Post date: Oct 07, 2011 9:36:44 PM
With half of all marriages ending in divorce, Mexico City comes up with a novel solution - two-year marriage contracts for those that fall out of love.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (OCTOBER 6, 2011) REUTERS - Mexico City lawmakers want to help newlyweds avoid the hassle of divorce by giving them an easy exit strategy: temporary marriage licenses.
Leftists in the city's assembly -- who have already riled conservatives by legalising gay marriage -- proposed a reform to the civil code this month that would allow couples to decide on the length of their commitment, opting out of a lifetime.
The move has won support among some young couples.
"The belief that there is one person for all your life is very strong and many people do not have the opportunity to live together before getting married because of family tradition. So it is a good time for couples to get to know each other and find out if it's real. They share each day just like being a married couple so its a good idea," said newlywed Mariana Valenzuela.
The proposed minimum marriage contract would be for two years and if wedded bliss lasts then the happy couple can renew their contract.
"I think that after two years of living and being together and then if the moment arrives for a separation then its healthy, before it was an issue of whether they could and couldn't and it could reinforce their vows," added newlywed Manuel Guitierrez.
With half of all marriages in the capital ending in divorce, the temporary contracts would include provisions on how children and property would be handled so as to streamline a potentially torturous and expensive divorce process.
"In Mexico City 50 per cent of marriages end in divorce. The reality is that the divorce process could be very difficult which involves their children and assets. The reality is that many young couples opt for a de facto relationship," says Mexico City senator Leonel Luna.
The leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution says the proposed law is gaining support and will help reinforce the idea of marriage amongst Mexico City's youth as a serious commitment.
"The opinion of many young people in Mexico City is that if we establish this flexibility and re-establish the responsibilities and obligations of this (marriage) contract then they can opt for more formal recognition in the form of a matrimonial contract," added Leonel Luna.
But the Catholic Church has slammed the proposed law - saying it debases a sacred commitment.
"In this case what the church can do is check the history of people. How can a person marry in a church when they have two, three or four or five civil marriage ceremonies of two years. I think that this idea is contrary to the basis of the church. Love truthfully and not with expiry dates because when there are these types of things then people do not show strength and do not know that this is an important commitment. When it is take it or leave it then it diminishes it," said priest Jose de Jesus Aquilar.
The Church holds considerable sway in the Latin American country with the world's second largest Catholic population after Brazil. However, the bustling capital is much more liberal than the rest of the country with a vibrant gay population and "right to choose" legislation for abortions.