Final answer:
Massachusetts' approach to recognizing a foreign divorce would likely be influenced by its stance on marriage equality and its adherence to the full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution, with each case potentially examined on its alignment with the state's public policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether Massachusetts recognizes a foreign divorce relates to the application of the full faith and credit clause, also known as the comity clause, as outlined in Article IV, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution. This clause mandates that states respect the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. However, this clause has been challenged by issues such as the recognition of same-sex marriages—leading to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996, which allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other states. After Massachusetts became the first state to recognize marriage equality, and following the ruling in United States v. Windsor, the Supreme Court clarified that defining marriage is the domain of states and the federal government cannot interfere with state definitions. This background suggests that Massachusetts, given its recognition of marriage equality, might also extend recognition to foreign divorces, as long as they do not contravene the state's public policy. However, the specific legal stance on foreign divorces in Massachusetts would require local legal statutes and case law for definitive guidance.