Experts say the Catholic Church should focus on local parish efforts to increase marriage rates among the faithful. Catholic marriage rates have plummeted by about 70% between 1969 and 2019, mirroring a broader decline in marriage across the U.S. Currently, a record 25% of 40-year-olds in the country have never been married.
Mary Rose and Ryan Verret, founders of the marriage renewal program Witness to Love, emphasize the need for proactive efforts from the Church to promote marriage. They believe that young Catholics lack visible examples of happy and healthy marriages. “We can do a better job talking about marriage from the pulpit,” Mary Rose said, suggesting that married couples share their experiences in schools to highlight the benefits of marriage.
The Verrets were appointed as consultants to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life, which they believe will help them support the sacrament of marriage more effectively. Their Witness to Love program aims to strengthen marriages by nurturing the qualities that form enduring love and commitment.
J.P. De Gance, president of the marriage ministry Communio, pointed out that dioceses often focus more on priestly vocations than on promoting marriage. He noted that while priestly ordinations have decreased by 38% since 1970, Catholic marriages have dropped by over 70%. De Gance believes that teaching the skills to discern a good Christian relationship should be a priority at the parish level.
He also highlighted the need for parishes to reduce wedding costs, which can be a barrier for young couples. Parishes should aim to keep fees low to make weddings more accessible.
Mary Rose Verret mentioned that young people are still very interested in marriage, even if they tend to idealize and delay it. Ryan Verret added that parishes should help young adults form relationships and introduce single friends who are seeking marriage.
De Gance concluded that addressing the crisis of low marriage rates is essential for the Church. “This is the civilizational challenge facing the Church,” he said.
Source: CNA
