The impact of divorce on the modern christian families of immaculate heart of Mary Morulem parish in light of Amoris Laetitia

Abstract

Although the United States has the highest rates of divorce of any Western nation, divorce rates have also risen in African continent especially in Uganda and particularly in Immaculate Heart of Mary Morulem Parish. The main objective of this study is to examine the rampant problem of divorce and possible solutions to divorce in Immaculate Heart of Mary Morulen Catholic Parish. The study sought to establish the impact, causes and the possible solutions of divorce in the modern Christian families in light of Amoris Leatitia in Immaculate Heart of Mary Morulem Catholic Parish. The research was explanatory in nature with both qualitative and quantitative method of data collection forming the core of the study. The qualitative data was analyzed along the line of specific objectives. This task was complicated by the fact that issues of marriage and divorce are very sensitive matters and therefore, not many people like to discuss their private life with strangers. The study revealed that there are a lot of issues that causes divorce or marital dissolubility. These are: education and employment among women or wives, different educational levels among couples, infidelity among spouses, young immature individuals getting married, interference from in-laws and other dependent members, misunderstanding of conflicting interest, financial instability or poverty, cultural issues, domestic violence, marital rape, sexual abuse, infertility, barrenness, drug abuse among others. The study further showed that the impacts of divorce were mostly increased trouble dating, depression, immense suffering, children’s diminished social competence with their peers, parental absence or remarriage, psychological problems like stress, and poverty etc. The possible solutions to the divorce are majorly communication, guidance and counseling, incorporating religion into marriage, worrying about the welfare of the children, sharing the events together such as birthday parties, promotions and having weekend getaway together. The study recommends that couples should come up with their own ways of managing issues or solving the problems and not to emulate what others do as marriages and people are different in

their marriage life. Couples should save for sustainability of the families; they should respect and love each other, this way conflicts tend to be minimal. Couple should communicate with one another whenever they have problem and try their level best to transform the conflict for the better instead of carrying over grudges that ultimately causes buildup issues that eventually lead to conflicts just to name but a few.