Proposals for ‘no fault’ divorce
THE Institute of Economic Affairs has criticised the Government’s plans to reform the divorce laws by legislating for ‘no fault’ divorce as proposed by the Lord Chancellor’s White Paper, and against which our Religion and Morals Committee made representations some time ago. A couple would be granted a divorce after what is called a 12-month period of reflection and it is hoped that the acrimony in the break-up would be minimised by more mediation and by not apportioning blame to either party.
The Institute points out that our present divorce laws are already so lax that they threaten the stability of society. It condemns these latest plans as “part of a contemptible and unremitting onslaught on the family”.
As we made clear in our submission to the Lord Chancellor, the only Scriptural grounds for divorce are “adultery and wilful desertion which cannot be remedied”. He knows this well and also is concerned about the maintaining of family life. “The family unit is an important one,” he said in a recent interview. “We should do everything to strengthen it.” However, to make divorce easier, as these reforms surely will, is to wield another blow at an already weakened and beleaguered institution and to further weaken family life.
Japan’s atrocities in World War II
FIFTY years ago a global war lasting six years and resulting in some 55 million people being killed came to an end with the surrender of Japan. This 50th anniversary of VJ Day reminds us forcibly once again of the ferocious brutality of Japan in perpetrating terrible atrocities on its labour camp prisoners — some 50,000 British, American, Australian, New Zealand and other nationals, of whom more than 12,000 died in captivity.
Few realise the mercy of God in giving victory to the Allies in their titanic struggle with the German, Italian and Japanese aggressors. Nor is it understood how low are the depths of inhumanity to which nations can descend which have never had, or have cast off, the truth of the gospel.
There are more wars being fought throughout the world today than ever before. Man’s inhumanity to man is starkly evident. May God pour out His spirit upon the nations so that they would become subject to Christ the King. Then shall the promise be fulfilled, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.”