Adultry a Crime?

[Lexee15]

If adultry is against God’s law why can’t it be against man’s law? There are so many families destroyed because of adultry and there is NO consequence to this behavior except the hurt spouse leaves the adulterer…ooo that’s what they wanted to begin with!!! Not even in the divorce are they held responsible, the fact that they cheated has no bearing in the outcome of the divorce settlement. The adulterer is NEVER held accountable financially or otherwise. The person they are cheating with is never held accountable for breaking up a marriage either, why is that? I can understand if they don’t know but if they are willing participants shouldn’t they suffer some kind of consequence also?

I think that if there were adultry laws in the books maybe that would deter some people from contemplating being unfaithful and those willing to be the mistress wouldn’t be so willing if they faced the possibility of jail time. Is anyone with me on this? Families are seriously affected by this behavior and they suffer trauma that could stay with them for a lifetime, not to mention the children involved and the damage they suffer. I feel there should be some kind of consequence, punishment for those who choose to betray their vows and those who aid them in the betrayal.

How realistic can this be? Would there be some lawmaker who would support something like this? I would love to hear all opinions and suggestions on how this could come to fruition, thanks.

 

[Catholic2003]

From the Virginia Code:

Any person, being married, who voluntarily shall have sexual intercourse with any person not his or her spouse shall be guilty of adultery, punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor.

 

[Lexee15]

Catholic2003:

From the Virginia Code:

So what’s the punishment of a Class 4 misdemeanor? Hopefully there’s jail time involved, or at least a very hefty fine!!! Is this the only state with a law like this on the books?

 

[1ke]

At one time adultery was explicitly against the law in many places. Laws change, unfortunately, and most of these types of laws have been changed or abolished. In those places where there are still laws on the books, I am sure people are rarely-- if ever-- prosecuted.

Many states have adopted “no fault” divorce laws, too, which is quite sad.

 

[shannin]

I wish it was a crime and there would be mandatory jail time.

At one time an adulteror would have been shunned by the community - but no longer. Modern society has become immune to it .

 

[steveandersen]

well I suppose that technically it is breech of contract from a purely civil point of view and it can also be considered part of abandonment

but do you really want the State that far into your personal life?

 

[Catholic2003]

Lexee15:

So what’s the punishment of a Class 4 misdemeanor? Hopefully there’s jail time involved, or at least a very hefty fine!!! Is this the only state with a law like this on the books?

Sorry, it’s only a $250 fine.

I think many states still have laws against adultery on the books.

 

[Steven_Merten]

Hello Lexee,

How about adultery simply being taken into consideration in Church tribunals for anulments? I read a story about a woman who begged the Church to leave her marriage valid and intact. She begged to have God’s commandment against adultery defend her marriage. She said if her husband repents, she will take him back. Her husband was seeking an annulment to marry his girlfriend. The Church told the woman that the unulment of her marriage was none of her business. They unnuled the marriage and her husband married his girlfriend in the Church.

 

[deb1]

steveandersen:

well I suppose that technically it is breech of contract from a purely civil point of view and it can also be considered part of abandonment

but do you really want the State that far into your personal life?

I have to agree, I don’t think that I want the Goverement involved. What happens if the spouse decides to forgive the adulterer? Will the law still imprison the offender?

People have and will always have affairs. Laws in the past did not change this. It will only mean that the stupid will get caught and probably the poor. Rich people will find a way to sidestep the rules.

 

[Lexee15]

steveandersen:

well I suppose that technically it is breech of contract from a purely civil point of view and it can also be considered part of abandonment

but do you really want the State that far into your personal life?

Actually, I wouldn’t mind the State that far into my personal life, especially since adulterers don’t follow the laws of God maybe the laws of the State would be more persuasive. The State wouldn’t be part of it until someone committed adultry…simple as that.

 

[Lexee15]

deb1:

I have to agree, I don’t think that I want the Goverement involved. What happens if the spouse decides to forgive the adulterer? Will the law still imprison the offender?

The way I see it is that it shouldn’t come up until the divorce, and if the spouse forgives the adulterer he still broke the law, if someone steals or kills even if they are forgiven they still have to pay. It should be accepted that if you’re gonna play you just may have to pay.

