Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Marriage: Mend it don't end it

High Court Judge and former family lawyer, Sir Paul Coleridge wants to halt the "appalling and costly impact of family breakdown" and said people are looking to "recycle" partners instead of trying to fix their marriages.
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6 comments:

nickbris said...

It is quite rare for a Sir or a Lord to say something sensible and they get attacked for it.

Sir Pratchett & Lord Falconer want to introduce Euthanasia,thank God Sir Paul is prepared to put his head above the parapet again.

Denim Journal, Scarlet Lens said...

Great Article.
I have reposted on my blog.

Gigi said...

I am pleasantly amazed that a High Court Judge and (even more so) a former family lawyer is establishing a foundation for the promotion of marriage.
I truly believe that some couples enter into a marriage viewing their vows with the kind of romanced familiarity afforded to a favourite pop ballad. Many seem to have no expectation of a life-long marriage. Ten years seems to be seen as a reasonable tally! I think a lot of folk view marriage as a hen or stag night, a new taxcode and surname for the kids: not as the blessed union of lives or a beautiful sacrament.

Lynda said...

Very laudable. It shows a practical morality that recognises the what is in the best interests of the person and the public. All persons in such responsible positions should employ such a practical morality. If Catholics and others were better educated in morality, it would be the norm.

Eugene Gaffney said...

Gigi - to be fair, for most people marriage is not a sacrament whether they are christian or not because they contract a civil marriage.

Gigi said...

Hi Eugene - yes, you're absolutely right: sometimes I forget that a lot of people aren't Catholic and that some don't believe in God at all! The civil ceremony still requires vows though; I know people are allowed or even encouraged to make their own vows. A vow or promise is still sacred to my old fashioned mind; I also thought the original standard vows used in civil ceremonies were adapted from the Book of Common Prayer. Last night I spoke to one of my loveliest friends, whose marriage has sadly dissolved due to her husband needing to "find" himself, (he's currently looking in Tenerife). She is Catholic; he isn't. She told me their marriage now amounted to a couple of rings, a piece of paper, five photo albums and an impending fight over the CDs and the dog. Most shocking, she said if she had ever truly loved him, she would be devastated now.

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