For Better, For Worse: Is It A Ticket For Perpetuating Marital Abuse?

"I, ____, take you, ____, to be my lawfully wedded (husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

This text is used, sometimes with slight modifications, by the Catholics (esp in the US), Lutherans, Anglicans etc in the wedding ceremony. Various Christian bodies have modified it to suit their needs. 

A key component of this text, "for better, for worse" has been quoted in several instances to remind couples to stay in their marriages in the face of challenges that confront the couple on their marital journey. While on the face of it, the phrase captures the core and the spirit of the marriage, is it in all instances, especially when it comes to the WORSE part, that this phrase should be invoked to keep couples in their marriages? 

What happens in the face of abuse, malicious acts, wilful exposure of one's spouse to peril etc? Was this what was contemplated when the text was written? 

Join this conversation and be empowered, so you can also empower someone else in the face of extreme marital challenges, which are being justified with this phrase in the marriage vows.