Conclusion Reference SOCIAL ETHICS AND INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IN THE CONTESTATION OF PUBLIC SPHERE IN INDONESIA

registered in the civil registry. From this marriage vow, we can see how noble and glorious the vow is. Both party are willing to sincerely accept each other as husband and wife, to love and honour each other all the days in their lives in any condition, portrayed in the vow to be in good times and bad, in sickness and health, and all is promised for the glory of God and their happiness. It is truly a noble vow emanating a longed happiness. In the vow, aside from the efforts of both parties husband and wife, the role of God is of utmost importance. Both parties with all their lives are willing to accept to be an eternal couple, whole and inseparable, as husband and wife. Both persons bear free will, without pressure from anyone, willing to be of one heart, blessed by God to form a union of Christian family. This union of husband and wife is exclusive, solely applicable to them unable to be shared. In its legal term there is unity and monogamy. Hence the will of the two parties is strengthened by the act of mutual love and respect in any conditions. Conditions nor situations may not influence the bond made. Both in good times or bad, in sickness or in health, they remain a union of family. Favourable conditions of health, happiness or joy, undoubtedly will support this unity of husband and wife. But in unfavourable conditions, sickness or bad times, even sufferance, there must be an inseparable unity. The later condition is truly a challenge in life as well as a struggle to remain as one heart and soul in a family union. In fact, it is in these challenges that the eternal vow to live together as husband and wife is tested and confronted with real life of this world. Aside from the desired happiness, there also exist the cross of life which must also be confronted. The inseparable union and monogamy remain steadfastly held in the teachings of the Catholic Church because what has been joined by God men must not divide. Men must obey to the will of God.

3.3 Wedding Vow against the Challenges of Time

When a person contemplates the wedding vow at present, he is constantly confronted by the challenges of time. Faith in vowing to always bravely surrender oneself, to love and honour their partner throughout life in any conditions is a never ending struggle. The vow so easily said in its reality is always confronted by other will and desires, tempting and offering other propositions that may bring more pleasure though it does not certainly bring happiness. The vow is based on free will and cannot be taken back to be divided. This is because what has been joined by God, men cannot divide. This is also the challenge in this current age. Wedding ceremony in the form of the faithful vow is viewed as an act of God uniting the couple, not as a mere man made ritual. The ceremony is believed to have gotten its sacred value from God’s part in it. This is taught by the Catholic Church and believed as an act which cannot be annulled by men, given any reason whatsoever. God acts, then men must believe, have faith and obey. If we do not obey, then we will violate what has been ordained by God. Hence in the Catholic teaching, divorce in unrecognized. A temporary separation is recognized, but divorce is never allowed. Divorce is viewed as a violation of God’s command and an imperfection of social life in the Catholic Church. Of course this is an ideal situation, where in reality there are many divorces in Catholic family, but the Catholic Church does not recognize them as divorce. The pillars of marriage, especially the marriage vow, in today’s highly developed age must provide a convincing answer that can be accounted for. If both parties could no longer be united, are they forced to stay as one? The unity of love and affection has been shattered, and civil divorce has happened, must the union of Christian marriage still be carried out with all means so as not to divorce? Human weakness often becomes a challenge in achieving the ideal goal. The manner of bearing mutual faith exclusively for all life and to love and honour each other,