Alvarez points out: Even country where Jesus Christ was born, Israel, has divorce law

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday questioned the church's opposition to his bill on divorce and dissolution of marriage, saying that even the country where Jesus Christ was born has a law for such purpose.

In an interview, Alvarez chastised the church for airing its opposition to House Bill 7303, which the Lower Chamber approved on third and final reading on Monday.

"Ang problema kasi sa Church, bawal na nga silang ikasal, hindi ba? In fact, sinasabi nga nila, Pilipinas na lang daw at saka Vatican," he said.

"Do not use Vatican because bawal mag-asawa yung mga tao doon, talagang hindi nila kailangan ng divorce or dissolution of marriage," he added.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, said in a Facebook post last February that divorce is "anti-marriage" and "anti-family."

"Divorce is anti-marriage and anti-family! By passing this measure, Congress betrays its mandate to protect our country's legally and morally declared social and inviolable institutions!" Secillano said.

"While divorce may indeed vindicate the rights of women, as Congressmen believed, it is unfortunately to the detriment of marriage and family as sacred institutions that should otherwise be protected by the State," he added.

But Alvarez pointed out that Israel, the nation where Jesus Christ was born, has a divorce law, giving no reason for a similar legislation to be enacted in the Philippines.

"Ito na lang, tingnan na lang si Kristo, tanungin ko nga kayo. Saan ipinanganak si Kristo? Jerusalem [sic]. Meron bang divorce doon? Meron," he said.

"Tayo na nga lang ang wala, ni hindi nga dito pinanganak si Kristo," he added.

Alvarez, in jest, even quipped: "Meron tayo dito appointed son of God."

In the same interview, Alvarez said he is willing to explain to President Rodrigo Duterte the provisions of the divorce bill after the latter registered his opposition on the matter. — BAP, GMA News