Adultery On Way Out As Crime In Mexico

MEXICO CITY -- Adultery may be a sin, but it soon won't be a crime anymore in Mexico.

The Mexican Senate has repealed part of the Federal Criminal Code that made cheating on a spouse an offense punishable by two years in prison.

Senators voted Friday with 69 in favor and one abstention to get rid of a law they said was never enforced but remained on the books.

Pablo Gomez of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party said the law was part of a legal construct that historically allowed men to hold women as property.

The change already passed the lower House of Deputies and now goes to President Felipe Calderon for his signature.

Comments

[LouiseM]

12:29 PM on 03/28/2011

I've looked all over the web for additional details about this decision. The only items I can find are reprints of the original AFP story - just like this one. This repeal has been moving slowly through their legislature - the lower House passed their version in 2008.

The one additional detail I've found is a line from the AFP that was deleted in the HuffPo version: "The abolished law required the adultery to be committed in the marital home and for the adulterer to be caught in the act." It's so difficult to prove the crime using these requirements that they haven't prosecuted anyone since 2004.

In addition, individual states can still keep the laws on their books and impose fines. I would think that Mexico would want any income it can get for the public coffers. Slapping adulterers with fines is *much* more sensible and lucrative than sending them to jail.

[Shomali]

04:49 AM on 03/28/2011

The title of this article says:

"Mexico To Legalize Adultery"

NO

It should say "Mexico To De-Criminalize Adultery"

You could still loose half your arse, but you won't go to jail.

I sometimes wonder about some of the people who write titles of these articles. If they are trying to be sensational intentionally, or if they are really second grade drop outs.

[Mark Scott]

09:55 PM on 03/27/2011

Hells bells. I had no idea it was illegal. I'd better write some goodbye letters to some of my married female friends in Mexico.

[Razor Shultz]

07:39 PM on 03/27/2011

Well, a great step forward for personal freedom in Mexico. A bit later than I would have liked but I suspect their beliefs are very different to mine. That's my take on the issue anyway.

[Independent66]

07:14 PM on 03/27/2011

As long as it applies to everyone, I see no issue here. It still is a civil issue for the partners in a marriage. Grounds for a divorce, etc. Since it was rarely enforced, the state should back off and let the parties decide what to do. There are certainly consequences, divorce, child custody and visitation, support, etc. I fail to see how a 2 year stay in jail will do anything to help either party. Certainly the policia have a lot of much more important issues to address.

[ILoveToPorkSarah]

06:08 PM on 03/27/2011

Newt must be smiling.

[Fuddpacker]

05:04 PM on 03/27/2011

I foresee a flood of Republicans moving to Mexico.

[dsenbet]

05:35 PM on 03/27/2011

They could continue to do what they have been doing right here. I thought it is not illegal to cheat for them on thier spouses. That is why they are #1 on that area.

[petera63]

06:31 PM on 03/27/2011

...headed by Bill Clinton, of course.

[LouiseM]

04:49 PM on 03/27/2011

Mexico is a *very* Catholic nation. What is the reaction of the RC Church to this law, which legalizes what is a grievous sin in the Church's eyes?

[dsenbet]

05:37 PM on 03/27/2011

Almost any news on the catholic church is on child molesation. So, what do you think thier reaction would be?

My gueess is that they would demand for legalization of child molestation.

[ElCojonuAgain]

11:06 AM on 03/27/2011

ORALE !

El Cojonú

[jcarlos08]

10:48 AM on 03/27/2011

Not all Mexican Men are like that.

[AG creative]

06:22 PM on 03/27/2011

Just the ones with Penises.

[EmmaLib]

08:17 AM on 03/27/2011

I am sure the girlfriends of the 69 Senators who voted in favor of this are ecstatic!

[mpilkanis]

07:24 AM on 03/27/2011

So, they plan on repealing the legal anachronism. How about the emotional wreckage left in the wake of the act itself? Do the Mexicans plan on repealing that as well? The country of Mexico is one of the most backward nations in this part of the world, absolutely rife with violence and corruption; the nation appears incapable of providing a decent economy and standard of living for its citizens. A swallow does not a spring make.

[hornedcog]

05:02 PM on 03/27/2011

I'm guessing you had a bad experience in mexico? What country will kiss your boo boo?

[billstewart]

05:09 PM on 03/27/2011

I don't see how sending people to jail helps reduce the emotional wreckage - that's a problem people have to work out in private.

[ThinkCreeps]

07:19 AM on 03/27/2011

Looks like we know where Newt's going on holiday.

[HealthSolutions]

05:01 PM on 03/27/2011

wow, priceless!

[dsenbet]

05:40 PM on 03/27/2011

F & F

[Epiphany2b]

10:58 PM on 03/26/2011

Just as Mexico is getting smart enough to know you can't legislate morality, someone in Alaska thinks it's a good idea to do so.

[EmmaLib]

08:20 AM on 03/27/2011

I am beginning to believe the cold weather conditions in AK actually prevent people from functioning anywhere near 100% normalcy, closer to 50% would be my guesstimate.

[TeamSanity]

01:22 PM on 03/27/2011

A good friend of mine lived in Alaska for years, and I once asked her "So, what's the truth behind these statistics - ya know - 10 men for every 1 woman?" and she replied "Well, we have a saying here. The odds are good, but the goods are odd."

[kersho]

10:16 PM on 03/26/2011

Fun Fact: Adultery has not been illegal in Egypt for about a 100 years now, there is no crime punishment for having sex with a woman as long as shes not a prostitute or was forced.

[DOMINIKALI]

08:49 PM on 04/01/2011

Is it a fun fact because only straight men and lesbians can have sex legally in Egypt?