Quick Bytes
- Catholic marriage rates have dropped by 70% from 1969 to 2019.
- Experts urge the Church to promote marriage through parish-level initiatives.
- Witness to Love co-founders appointed as consultants to the Vatican.
- Parishes encouraged to lower wedding costs and support young adults.
Reviving Catholic Matrimony
A significant decline in Catholic marriages prompts calls for parish-level action to reverse the trend.
Marriage rates among Catholics have seen a dramatic fall, mirroring a national decrease in matrimony. Georgetown University’s research highlights a 70% drop in Catholic marriages from 1969 to 2019, while Pew Research points to 25% of U.S. 40-year-olds never having been married. Mary Rose Verret of Witness to Love attributes this to a lack of visible, healthy marriages as role models. She and her husband, Ryan Verret, stress the importance of discussing marriage early and providing real-life examples to the youth.
Pope Francis has acknowledged the Verrets’ contributions by naming them consultants to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life. Their program, Witness to Love, aims to foster strong marriages by nurturing qualities that sustain love and commitment. However, the growing disconnect from the institution of marriage is concerning, with many couples not knowing any married individuals.
J.P. De Gance of Communio points out that dioceses often focus more on priestly than matrimonial vocations. He emphasizes the need for parishes to teach skills for discerning Christian relationships and to support young adults in their journey towards marriage. De Gance also suggests that parishes should minimize wedding costs to make marriage more accessible, treating weddings as conversion opportunities rather than financial burdens.
The decline in marriage rates is a significant challenge for the Church, and addressing it at the parish level is crucial for fostering a healthier view of marriage within the Catholic community.
Image Credits
- Photo credit: Sandy Millar
