Divorce in Italy

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 16

Divorce in Italy

The 92-year struggle to legalise divorce in Italy epitomises the conflict between the Church and the State in that country. Although the Vatican is constitutionally independent of Italy, no-one can doubt the pervasive influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Italian politics and society. The opposition of the Church to divorce is rooted in dogma; and the bishops, following a Papal lead, are still calling on Roman Catholics to prevent the legalisation of divorce.

Only now are lay forces openly challenging the right of the Church to influence political decisions, as it is, on the divorce issue, through the Christian Democrat Party. Mr Colombo’s four-party coalition Government’ had declared itself neutral on this matter, arguing, persuasively enough, that it could not otherwise survive. But the Government parties are not neutral; the Socialists, Social Democrats, and Republicans firmly support the bill, which had a relatively easy passage through the Chamber of Deputies with the help of Liberal and Communist votes.

In the Senate, however, pressures were applied. The Christian Democrats sought and obtained a secret vote, in which the expected majority of 14 for approval was reduced to two—apparently because of the defection of eight Liberals. One newspaper, “La Stampa”, alleged that there had been some “ arm-twisting ” by the Christian Democrats. The Senate so amended the bill as to require a judge to attempt a reconciliation of the parties before pronouncing a divorce; but it appears to have thwarted attempts to allow divorce only after a separation of-eight years instead of the five-year term proposed in the bill. The Senate’s approval of the bill, slender though the voting margin was, seems to signal the end of the long fight One consequence, in the view of “ The Times ”, is that the day has been brought nearer “when the Christian Democrat party will “ have to decide whether it is a Catholic party, “ feeling some special duties towards the Vatican, or “ whether it is an ordinary party of government “with Catholic associations”.