The Bicentennial Year Marriage Initiative

"Marriage Facts" -- Marriage Initiative Inserts for Parish Bulletins Here

Marriage Matters...

Many of us have beautiful photos and beautiful memories from our own Wedding Day, and from those whom we love. Yet, as we know, there is much more to marriage than your Wedding Day. Healthy marriages don't just "happen", they require takes lots of dedication, perseverance, faithfulness  ... and love.

The Bicentennial Year Marriage Initiative is a new resource, designed to help couples, families, and parishes focus on the God-given meaning and value of marriage. The Marriage Initiative is a cooperative effort with other advocates of marriage. It draws upon recent social-scientific data, wisdom from respected marriage & family scholars, and the teachings of the Catholic Church. In particular, we want to highlight and acknowledge the work of the USCCB, and their National Pastoral Marriage Initiative. Our local effort is in conjunction with this national plan. Read more about the USCCB's initiative here.

Below, you will find several sections devoted to various themes. In the first, Marriage Facts, you and your parish can read and download short, relevant write-ups on vital issues concerning marriage.  Then, in Social Science Research, learn what the latest studies from credible experts are saying about marriage. In Faith Matters discover the difference that religion and faith play in marriage and family life. Resources for Married Couples will introduce you to upcoming marriage enrichment events in the New York area (Celebrate Marriage days, Marriage Encounter weekends, and the Retrouvaille program for troubled marriages).  And we've included an introduction to World Marriage Day, the central event of the whole Marriage Initiative!  We also have a link to related parish-based events.

We're here to help you and your spouse -- and your parish and community -- strengthen marriage!  Let us know how else we may be of assistance!

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Facts.   Marriage Facts.   Marriage Facts.   Marriage Facts.   Marriage

Over the coming months, we will be making available fact sheets to parishes in the Archdiocese of New York.

These will cover important topics related to marriage, with the goal of providing useful information towards strengthening marriage. These will be released around the fifteenth of each month, beginning in January 2007.

Download copies of the these short, though-provoking resources, and feel free to share them with others who could benefit from reflecting on them!

Marriage Initiative Inserts for Parish Bulletins

CLICK ON TOPIC FOR A DOWNLOADABLE PDF VERSION

§  January 2007        "What is Marriage?"  "¿Que es el matrimonio?" (Español)

§  February 2007     "Why do children need married parents?"

                                           "¿Por qué los niños necesitan padres casados?" (Español)

§  March 2007          “Between a Man and a Woman?”                                                                                         "Entre hombre y mujer" (Español)

§  April 2007            "Cohabitation: Is it Good for Your Marriage?"  

                              "¿Cohabitar: Es esto bueno para su matrimonio?" (Español)

§  May 2007            “What are the facts about Natural Family Planning?”

§  June 2007           “Thinking About Divorce? Think Again”

                                     "¿Pensando en el divorcio?" (Español)

§  July 2007            “What Promotes A Lasting Marriage?”

Hardcopies of these bulletin inserts are available as well. Please contact the Family Life Office.

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research.  Social Science research.  Social Science research.

Maggie Gallagher is president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, an organization whose mottos is: "to strengthening marriage for a new generation".

iMAPP provides relevant research and education on ways that law and public policy can strengthen marriage as a social institution. Find out more here. Maggie's book, "The Case for Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier, and Better off Financially" is an excellent resource on current threats to marriage, and also discusses many of the benefits enjoyed by married folks. 

Marriage, Divorce, Cohabitation and Children.

In July 2006, researchers at Rutgers University published a very insightful study on marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and children, called called: "The State of Our Unions: Life Without Children". Read their findings here (PDF) or here (Plain-text file). In 2001, they released "Ten Myths About Divorce". Read it here (PDF). In 2002, researchers from Rutgers released a detailed study on cohabitation called, "Should We Live Together?". Read it here here (Plain text)

Additional social science studies ...

Why Marriage Matters: 26 Conclusions From the Social Sciences. (PDF)                     (Institute for American Values.)

The Scholarly Consensus on Marriage. (PDF) Powerful quotes by leading marriage scholars.

 (Institute for American Values.)

The Marriage Movement. "We come together as supporters of something new: a grass-roots movement to strengthen marriage. We come together to give public voice and direction to this new movement-to explain our intentions, specify our goals, and seek the support of our fellow citizens." Read the entire statement. (PDF)

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matters. Faith matters.  Faith matters.   Faith matters.  Faith

True or False: "Religion has no effect on divorce rates."

False. Religious affiliation alone may not reduce divorce, but ... religious practice clearly does.

In fact, one recent study found that couples who attended church as often as once a month had divorce rates less than half that of couples who attended church 0-1 time per year. Brad Wilcox, a leading scholar on marriage studied the National Survey of Families and Households (1992-1994), which surveyed more than 5000 couples. He found that married couples who attend religious services weekly are 44% more likely to report that they are "very happy" in their marriage. Another recent study of the National Survey of Families and Households found that marriage in which both couples attend church regularly have the lowest divorce risk (David B. Larson and James P. Sawyers, 2002, "Does Religion and Spirituality Contribute to Marital and Individual Health?" in John Wall et al (eds.) Source: National Review. The point: religion matters, and faith matters in marriage happiness and longevity.

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Marriage Day.  World Marriage Day.  World Marriage

The Family Life/Respect Life Office is proud to celebrate the longest-married couple within the Archdiocese!  World Marriage Day is a chance to honor the importance of the married vocation in family, Church, and society, and part of this celebration is the public recognition of that couple within the Archdiocese that has been living this call for the greatest number of years.  World Marriage Day is the centerpiece of the Marriage Initiative, as it highlights the living example of lifelong marital commitment, built upon the very virtues we seek to foster and support.

This year World Marriage Day will be held on Sunday, February 11, 2007,  featuring a special Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

For more information, please click over to World Marriage Day.

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For information about related Parish-based events, please click here.

For more information about the Bicentennial Year Marriage Initiative, please contact:

Steven Smith
Coordinator, Family Life/Respect Life Office

Archdiocese of New York
1011 1st Avenue, Floor 15
New York, New York 10022
(212) 371-1011 x3184
 

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