South Yorkshire Times June 1, 1946

Pride Causes Divorces
Says Vicar Of Conisbrough

Outspoken comments on the present day reaction to marriage are made by the vicar of Conisbrough, the rev. G. F. Braithwaite, in the parish magazine. “Pride,” Mr Braithwaite declares, “causes more divorces than immorality.

The marriage service contains the phrase’ for better, for worse’ – thus allowing for the forgiveness of the penitent. Too often it is where the forgiveness is denied that an act of unfaithfulness is hardened into a habit, a habit that clamours for divorce and freedom. And it is sinful pride that denies forgiveness.”

The phrase “for better, for worse” is by no means an implied permission for unfaithfulness. But the increasing ease with which divorce may be obtained is an encouragement to laxity of morals, and as such is to be deplored.

“This growing fashion of the easy way out of matrimony tangles,” Mr Braithwaite declares, “is indeed another step down in the ladder of Christian morality, and is helping to reduce this country to a seat of sexual promiscuity that will ultimately spell the delusion of our greatness as a people and of our Christian influence in the world.

“To the law-abiding citizen, marriage is a social contract resulting in a state – the married state.” Says Mr Braithwaite. “But that state may be altered by divorce or by some other cause. To the professing Christian, marriage is still a contract, but a contract resulting in a relationship. That relationship can never be changed by divorce or anything else. Only death can end it.

“It is conceivable that this rigid rule may cause inconvenience and even pain to some. But that is no reason for setting it aside. Those who contemplate matrimony should contemplate its meaning and its implications. In the extremely rare cases where the marriage relationship becomes utterly unbearable, the relationship may be suspended by separation. But it is not broken. And the separated parties are in no ways be to marry again, divorce though they may be.”