Greeks Appeal To U.N. For Divorce

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 15 May 1961, Page 7

Greeks Appeal To U.N. For Divorce

(N Z.PJI.-Reuter)

ATHENS. About 200,000 Greeks seeking the dissolution of their legal marital status have now appealed to the United Nations human rights committee because both the Greek Government and the Greek Orthodox Church have so far refused to grant them a divorce. About 40,000 children bom from illegal unions are the victims of this situation, according to the “Pahhellenic Association for the Protection of the Family.” Greek law and religion stipulate only eight specific grounds of petition for divorce. These include bigamy, danger to life, malicious desertion for a minimum of two years, shock in marital life, incurable unsoundness of mind, and leprosy. When one partner refuses to consent to a divorce it is practically impossible for the other to obtain one outside one of these eight grounds. Most persons exasperated by this situation have since contracted irregular unions, and their children are regarded by the State and church as illegitimate. Repeated efforts have been made by those interested to persuade both the Government and the Holy Synod of the orthodox church to alter the divorce law and make it possible for them to re-marry. The victims have even joined forces in a “Panhellenic Union for the Protection of the Family.” which was founded in 1954. ' The president of the union, a doctor, said that because

the Government had avoided drafting a relevant bill the drama of some 60,000 couples was persisting while more and more illegitimate children were born every day. There were at present 40,000 children born out of wedlock and, therefore, denied the legal right to bear their father's name, he said. Bereft wives have set up their own association called “The Family Hearth—St. Paul,’’ whose aim is to prevent the passage of any law in favour of the granting of divorces to separated couples. In a memorandum to the church they urged greater consideration for their own rights. “Imagine a virtuous Greek girl who marries and assumes obligations, has children with tears and blood, lives in harmony and love with her husband, then suddenly a concubine steals in, disturbs the family peace and estranges the lawful wife from the husband’s affections, wrecking the happiness of a home. The wrecked wife, lethally injured by the husband’s infamous behaviour, does not despair but, like faithful Penelope, waits for long years the return of the prodigal spouse to the family hearth,” says the memorandum. Members of the Panhellenic Union, who have not returned to their partners after 10, 15 and, in a few cases. 40 years, say: “We would rather die than go back to them.” “Spring makes everything young again, save man.”— Jean Paul Richter.