With this said, Catholics do give exceptions under certain circumstances such as mental illness – this is because it makes carrying out marital duties impossible. In these conditions, an annulment is possible; as this is a document which declares the marriage never existed. This way you are not breaking your connection with God, as another teaching Catholics abide by is: ‘Marriage is the uniting into one flesh which cannot be broken’.
In Protestantism however, Protestants recognise that marriages can break down, and civil divorces are acceptable. This is because one of Jesus’ teachings is: ‘Don’t judge others, but forgive them.’ This teaches Protestants to forgive their partner no matter what they have done and move on, even if divorce is the right way forward.
On the issue of re-marriage, Catholics and Protestants have different views once again, as Protestant Parish Ministers agree to re-marriage as they go along with the teaching: ‘Don’t judge others, but forgive them.’ But Catholics don’t agree and would only give a blessing – a sign of God’s forgiveness, as they follow the teaching: ‘Marriage is the uniting into one flesh which cannot be broken’.
Buddhists believe that divorce is allowed if within the partnership there is suffering, for example: regular arguments, or unfaithfulness. This is because one of the Buddhists beliefs is ‘limit harm and suffering in all situations’ – so by getting a divorce it would put an end to the suffering.
However, another one of the Buddhists beliefs is that you should ‘take the most compassionate course of action’, so although Buddhists are allowed to get a divorce, and get re-married, they should take care not to hurt the previous partner in the process, as otherwise this would produce bad karma. This belief also applies if children are involved, as re-marriage would only be acceptable if it would provide a stable environment for the children.