New York Is Revising Tough Divorce Law

ALBANY, N. Y. P-After, a dozen additional grounds. FOR MANY YEARS, the for at least five years, proresisting change for 178 years, The same bill, however, most effective opponent to re-vided the couple first obtains New York is on the verge of would cut off New Yorkers' vising the law has been the a legal decree of separation. relaxing the most stringent opportunity to obtain Roman Catholic Church, but A PERSON would have to divorce law in the nation. "quickie" divorces in other Catholic spokesmen are tak-live in New York at least a The law permits divorce on states. ing an acquiescent attitude year to be eligible to sue for only one ground-adultery. The legislation is sched-now. Leaders of the legislature juled for action late this divorce, and would have to Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller wait six months before rehave agreed on a bipartisan month and appears almost is expected to sign the bill. marrying. bill that would establish half certain to be approved.

He has had little to say about The bill would declare "null: the issue. He was divorced by and void" any out-of-state his first wife in Nevada in divorce, if the person did arty 1965 on the ground of mental of the following: cruelty, and his present wife Obtained the divorce withdivorced her first husband in in 12 months after leaving the Idaho in 1963 on similar state. grounds.

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• Returned to this state UNDER THE BILL, adulwithin 18 months after leavtery as a ground would be ex-ing to obtain a divorce. panded to include homosexual. Maintained a residence in or other deviate acts. The bill New York while fulfilling the residency requirements of would add these grounds: another state.

Abandonment for at least Although a dozen states two years. have similar restrictions on Imprisonment of a spouse "quickie divorces," critics of for at least three years. the measure maintain the pro-! "Cruel and inhuman treat-vision violates the "full faith ment," defined defined as conduct and credit" requirement of that "endangers the physical the U.S. Constitution, which or mental well being of the obliges the states to honor plaintiff" so as to make it each other's lawful acts. "unsafe or improper for the

plaintiff to cohabit with the defendant."

Living apart voluntarily