Jordan’s Church leaders back bill expanding legal options for Christian families

The proposed changes are expected to allow Christians to address a range of personal status matters under their churches’ laws, including marriage, divorce, wills, and adoption.

The Council of Heads of Churches in Jordan welcomed the Cabinet’s approval of a 2026 bill amending the Christian Denominations Councils Law and its referral to Parliament to complete the constitutional process.

The proposed changes are expected to allow Christians to address a range of personal status matters under their churches’ laws, including marriage, divorce, wills, and adoption. The council emphasized that the bill reflects agreement among the churches and now awaits completion of the legislative process.

In a statement issued Oct. 11, the council expressed appreciation to King Abdullah II, the prime minister, and Cabinet members for their attention to issues affecting Christians in Jordan.

The council said the Cabinet’s approval reflects the state’s commitment to protecting the rights of all citizens, respecting their religious traditions, and strengthening citizenship, justice, and equality under the rule of law.

It stressed that Christians are not a minority separate from society but an integral part of Jordan’s history, identity, and national development. They are partners in building the country, advancing its progress, and safeguarding its achievements, the council said.

The council also emphasized that shared citizenship provides the foundation for equal rights and responsibilities, national unity, and coexistence.

The statement concluded by praising the cooperation and agreement among the churches during the drafting process, which produced a unified legal framework for wills, inheritance, and adoption intended to meet Christian families’ needs and aspirations.

It urged both chambers of Parliament, the Senate and the House of Representatives, to fulfill their legislative role and approve the bill through the constitutional process so it can take effect.

Although the amendments would not establish full, automatic equality between men and women in inheritance, they would give parents greater scope to provide more equitably for sons and daughters through wills. The option of distributing an estate under the Islamic inheritance rules currently in use would remain available to those who prefer it.

The proposed amendments would also recognize the right to adopt, giving Christian families who wish to adopt the opportunity to welcome children deprived of family care and provide them with a stable home.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.