People have and will always have affairs. Laws in the past did not change this. It will only mean that the stupid will get caught and probably the poor. Rich people will find a way to sidestep the rules.

This happens in everything…the rich will always have an advantage because they can afford to hire good lawyers…so what, breaking the law is breaking the law. I do think that having laws like this and following through will make some think twice…I never said it would eliminate the problem just make some think it through…is it worth it? For some their family may not matter, but their freedom or their pocketbook may, that’s what I’m saying. That as a society we should be saying it not right and not acceptable, there will be consequences to this choice, that’s all I’m trying to say.

 

[deb1]

Lexee15:

Actually, I wouldn’t mind the State that far into my personal life, especially since adulterers don’t follow the laws of God maybe the laws of the State would be more persuasive. The State wouldn’t be part of it until someone committed adultry…simple as that.

But in the past there were such laws and they didn’t prevent people from having adultry. There is a novel called Tom Jones that was written in the 1700’s. It mentions the fact that women who had sex outside of marriage could be sent to prison or whipped in public. Yet, despite these laws there were still many illegitimate children.

Besides it is people’s hearts that need to change. If you live an upright life simply because you are terrified, what is the point?

 

[deb1]

Lexee15:

there will be consequences to this choice, that’s all I’m trying to say.

There are consequences, they are simply eternal consequences.

 

[Lexee15]

deb1:

There are consequences, they are simply eternal consequences.

That’s true, unfortunately while we’re still on earth the betrayal can be devastating and long-lasting and far-reaching, that’s why consequences that are visible now, I think, would be helpful.

 

[David_Zampino]

1ke:

At one time adultery was explicitly against the law in many places. Laws change, unfortunately, and most of these types of laws have been changed or abolished. In those places where there are still laws on the books, I am sure people are rarely-- if ever-- prosecuted.

Many states have adopted “no fault” divorce laws, too, which is quite sad.

It is still a crime on the books in many places, but doggone difficult to enforce/prosecute. HOWEVER, it is very much against the law in the military and I seem to remember a 4-star general in Washington being relieved of his duties for adultery, or complications arising therefrom.

Blessings,

 

[deb1]

David Zampino:

It is still a crime on the books in many places, but doggone difficult to enforce/prosecute. HOWEVER, it is very much against the law in the military and I seem to remember a 4-star general in Washington being relieved of his duties for adultery, or complications arising therefrom.

Blessings,

My hubby is in the Air Force and yes, adultry is a crime. But I have known of military people who have affairs.

If you divorce your wife and she has custody of the kids, then the military will make certain that you pay child support. They will take the money from your pay.

If you have an affair then you, the offended spouse, will not get the same amount of money and your innocent family will suffer financially. That is why spouses don’t usually bring the affairs up to superiors. The laws are as harmful to the well being of their children as to the adulterer.

 

[1ke]

Steven Merten:

How about adultery simply being taken into consideration in Church tribunals for anulments?

Adultery is not grounds for an annulment.
Steven Merten:

I read a story about a woman who begged the Church to leave her marriage valid and intact. She begged to have God’s commandment against adultery defend her marriage. She said if her husband repents, she will take him back. Her husband was seeking an annulment to marry his girlfriend. The Church told the woman that the unulment of her marriage was none of her business. They unnuled the marriage and her husband married his girlfriend in the Church.

In a fiction book maybe.

 

[Island_Oak]

If only there was legislation that could ensure moral, responsible behaviour. Then again, the crooked, lying, adulterous scoundrels in the legislatures probaly have no incentive to revive the old prohibitions against adultery.

 

[cabil]

In the book The Scarlet Letter the women were always the one punished, also in the Bible the woman was being threaten with being stoned to deathfor being caught in the act of adultry. In the early days the Puritans would write up those caught in the act with something like a ticket the crime would be: For Unlawful Carnal Knowlege. The first letters was then abbvreviated to the now curse word.

 

[cabil]

In the book The Scarlet Letter the women were always the one punished, also in the Bible the woman was being threaten with being stoned to death for being caught in the act of adultry. In the early days the Puritans would write up those caught in the act with something like a ticket the crime would be: For Unlawful Carnal Knowlege. The first letters was then abbvreviated to the now curse word.