutes anymore,” he said.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon said the proposed marriage contract expiration should be opposed “because it will endanger the integrity of the ties that bind Philippine Society.”

“The Filipino family is acknowledged as the basic unit of society and it cannot be denied that marriage is the foundation of most Filipino families. Marriage and families cannot be treated separately and impose policies on one and not consider the other,” he said.

Biazon said the Philippine Constitution guarantees the protection of the family’s integrity and states that marriage is an inviolable social institution.

“The non-expiring marriage contract is not a violation of any human right because entering into a marriage is an option where those engaging in it are well aware of the terms,” he said.

“To give marriage an expiration is also to give families an expiration. It will be dangerous to open Philippine Society to the mindset that marriages and families have a pre-determined end,” he said.

While proponents may argue that the contract is renewable, Biazon said, “the fact that when you enter into marriage you already know it will expire at a certain date, it already affects the way society will look at marital unions.”

“While I will fight for the rights of women, I put more premium in protecting the integrity of the Filipino Family. I will oppose marriage contract expiration,” he said.

On the other hand, Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro said the sanctity of marriage “should not be treated as merely a contract that has an expiry date.”

“We should respect the vows that the couple have exchanged and not give a deadline to it. This proposal bastardizes not only the sanctity of marriage but as well as the Constitution which dictates that marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman. This only obscures the inviolability of the family system which is only built upon by marriage,” he said. (PNA)
RMA/LGI