NEWSFLASH

NO DAVAO CHURCH WEDDING FOR PREGNANT BRIDES

Davao City, Oct. 9, 1998 - Designers of wedding gowns in Davao City are wracking their brains to come up with imaginative bridal gowns that will hide the "delicate condition" of brides who would otherwise not be allowed to walk down the aisle if her pregnancy were publicly known.

Archbishop Fernando Capalla has directed Catholic priests not to perform church weddings involving pregnant brides.

The Inquirer reports that a formal circular announcing the date of implementation of the new policy will be announced after a meeting with the Davao Archdiocese's presbyterium on Monday.

A press statement issued by the Archbishop explained that matrimonial rites for pregnant brides should be private and held only in places like "a private chapel or the sacristy of a parish."

The statement said the ban was based on Cathecism No. 2353 of the Catholic Church which teaches that "God's Law or the sixth commandment prohibits carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman."

Another reason cited is the question of aesthetics or the requirement on beauty and propriety.

"The bride is always the last to march down the church aisle because that is the moment when culturally, she is believed to have been transformed into a creature of such awesome beauty that all eyes are turned towards her," the statement said.

The Archbishop's statement added that "purity is enhanced by the white bridal gown properly fitted" and that "obvious pregnancy diminishes the beauty and purity of the bride and distracts from the attention they deserve."

Capalla's message? "True love can wait."

Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi