In a population of about 100 million people, 84 million Filipinos are Roman Catholic. In reference to the sacrament of marriage, Biblical law states, “so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”- Matthew 19:6. Being devout Catholic countries, the Philippines and the Vatican are the only two remaining nations where divorce is illegal. While ideally, Church and State are to remain separate entities, one’s influence upon the other is undeniable demonstrated by how state laws align with religious beliefs. While the inability to file for divorce applies to both spouses, the issue is amplified for women as annulment, being the only option, adheres to limited grounds and comes with more repercussions for them as a result of living in a misogynistic culture.
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