‘Virtual weddings may ruin sanctity of marriage’

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is opposing the proposed legalization of virtual weddings, saying it will ruin the sanctity of marriage in the Philippines.

CBCP executive director for the public affairs committee Fr. Jerome Secillano said the proposed House bill on virtual weddings will not serve its purpose, as he emphasized that the sanctity and dignity of marriage should be observed.

“It’s going to pose a lot of risks also, if for example that pushes through, people might receive a fake wedding which will further disrupt the sanctity of the family,” Secillano said in Filipino in an interview yesterday with dzMM.

He said that he understands where the lawmakers are coming from, but he emphasized that their proposal might become “moot and academic” especially now that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) expanded the allowed capacity for religious events.

With the changes in the IATF guidelines, Secillano said that the Catholic Church will eventually adjust to the task force’s rules as far as the allowed church capacity is concerned.

“So, my opinion is that virtual weddings might become moot and academic because we will protect the sanctity and dignity of the sacrament. At least we are talking about the sanctity of the Church marriage, so we must keep that factor in mind,” he said.

Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo discussed on Tuesday his House Bill 7042, or the “Virtual Marriage Act,” allowing the holding of virtual weddings due to health restrictions, which prohibit large crowds including religious events.

Salo’s bill was tackled at the hearing of the House committee on revision of laws along with other measures that seek to amend Executive Order 209, or the Family Code of the Philippines.