Breaking: Mel Gibson's Wife Files for Divorce
LOS ANGELES – Mel Gibson's wife of 28 years filed for divorce Monday, citing irreconcilable differences.Robyn Gibson filed the petition, which offers no details of the breakup, in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The couple have seven children, but only one under 18. Robyn Gibson has requested joint custody of their son who turns 10 on Tuesday.
Details of how the couple's assets will be divided were not spelled out in the court filings. Robyn Gibson is seeking jewelry and earnings and assets she accrued after the couple separated, and a share of the money and assets Gibson, 53, has earned during his nearly three decades as a Hollywood hitmaker.
She wants the actor-director to pay spousal support and her attorney's fees.
The Gibsons released a joint statement Monday, seeking privacy.
"Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the privacy and integrity of our family and will continue to do so," the statement read.
The couple were married in June 1980, court records show.
"Mad Max" in 1979 brought Gibson his first international attention, closely followed by the critically acclaimed "Gallipoli" and the Mad Max sequel "The Road Warrior."
Gibson has since gone on to make a mix of crowd-pleasing shoot-'em-ups such as the "Lethal Weapon" franchise, and has established himself as a director. 1995's "Braveheart" earned Gibson two Oscars for best picture and best director.
He also produced and directed the surprise blockbusters "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto," which broke box-office records for foreign language films in its opening weekend in several countries. (Via Yahoo News)
This is sad news indeed. Let's pray for their marriage.
It has to have gotten REALLY bad to get to this point. Gibson's hardcore Catholic. He'd not consent to a "we've drifted apart" divorce.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad when anyone gets a divorce. I know first hand.
ReplyDeleteIt's IS sad. But as someone who isn't Catholic, I've been trying to find out about this divorce from a Catholic perspective. I'm not getting many answers.
ReplyDeleteI thought pre-Vatican II Catholics simply didn't divorce. I know Robyn Gibson isn't Catholic, so it's not too surprising that she filed for divorce, but I'm floored that he would respond with his own suit.
I also don't understand if the divorce is a civil proceeding and if they'll still be considered married by the Church, or if they're seeking an annulment from the Church -- or even if Gibson recognizes the Roman Catholic Church headed by the current Pope as having any authority in the matter.
Catholic websites are very tight-lipped about all this. If anyone has any answers that relate to Gibson's particular church, I'd appreciate it.
Zipporah7, many questions, but I will try to answer as best I can. I also suggest you go to EWTN and “Catholic Answers” for more in depth answers.
ReplyDeleteAs Jesus said, we are “in the world, but not of the world”, so we do go by the civil laws. Once a divorce is granted, the couple may apply for an annulment, assuming they were married in the Catholic Church. Now what an annulment does is try to determine if the marriage was “sacramental” or not. If they determine for any reason one or both of the partners entered into the marriage other than free will (not pregnant, etc.) or with any ideas of “I’ll try it but if it doesn’t work”, (just one of many examples) then an annulment is granted.
There is no sin if couples are divorced, only if they remarry before an annulment is granted. The assumption is they are having sex outside of marriage.
I know this is a 25 cent answer to a $5 question, but please go to Catholic Answers for a full explanation.
For more discussion of particulars concerning Catholic teaching on divorce and remarriage, go to Mary's Advocates http://www.marysadvocates.org/
ReplyDeleteYou won't find a better documented site of the facts.
As far as Robyn filing for divorce, no-fault divorce is really unilateral divorce. Nothing Mel could do would stop Robyn from getting her divorce-for-the-asking. To protect his rights to raise their son in the Catholic Faith, and to protect their seven children's interests in their accumulated assets, Mel had to counter-file for divorce or be railroaded by the Courts. Divorce courts rarely, if ever, treat both spouses equally. Myth perpetuates "equal rights before the law" but no-fault divorce is a slam-dunk in-favor-of the marital mutineer.
Given the glowing descriptions Mel has given of Robyn in the past, it seems highly-unlikely that either of them will file for an annulment. Robyn, Episcopal, could care less and Mel, unless these proceedings show him a side of Robyn he's been blind toward -- probably couldn't convince himself to impugn their marriage before a tribunal.
who cares about the money or whatever they're worried about... Mel Gibson and his wife would be better off not getting divorced
ReplyDeleteIt gets worse. Apparently, Gibson's having a child with his mistress.
ReplyDeleteSo now what happens? Will the Catholic Church grant an annulment and give him a Church wedding? Or will he have to marry outside the Church? Would the child be considered legitimate in the eyes of the Catholic Church under those circumstances?
I thank you in advance for your answers.
The Catholic Answer magazine welcomes your questions! Send them to editor Paul Thigpen: tcanswer@osv.com. I suggest you contact them.
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