In 2017, Krause proposed a six-month waiting period on no-fault divorce. In a separate bill, he proposed to end no-fault divorce, citing the need to provide support for a spouse unwilling to divorce.
“There needs to be some type of due process. There needs to be some kind of mechanism to where that other spouse has a defense,” Krause told the Austin-based NBC affiliate KXAN News in 2017.
“I think people have seen the negative effects of divorce and the breakdown of the family for a long time,” he added, saying he thought his bill would help reverse the trend.
In January 2017, a spokesperson for the Texas Catholic conference spoke to CNA about the effects of divorce law.
“No-fault divorce laws typically ease the divorce process, rather than encouraging spouses to seek spiritual guidance or professional counseling to enrich their marriage,” the spokesperson said.
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“However, in situations of domestic abuse or violence, church personnel and services should be focused on providing safety and protection to those who are being abused or the victims of violence,” the spokesperson continued. “No one deserves to be hurt, especially by a supposed ‘loved one.’ Any laws that support marriage must also recognize the right for a person to be safe in his or her own home.”
All 50 states allow some form of no-fault divorce. In 2010, New York became the last state to legalize no-fault divorce.
Kevin J. Jones is a senior staff writer with Catholic News Agency. He was a recipient of a 2014 Catholic Relief Services' Egan Journalism Fellowship.