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Published: February 3, 2010
Phoenix Diocese Adopts New Policy
To Reverse ‘Marital Breakdown’
Phoenix, Ariz., Jan 27 (CNA) - On Jan. 1 new marriage preparation guidelines went into effect in the Diocese of Phoenix. The guidelines are intended to address the problems facing marriage and to reverse “the tide of marital breakdown” by teaching the “Good News” of the Catholic understanding of matrimony.
The guidelines were released in a July 2009 document titled “Covenant of Love.” They aim to respond to the increase in cohabitation and divorce, the decline in marriage role models, and  “increasing confusion” over the meaning of Christian marriage.
Couples seeking a church wedding are now required to have nine months of preparation instead of six. Couples are also required to undergo a full course in Natural Family Planning and more comprehensive courses on both the theology of marriage and practical skills.
The preparation will also examine Church teachings about the sanctity of life, divorce and same-sex “marriage.”
The diocese lists problems facing marriage such as the “contraceptive/anti-child mentality,” sexual addiction, and abusive backgrounds. Dual careers, individualism, materialism, a background of divorce, weak faith, and poor catechesis are also discussed.
“Pastoral experience attests that those who are properly evangelized and catechized… those who have encountered Christ personally and who understand, embrace and strive to live the Church’s teaching on marriage, very rarely divorce,” the marriage preparation policy reads.
The policy stresses faith in “the Good News of all that the Catholic Church teaches about marriage” and says a deeper faith will help turn “the tide of marital breakdown.”
Bishop Olmsted’s letter introducing the guidelines said the renewal of marriage and family life was a “critical matter.” He prayed that the policy will “serve to assist all who have the sacred duty of preparing couples for marriage.”
Michael Phelan, head of the diocese’s Office of Marriage and Respect Life, told the Arizona Republic that young people know little about “their call to be married in the Church and to receive the grace of that sacrament.”
He compared the increased preparation to instruction in the culinary arts.
“If I know little about the difference between eating at a fast-food restaurant and a four-star feast, I won't value the whole experience."
Church weddings are on the decline in the Diocese of Phoenix. The counties of the diocese have averaged 27,000 marriage licenses in the past 15 years despite population growth. The number of church weddings declined from 1,542 in 1993 to 1,389 in 2009. In the 40-year history of the diocese church weddings rarely topped 1,800.
Mark Gray, a researcher at Georgetown University, told the Arizona Republic that Catholic marriages have declined in number from 10 or more per 1,000 Catholics in the 1940s and 1950s to 3.5 per 1,000 today. The rate of Catholic marriages in Phoenix in 2008 was 1.9 per 1,000.
Gray suggested the decline is connected to the rise in divorce and second marriages, the trend to marry later in life, increased numbers of interfaith marriages and a preference for other marriage venues such as resorts or beaches. The last factor is especially increased in Sun Belt states.
The full policy on marriage preparation is at the Diocese of Phoenix website Here.
Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 1:20 AM By Charles O'Connell
This is good, as far as it goes, comprehensive defense against the technological birth prevention mentality of "the Pill". But a little-known parallel can show us how "a good offense is the best defense": Lack of belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, at about 70%, nearly exactly parallels prevalence of the practice of artificial contraception among self-avowed Catholics. The Holy Eucharist is Christ's Bread of Life. The contraceptive pill is the anti-sacrament of death. The Diocese of Phoenix should bolster the strength of the Queen of Sacraments, Holy Matrimony, by explicitly encouraging Confession among those who have contracepted, frequent reception of the King of Sacraments, Holy Communion, regular Exposition and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament in all parishes, and true Perpetual Adoration -- faithfully manned by a full schedule of adorers without exception -- at one Phoenix parish at a minimum.
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Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:28 AM By Eric
If the Diocese of Phoenix wants to change the anti-child mentality of Catholics then it needs to be ready to teach the full teaching of Humane Vitae in regards to Natural Family Planning (NFP), and that is to be used only in cases of "Serious Reason": physical, psychological, economic; not because a married couple only wants two children or they want a Mercedes Benz instead of a Toyota.
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Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 10:33 AM By pete
The renewal of the Church spiritually will depend on the bishops themselves being so renewed. That is greatly in evidence since Bishop Olmstead became the Shepherd of the Phoenix faithful. He quickly invited contemplative nuns to the diocese; has disciplined rebellious priests to the point of excommunicating two of them; started an invitation back to Church for lapsed Catholics that brought in 16,000!; and now is addressing Marriage. Just what the doctor ordered kind of bishop!
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Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 2:11 PM By Gregorian
I fear the longer wait time could lead to abortions by girls who got pregnant before marriage. I also fear the longer wait could lead to out-of-church weddings.
