The Vatican recently issued a document, signed by Pope Leo XIV, warning against the rise of polyamory and reaffirming the Church’s stance on monogamous marriage. The note, titled “One Flesh – In Praise of Monogamy,” emphasizes marriage as the exclusive, lifelong partnership between a man and a woman, addressing the growing prevalence of non-monogamous unions, including polyamory and discussions on polygamy in Africa. The 40-page document highlights the importance of the “unitive” aspect of sex within marriage, beyond procreation, and underscores the foundation of unity within marriage. Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Vatican’s doctrine office, explained the document aimed to explain the importance of an exclusive union of love.
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Pakistan recently passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, setting a seven-year prison sentence and a fine for adults cohabiting with minors. However, the Council of Islamic Ideology opposes the bill, declaring it un-Islamic and suggesting public awareness campaigns as a more effective solution. Despite this opposition, the bill, supported by several female politicians who were child brides, aims to curb Pakistan’s high rate of child marriage, affecting nearly one in five women. The bill’s passage is hoped to influence other regions of Pakistan to adopt similar legislation.
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During a West Point commencement address, President Trump digressed into a discussion of “trophy wives,” using real estate developer Bill Levitt’s divorce and remarriage as a cautionary tale. He suggested that such marriages often prove unsuccessful, despite providing temporary happiness. This anecdote is particularly noteworthy given Trump’s own three marriages to significantly younger former models. The president’s comments thus presented a curious juxtaposition of personal experience and unsolicited advice.
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Maine has raised its minimum marriage age to 18, requiring parental consent for all marriages involving minors. This new law, which follows a previous increase from 16 to 17, aims to prevent child marriages, particularly those involving coercion. The bill passed the legislature and became law after Governor Mills’ inaction, making Maine the 14th state to enact such a ban. Advocacy groups celebrated this victory, achieved after a six-year campaign, although expressing disappointment at the Governor’s lack of public endorsement.
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The Bombay High Court upheld the rape conviction of a man who had consensual intercourse with his underage wife. The court ruled that sexual intercourse with a girl under 18 is rape, regardless of marriage or consent, citing the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The judge rejected the defense of consensual sex, emphasizing that the age of consent is 18. This decision reinforces that a girl’s marital status does not negate the illegality of sexual intercourse if she is a minor. The case involved a man who had a fraudulent marriage with a minor girl and continued to assault her.
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Colombia’s congress has passed a bill raising the minimum age for marriage to 18, aiming to safeguard the rights and future of minors. This crucial step, which still requires presidential approval, seeks to combat the harmful practice of child marriage, a global issue that disproportionately affects young girls. While child marriage rates have been decreasing globally, they remain a serious concern, especially in Latin America where poverty contributes significantly to the practice. This legislation represents a significant step towards protecting children from the exploitation and deprivation associated with early marriage.
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The author, deeply saddened by the outcome of the election, grapples with the political divide within her own marriage, particularly the stark contrast between her husband’s support for the winning candidate and her own disappointment. This division has caused her to question their future and to doubt the possibility of reconciliation, especially due to the profound differences in their views on the implications of the election for various groups, particularly women and minorities. She finds solace in her network of friends and family who share her concerns, and she vows to continue fighting for her beliefs, despite the pain and uncertainty. Ultimately, the author recognizes that the path forward lies in open communication and understanding, even in the face of deep disagreement.
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Iraq is poised to drastically lower its legal marriage age from 18 to just nine for girls and 15 for boys, sparking significant backlash both domestically and internationally. The proposed amendment, championed by conservative Shia Islamist parties, would allow for child marriage and grant religious leaders greater control over family issues, effectively stripping women of vital rights such as divorce, child custody, and inheritance. This proposed amendment would further exacerbate the already prevalent issue of child marriage in Iraq, where over 28% of women are married by the age of 18. While many countries around the world have set the legal age for marriage at 18, Iraq’s proposed amendment would place it among a handful of countries with the lowest legal marriage ages, prompting concerns about the safety and well-being of young girls.
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Iraq is on the verge of enacting deeply concerning legal amendments that would significantly undermine women’s rights and expose young girls to grave risks. Proposed changes to the Personal Status Law would lower the legal marriage age to nine, the youngest in the world, stripping women of their rights regarding divorce, child custody, and inheritance. This move, despite widespread protests and warnings from civil society, is being pushed forward by conservative Shia Muslim parties, who claim it protects girls from “immoral relationships”. These amendments, if passed, would not only violate international human rights standards but also have devastating consequences for girls, increasing their vulnerability to abuse, early pregnancy, and denial of education.
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John Q. Hosedrinker