Divorce and the Family.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 932, 10 January 1890, Page 4

Divorce and the Family.

The effect of divorce upon the integrity of the family is too obvious to require stating. As the father and mother are the heads of the family, their separation must inevitably

destroy the common family life. On the other hand, it is often contended that the destruction has already been completed, and that a divorce is only the legal recognition of what has already taken place ; ‘ the integrity of a family ’ can scarcely remain when either a father or a mother, or both, are living in violation of the law on which that integrity rests. The question may be asked whether the absolute prohibition ef divorce would contribute to the moral purity of society. It is difficult to ausrver such a question, because anything on the subject must bo comparatively worthless until verified by experience It is quite certain that the prohibition of divorce never prevents illicit sexual cotineo* turns, as was abundantly proved when di* vorco in England wftj put within the reach of persons who were not able to afford the expense of a special Act of Parliament. It is, indeed, so palpable a fact that any amount of evidenco Or argument is wholly superfluous.—Dishop Potter, in North American Review.