1.   But lawyers predicted no immediate rush by couples to end marriages as provisions of the constitutional amendment permitting divorce and remarriage after four years separation came into force.

2.   Church of England law insists on the indissolubility of marriage, although it permits divorce for grave causes, especially adultery.

3.   Conservative legislators also are against permitting divorce.

4.   Ireland began voting Friday in a referendum to decide whether this strongly Roman Catholic nation should permit divorce.

5.   Irish voters on Friday will decide a constitutional referendum that would permit divorce for couples who had been separated for four of the previous five years.

6.   Some had worked for the passage of a constitutional amendment, narrowly approved in a referendum a week ago, to permit divorce.

7.   The amendment would permit divorce if a couple had been separated for at least four of the previous five years.

8.   The constitutional amendment permits a divorce if a couple has been separated for at least four years.

9.   The next government may bring in legislation to permit divorce.