Divorce

In 2014 Pope Francis called a Synod on the Family with the intention of "listening to families". During that listening, the pain of divorced Catholics and their children and families played a critical role. 

After the synod, in response to families, Pope Francis' wrote the Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, (The Joy of Love) “At times we have also proposed a far too abstract and almost artificial theological ideal of marriage, far removed from the concrete situations and practical possibilities of real families...
​This excessive idealization, especially when we have failed to inspire trust in God’s grace, has not helped to make marriage more desirable and attractive, but quite the opposite.”

"The Church should not seek to judge," he said, "as it has often done in the past, but rather to listen." He went even further and said that the Church must stop shunning Catholics who are divorced. 

Articles about the pope's exhortation 

​What Catholics Should Know about Divorce: It doesn’t define you!

An interview with Lisa Duffy, a Catholic lay writer and speaker with 24 years of personal and professional experience in healing from divorce. Click here for the interview. (America Magazine)

When Your Parents Divorce

One woman shares her experience of her parents divorce and offer the five biggest struggles she encountered and the way God taught her to handle each one. (FocusontheFamily.com)

When Your Adult Children Divorce

Five tips for how to respond to your child when you hear the news he or she is getting divorced: reactions, transitions, forgiveness, setting boundaries, and prayer & advice. (FocusontheFamily.com)

Children and Divorce: Helping Kids Cope with Separation & Divorce

Life-Giving Wounds - Mission is to help young adults and adults with divorced and separated parents give voice to their pain and find deep spiritual healing.

Helpguide.org is a trusted guide to mental & emotional health. At this link they offer advice on how to help children cope.

Find great tips and advice, such as this from ​​University of Missouri
What your child wants from mom and dad during a divorce
  • I need both of you to stay involved in my life. Please call me, email, text, and ask me lots of questions. When you don’t stay involved, I feel like I’m not important and that you don’t really love me.
  • Please stop fighting and work hard to get along with each other. Try to agree on matters related to me. When you fight about me, I think that I did something wrong and I feel guilty.
  • I want to love you both and enjoy the time that I spend with each of you. Please support me and the time that I spend with each of you. If you act jealous or upset, I feel like I need to take sides and love one parent more than the other.
  • Please communicate directly with each other so that I don’t have to send messages back and forth between you.
  • When talking about my other parent, please say only nice things, or don’t say anything at all. When you say mean, unkind things about my other parent, I feel like you are expecting me to take your side.
  • Please remember that I want both of you to be a part of my life. I count on my mom and dad to raise me, to teach me what is important, and to help me when I have problems.

Many diocese have Family Life offices that offer resources like support groups for parents and children, therapist referrals, and more. Example - Diocese of Brooklyn.  

Coping with Divorce (Parents Magazine)
This page from Parents Magazine offers a number of articles with tips and advice for parents. Here are a few: 
 - 9 Rules to Make Joint Child Custody Work 
​ - Shared Custody, Different Rules
 - How to Tell Your Kid
 - How to Talk to Kids about Divorce
 - Making a Child Comfortable in Two Homes
​ - An Age by Age Guide to What Children Understand About Divorce

Helping Kids Deal with Divorce

Sesame Street: "Divorce can be a big challenge for both children and parents. Though times may be difficult, children can emerge feeling loved and supported. You can all grow through these family changes and discover just how strong you really are. You are not alone. Family, friends, neighbors, and others are these to offer support. Here are some tools to help your child through your divorce."  

"Divorce is one of the most common major transitions in children's lives, with 40 percent of all children experiencing the divorce of their parents. With Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce, Sesame Street has created much-needed resources for families with young children (ages 2-8) as they encounter the tough transitions that come with divorce."

More from Sesame Street​  

Videos: ​Sesame Street: What is divorce?

Sesame Streets Little Children Big Challenges: Divorce
A movie about divorce for children and their parents. A film about divorce for kids (and their parents) that "tells it like it is" honest, touching, profound and sometimes even funny. ​

Split: a film about divorce for kids

Books for Children & Teens

Helping Teens

Helping Kids Adjust to Divorce a Guide for Teachers

From the University of Missouri - "Although children whose parents divorce are at greater risk for problems such as aggression, depression, lower self-esteem and poorer school performance, most children adjust to the divorce successfully. However, the adjustment process is stressful and takes time. It is typical for children to experience distress for 1 to 2 years following the divorce."
​
"Schools can play an important role in helping children make a positive adjustment to their parents' divorce. This guide suggests ways that schools, preschools and childcare centers can support children through difficult family transitions. By working together, families and schools can form a network of support that promotes healthy child development."

​Click here for more information.