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Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 3:29 PM By Mark from PA
Mr. O'Connell, I find it hard to believe that 70% of Catholics don't believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Just yesterday I was told by another poster that I make an idol out of the Holy Eucharist. So it seems that some Catholics even put down devotion to the Holy Eucharist. In the Holy Eucharist Our Lord is present, Body and Blood, soul and divinity. I believe that the Eucharist is the most important Sacrament. In receiving the Eucharist we become united to Christ. You are correct, the Holy Eucharist is Christ's Bread of Life.
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Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 4:50 PM By simone_dubois
God Bless you Bishop Olmsted. coming soon...long lines in the sacrament of confession... that beautiful sacrament that raises the dead and restores them to a life of grace in God and prepares them to be worthy to receive the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. God Bless you exceedingly!
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Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 6:27 PM By victoriag
OH, Yeah, The Catholic Church Knows All About Marriage and Family Life. NOTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!
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Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 10:14 PM By Dan
"OH, Yeah, The Catholic Church Knows All About Marriage and Family Life. NOTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!! " When you say the Catholic Church is ignorant of married life, I assume you mean celibate (males) are ignorant. Oh how strange indeed--what these priests here in the confessional must truly be educating by any standard of measure; then too, giants of the faith--married people--like Dietrich and Alice Von Hildebrand, have written quite eloquently on marriage, and their contributions deepen our understanding of, yes, Christian dogma on the meaning of marriage. I think also of Scott Hahn and his wife (whose name I forget) and other married persons who have adorned the theological firmament on matters related to marriage. Your continually bitter attitude is unwarranted.
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Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2010 10:24 PM By Dan
"I fear the longer wait time could lead to abortions by girls who got pregnant before marriage. I also fear the longer wait could lead to out-of-church weddings. " Gregorian, let's think about this: part of the longer preparation is formation in Christian living. Any couple contemplating abortion has already cast a definite vote of no confidence in Christ and His Church, and the longer wait would then be an opportunity for the Church to evangelize the couple, teaching them the true meaning of love and sex, and of love and sacrifice. Yes they might decide to get married elsewhere, but at least the Church has offered to deepen their understanding of the true meaning of marriage and its relation to Christ and His Church. If they reject it, that's on them.
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Posted Thursday, February 04, 2010 11:01 AM By GK
This sounds like a "death spiral" type response. Too few people getting church weddings? Make it even harder to get married in a church! (Does that sounds like a good solution to anyone?)
If you want more church weddings, you need to start much earlier, so that more people want church weddings. (And making them easier to get would be an improvement as well, but the Catholic church may not want to go in that direction.) But this policy just takes people who want church weddings, and makes them jump through more hoops. Wait longer, etc.
GK
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Posted Thursday, February 04, 2010 11:09 AM By 1abqdad
What a concept...The practical application of God's teachings to marriage! This needs to be done at ALL parishes! When I got married, it was a process of ONE year with mandatory sessions with the priest, engaged encounter (Lay and religious), and natural family planning (lay)!!! The courses were WONDERFUL! (Of course, that was 30 years ago!) We need to add applied teaching of this type to ALL aspects of life... Courses for our youth that address today's "hot topics" for teens; celibacy, homosexuality, drug use, abortions, peer pressure, etc. that are totally based ONLY upon Church teachings! Because the training at MOST parishes is SO poor, most Catholics are totally ignorant in terms to BOTH Church teachings and the application of those teachings! Great job Phx!
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Posted Thursday, February 04, 2010 3:40 PM By Mark from PA
I don't think a longer wait would lead to abortions but it think it could lead to more out-of-church weddings. I checked out the site and was surprised that it stated that they did not want to perform marriages when the woman was pregnant and said that the couple should wait until after the baby was born to get married. I found this somewhat surprising. I think that this could lead to these young people getting married elsewhere if they want to be married when their child is born.
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Posted Thursday, February 04, 2010 5:14 PM By Grisha
Mr. O'Connell - The figure of 70% of Catholics not believing in Real Presence just doesn't seem reasonable to me. Where did yoiu get that statistic
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Posted Thursday, February 04, 2010 6:45 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Eric,
Re.: "If the Diocese of Phoenix wants to change the anti-child mentality of Catholics then it needs to be ready to teach the full teaching of Humane Vitae in regards to Natural Family Planning", if you truly read the above article, you would know that this is exactly what some of the requirements entail.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
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Posted Thursday, February 04, 2010 7:21 PM By JLS
Marriage is not only between a man and a woman, but we have to acknowledge that the man and the woman are not individual entities without roots, without family, without friends, without social ties. The industrial age has wrought havoc on the family structure and dynamic. The popes have been telling us to get back to the family. Marriages involve families; families reflect the Holy Trinity. The bride and groom do not live on an island. It's not a "me and you; you and me ... forever" as in the sixties' song, but one man and one woman each of whom is bonded to society no matter how weak that bond, and to family no matter how badly it has been blown to the winds.
