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As Australia celebrates her Bicentenary, the Ukraine will be celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of the Catholic faith in the Soviet bloc country. See stories and picture page 3.
Number 2470
PERTH, WA: March 13, 1986
LOCATION: 26 John St, Perth, (off Fitzgerald St' POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Perth Aberdeen St. WA, 6000
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Ease in dodging_responsibilities
CANBERRA: The ease with which spouses in Australia can terminate their marriages and rid themselves of family responsibilities is becoming a serious social problem, says the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission. Families who stay together are penalised and those who divorce are frequently rewarded through social security assuming responsibility for supporting children following a marital breakdown, says a recent statement. The views of the commission have been put to the Australian Law Reform Commission in connection with Discussion Paper 22 on matrimonial Property Law.
Unpaid maintenance The commission cites the estimate that at least 40 per cent of mainte-
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provide ongoing maintenance is needed, says the commission. The commission does not nance orders are never want to see married couples paid. Estimates also show that drawing up contracts before or during their marriage. 70 per cent of fathers are This presumes marriages behind with payments will break-down and will reand that 70 per cent of define marriage as a temporthose who cannot rec- ary union. over maintenance fall "The majority of marriages back on social security. do not break down and the The number of supporting commitment the parties parents' benefits has risen make to each other as part of from 62,498 in 1979 to their exchange of marriage vows is the fundamental 153,589 in 1984. marriage contract which brings benefits for the individuals," says the commission. The obligation to provide For this reason the Catholic financially for children IS commission recommends owed by the virtue of parentalternative methods of hood to the children themenforcing maintenance selves and the person caring orders with possible use of for the children The commission also the taxation system against believes many people feel defaulters property settlements after The "clean break" princi ple in the break-up of a marriage-breakdown do not marriage is not an absolute take into account the convalue and the obligation to duct of the parties
DOD
At St John the Baptist church, Maylands last Sunday, Ukrainian primate Cardinal Lbachivsky blesses the congregation with the triple candlestick representing the Trinity and the double candlestick of the Two Natures. Assisting him is the WA Ukrainian pastor, Father Wolodymyr Woloczij.
The present system which does not take the conduct of parties into account is causing deep seated anger and hostility towards the courts' officers.
DOD No fault divorce has in fact led to disadvantages, particularly for women. "It is the commission's view that if justice is to be done between the parties, the court cannot ignore the conduct and the extent to which they have been faithful to the matrimonial contract in resolving disputes over the distribution of property" The Catholic Commission believes there is sufficient flexibility in the present legislation to bring about improvements It does not support the suggestions of the Law Reform Commission