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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Spain Gets on Divorce Express

Church leaders say marriage contract is now 'trash'

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(Newser) – Marriage has become a battleground in Spain, where divorce has been legal for 20 years, but a recent reform accelerating the process led to a 74% spike in the divorce rate. With 1 in every 2.3 married couples now parting, the Catholic Church is accusing the socialist government of obliterating family values, Time reports. "The reform has transformed the marriage contract into trash," says one activist against what has been dubbed "express divorce."

The 2005 change, which did away with a mandatory year-long separation, has made the country's divorce rate one of the highest in Europe. Still, one sociologist says there's no cause for concern: "The number of divorces may have climbed, but the number of separations has decreased by almost the same amount."

Removing obstacles to divorce in Spain has not only made it easier to end an unhappy marriage, but has made the country's divorce rate one of the highest in the European Union, causing some to rally.
Removing obstacles to divorce in Spain has not only made it easier to end an unhappy marriage, but has made the country's divorce rate one of the highest in the European Union, causing some to rally.   (Shutterstock.com)
A recent reform allows couples to accelerate the divorce process, facilitating Spain's current statistics of one divorce for every 2.3 marriages, a 74% increase in the past two years alone.
A recent reform allows couples to accelerate the divorce process, facilitating Spain's current statistics of one divorce for every 2.3 marriages, a 74% increase in the past two years alone.   (Shutterstock.com)
Some of the tens of thousands of Spaniards filled downtown Madrid in a rally called to defend family values, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. Spain's Socialist government angered the Roman Catholic church by making it easier for couples to divorce. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Some of the tens of thousands of Spaniards filled downtown Madrid in a rally called to defend family values, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. Spain's Socialist government angered the Roman Catholic church by making...   (Associated Press)
Tens of thousands of Spaniards filled downtown Madrid in a rally called to defend family values, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. The Spain's Socialist government has angered the Roman Catholic church by legalizing gay marriage and making it easier for couples to divorce. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Tens of thousands of Spaniards filled downtown Madrid in a rally called to defend family values, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. The Spain's Socialist government has angered the Roman Catholic church by legalizing...   (Associated Press)
Bishops look at a giant screen displaying the Pope Benedict XVI speaking during the traditional Sunday noon Angelus prayer, live hookup from St. Peter's Square, during a rally with tens of thousands of Spaniards filling downtown Madrid called to defend family values, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. Spain's Socialist government angered...
Bishops look at a giant screen displaying the Pope Benedict XVI speaking during the traditional Sunday noon Angelus prayer, live hookup from St. Peter's Square, during a rally with tens of thousands of...   (Associated Press)
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