Divorce - a Necessary Evil Essay

No one who professes to be a Christian can ever doubt that divorce is evil and hateful in the eyes of God. But the truth is that society is composed of ever increasing numbers who do not believe in God or who have made a god to their own liking.
Divorce is heart-breaking and its effects can be devastating on either of the partners and especially on the children. But in some cases it can be the only option for a long suffering spouse subjected to daily physical or verbal abuse, for the abandoned spouse whose husband or wife has left home and moved in with a new partner. One must realise that in such cases the marriage is already dead; separation and eventual divorce is simply the official recognition that the marriage is over.
Reconciliation is also possible as long as both partners are willing, but if one of the two is determined to end the relationship, then it becomes a senseless cruelty to keep the other partner in a life-long, one-sided commitment.
Marriage is a contract between two persons; in Christian marriage, God, His minister, family and friends witness the contract. However when one of the two backs out and reneges his or her vows, the contract cannot continue and the party still faithful to the vows is helpless and cannot be held at fault for the other party's infidelity.
Yes, divorce legislation is necessary in Malta and long overdue. Divorce should not be a first option but the last resort. It should only be available to couples who have been legally separated for several years.
Legislation should penalise the partner reneging on marriage vows. After all, this person is breaching a contract he/she legally entered into out of his/her own free will and duly witnessed and thoroughly, sometimes for selfish reasons, disrupting the life of the other partner and/or any children.
Yes, I am a devout Christian and am convinced that egoism, lust and betrayal are an intrinsic part of the nature of a sinful humanity. This makes divorce a necessary evil,...