Chile legalizes divorce

Santiago

Chile legalized divorce last week, despite loud objections from the Roman Catholic church. “This is a sad day for the church,” said the Rev. Pedro Fernandez, a church spokesman. “This law damages the family.” President Ricardo Lagos made an indirect reference to Catholic opposition when he signed the law, saying that the government “cannot impose the positions of one sector of society on all Chileans.” Supporters said the law was overdue. For years, unhappy couples have been resorting to tricks to end failed marriages. Many pointed to misspelled names or incorrect addresses on marriage documents, and obliging judges declared their marriages illegal. “This change was needed,” Lagos said.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up