I am not pretending that adultery doesn't exist, nor am I saying that Jesus' followers cannot/should not speak out against adultery & even against divorce. I take absolutely no joy in divorce in itself & much less in adultery. We have to work as much as possible to strengthen and affirm our own & others' relationships. And as Catholics/Christians, we uphold the symbolic model of Jesus' relationship to us, his followers, as a model for how our devotedness should look.

But what is by some called adultery isn't what is called adultery by others & I believe that the two become confused. As I've said, it's a different thing to be unfaithful to your partner behind his/her back than to engage in a new romantic relationship after being abandoned/abused by a previous partner.

Jesus didn't absolutize his prohibition against divorce. He spoke against its lax practice in his time, but even made an exception for unfaithfulness. How much more does this apply to victims of unhealthy relationships?