Editorial
The decline and rise of marriage
Catholic Review 07/14/2005, Page 9
Last November the U. S. bishops approved a pastoral initiative on marriage that will include a survey of bishops, a symposium of theologians and social scientists on the subject and focus groups with laity and pastoral leaders that will culminate in a pastoral letter on the sacrament, possibly in 2007. Bishop J. Kevin Boland of Savannah, Ga., chairman of the Committee on Marriage and Family Life, said the bishops’ work “ can help to create a positive climate that places healthy marriages at the heart of strong families, a strong nation and a strong and holy church.” The need for the project was underlined by the release of the 2005 Official Catholic Directory last month that shows the decline in Catholic marriages is part of a downward trend that began in the 1970s and is getting steeper in recent years. Catholic News Service reported the directory records a Catholic population more than 40 percent higher than in 1970, but the number of marriages recorded marriages. On the positive side, the bishops plan to study the beliefs and behaviors that produce happy, long- lasting marriages. There’s no better place to look than at the people in Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WME) but 2,000 of them from across the country met in Towson in convention last week, all veterans of WME, they re- encountered their love for each other, for the sacrament of Matrimony nurtured by the church and the priests who have always assisted in WME sessions. These couples are still working to make their good marriages great. Christ’s love for the church is their model for marriage. They believe in God’s love and constantly work to renew and refine their love for each other. Their belief in their marriage sacrament led them from across the nation to Maryland. The faith and energy of Worldwide Marriage Encounter would be a good place to start a pastoral letter on married life. We suspect the decline of marriage can be stemmed by WME’s secrets. These couples know how to build a community of love with each other, with God, their families and with the church. When they work to make their good marriages better, they help every community surrounding them grow in strength and love.
Marriage Encounter is based in Central Jersey and covers all regions of N.J. Enhance your Marriage and regain the love and intimacy you had when you were engaged and newly married. Gain tools for enhanced communication and manage those expectations of each other. Attend a weekend soon.
Marriage Encounter of Saint James Basking Ridge meets each third Friday of every month in room 6 under the church. You must attend a weekend before becoming part of the group. Contact Mary and John Henry to learn more or visit the links below:
National Link for World Wide Marriage Encounter http://www.wwme.org/
Tri State Area site http://www.kleinfelder.net/wwme/sect3.html
NJ Link for Marriage Encounter http://www.wwmecentralnj.org/
Weekends for ME for 2008 are as follows:
2008
February 1-3
April 25-27
July 18-20
November 7-9
Directions to Ramada Inn http://www.somersetramada.com/locationdirections/
Registration http://www.wwmecentralnj.org/
