Unknown to many people, California has recently abolished divorce. After January 1, 1970, it was no longer possible to obtain a divorce in California. However, although the foregoing is absolutely true, it doesn't mean that California law will no longer terminate a marriage, break up a home and deparentize the children. Under the guise of social reform they have enacted legislation which in effect expedites divorce and merely changes some common names.
Psychiatrists, psychologists and sociologists have deemed it beneficial to the parties seeking the termination of their marriage to remove the "social stigma" from divorce. Hence, a divorce in California is no longer called "divorce" — it is now called by the euphemism "Decree of Dissolution." An "annulment" is now called a "Judgment of Nullity." But a lemon by any other name tastes just as sour. Another major "innovation" in this pioneering legislation is to remove the grounds of fault. Henceforth, it is no longer required to prove that the other party has been guilty of any grounds for divorce such as desertion, adultery, habitual drunkenness, physical cruelty, etc. Now all one need do is to come into court and answer in the affirmative the question, "Have irreconcilable differences arisen between you and your spouse?" If the party can squeak through this, along with two or three other questions, he gets his divor... — excuse me — "Decree of Dissolution."
What is the rationale behind the simplicity in obtaining a "divorce"? In a legal class on domestic relations one judge commented, "The way we look at it, if a person wants a divorce, give it to him. Otherwise, they're going to be going out and live in adultery and suffer a guilt complex. This is just not good for society. It is better for them to be free to just get married again." Where was the fallacy in this judge's rationale? It simply lay in not knowing the Bible. When two parties are married in God's sight they are one flesh (Gen. 2:24) — and literally bound until death separates them: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Mark 10:9). When you make the acquisition of a divorce simple, then over the years the question arises, as it has today, "Why even go through the formalities of a divorce?" Why not simply do away with the formalities and just file a paper? Then as time goes by the question becomes, as it also has today, "If there is only the formality of filing a paper for divorce, why then even get married in the first place? Why not just live together?" Such is the contention of many today. (Read our free booklet entitled Why Marriage! Soon Obsolete?) Even more important is the proper education and counseling of young people before they get married. (Education about dating and selecting the right mate is included in our free booklet Modern Dating — Key to Success or Failure In Marriage.) The family is the foundation of any society. When that God-ordained unity of family is carelessly cast aside, the society itself is at the point of collapse. This is one more saber proof that modern America is going the way of ancient Rome — divorce became popular just before Rome fell!