Posted on 07/29/2014 6:22:34 AM PDT by marshmallow
According to new data, Catholic marriages in the U.S. are on a steep decline. Why are fewer couples relying on religious institutions as they take their vows?
It’s an iconic image: the white dress, the church bells, the priest, the traditional vows repeated by an earnest, fresh-faced couple. Many elements of the archetypical American wedding echo the formality and traditions of the country’s largest single religious tradition, Roman Catholicism. But Catholic weddings themselves are becoming rarer and rarer.
In 1970, there were roughly 426,000 Catholic weddings, accounting for 20 percent of all marriages in the United States that year. Beginning in 1970, however, Catholic marriages went into decades of steady decline, until the turn of the new century—when that decline started to become precipitous: Between 2000 and 2012, Church weddings dropped by 40 percent, according to new data from the Official Catholic Directory. Given other demographic trends in the denomination, this pattern is question-raising: As of 2012, there were an estimated 76.7 million Catholics in the United States, a number that has been growing for at least four decades.
According to Catholic doctrine, marriage is a sacrament, or holy rite of passage, that can only be received if both husband and wife are baptized in the Church. In many cases, bishops can grant a special dispensation for interfaith couples, which allows them to be married in a church by a priest. But for faithful Catholics who want their marriage to be fully recognized by the Church, the options are either marrying a good Catholic girl or boy, or convincing their partner to convert.
If there are so many American Catholics, why aren't they getting married?
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
If Catholic is truly the country’s largest religious tradition, where are they all?
A Mass will leave your spouse out of half of the wedding. Plus if the guests are not majority Catholic, it leaves all of them out as well. Not the best way to start a marriage.
got married and my wife and her family , whole family were Catholic but we chose to have justice of the peace in the garden
So, the marriage is more important than God? I did the very same thing, married a Methodist in my parish church without a Mass. It was apparently a huge mistake. I wish I had waited and insisted on a Catholic.
She will miss it.
A Mass is in two parts. The Liturgy of the word that all may participate in and the Liturgy of the Eucharist which is only for those who are Catholic.
My son got engaged to a very sweet Protestant girl. When she found out that they could not have a Mass because she was not Catholic she began taking lessons. She became Catholic a couple of months before the wedding.
Maybe God will help you bring hubby in from the cold. I have said to God, “Hey I got him here, I did my part” the rest is up to Him.
But then when it comes time for the cake, you ask them to not have cake, because the cake is only for certain people. Not a good way to have a party. Feelings would be hurt possibly.
LOL will she miss a Catholic wedding no chance she is not Catholic no more and we have been with each other for 21 years
"finding meaning" means that people are making their own rules about life, religion and God." That doesn't lead to God's path.
Pope Benedict said it best: "When policies do not presume or promote objective values, the resulting moral relativism tends instead to produce frustration, despair, selfishness and a disregard for the life and liberty of others."
(I am in this business, so I know what I am talking about)
It used to be that if you were a church member, the church was free or nearly free to use for your ceremony. But those days are long gone.
In the eyes of the church are you really married?
Isn’t it time to have your marriage con-validated in the church?
St. Monica might bring him to the Church for you.
**she is not Catholic no more **
Meaning she is Catholic?
**Church weddings are in decline because Churches now charge astronomical sums for having the wedding there**
For sacraments there is no charge.
Reception hall, yes, gifts. yes. But no charges for the sacrament.
I will appeal to her. Thanks. I know it makes sense in his head. But he really needs to forgive and forget. But the man can hold a grudge. But I will not give up on him. He doesn’t know that I sprinkle him with holy water every now and again. :)
I agree, I do have some trouble with the closed table.
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