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Posted Thursday, February 04, 2010 7:24 PM By JLS
What 1abqdad describes, the program array he describes, should perhaps begin during the preteen years, and develop throughout the development of the children ... so that when they go and get hitched, they have solid grounding and not a short course.
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Posted Thursday, February 04, 2010 7:51 PM By JLS
Jon, let me prepare you for some good teaching by Rick DeLano, if he so chooses to extend the grace to you. First, understand, which may require several years of study on your part, that the words we use are symbols which refer to a greater reality. In this nation the n.o. form is said in numerous languages. The Host is consecrated; the Mass is thus valid; the souls are nurished. Perhaps this is too often minimal, but also it can be maximal depending on a host of factors. You seem to get caught up in a very superficicality of interpretation of words ... Do you have a fundamentalist background? Make a dictionary your companion for a while, look up words and explore the various definitions you find, some of which will be quite dissimilar to others for the same word. After five or ten years of this, you will be ready for exploring translations, say, on the internet ... hmn ... such as various translations of Scripture or the liturgy in a bunch of languages. There are thousands upon thousands of languages, Jon. All of them convey what is necessary and then some. All of them are capable of conveying the words of consecration. The fundamentalist often cannot see this. But one other critical thing, Jon, is the fact that the Catholic Church has the pope guaranteed by Jesus Christ to be the head of His mystical body here on planet earth in the temporal zone. Moses had written commandments; we have God with us. Dig it, Jon, because it is a one of a kind deal, never before and never hence but now.
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Posted Friday, February 05, 2010 5:45 PM By JLS
Methinks we've got this thing about how the Host is consecrated on two threads. So, I'll post this on both: Jon has steered the argument away from its real authority, which is the priest. No matter the words, without a priest to make the consecration happen, it won't happen. The real question involves the priest, then, and then the words he can use to effect the Mystery.
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Posted Friday, February 05, 2010 6:46 PM By AnnCA
I have to agree with other posters that this move will not help. Catholic formation must begin long before engagement. Catholic teenagers need to be educated on how to find the right marriage partner - one who is a good match on all levels - physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. Non-spiritual defects contribute much to divorce. It's not about teaching Church laws or how to fight fairly or make a household budget. It's about choosing the correct partner in the first place. Once they're engaged it's too late.
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Posted Saturday, February 06, 2010 6:14 AM By 1abqdad
JLS - You read my mind...I'm worried. LOL! Anyway, our education should represent a continuum just as any other type of education. My mother and I pushed this for many years. The CCD program should prepare ALL people to live a consecrated life in what ever manner is right for them. They should be properly prepared for ALL of the sacraments, including matrimony! It is WRONG to allow any couple to get married until they are ready. To allow anyone to receive a sacrament unprepared is a grave sin! So what if they wait until AFTER a child is born? If they want to get married ONLY because of the stigma of being an unwed mother, they are getting married for the WRONG reason! The sanctity of the sacrament is far more important than social embarrassment!!! This PC nonsense is silly and destructive!!! God's people parish because of ignorance! The problem is that information that was traditionally taught by the parents is no longer being transmitted! The priest is responsible to ensure that the couple is ready for the sacrament of marriage. If he denies them, he is probably doing his job and a pretty gutsy guy! The solution is simple...Parents need to start doing their job to raise their children "Catholic", and the churches need to improve their CCD programs to include ALL of the sacraments and the associated responsibilities! I was fortunate that my mother was a wonderful teacher. My parish did a lousy job preparing me! I lucked out and found a wonderful place for engaged encounter and a terrific class for natural family planning! God was watching out for us! The USCCB needs to get serious about improving the religious teaching and developing a community environment, as we are losing so many wonderful people to the fundamentalists...My people parish...
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Posted Saturday, February 06, 2010 9:07 AM By JLS
It's the mind of Christ; or else it's logical deduction. The part about evaluating whether to go ahead with a marriage if a loaf is already in the oven is food for thought ... hmn, hopefully my beastly rhetoric will improve as the day marches on. I suspect that the attacks on all that involves family will be ramping up, as we find on the threads about the new golden boy from Massachusetts who will save the world from abortion by increasing abortion along with his supposed opponent in the Oval Office ... I think there are some paid political thugs doing the disinformation one step, as they troll the Catholic world on the web, but the more intense they kick the harder they fall and the dirtier they get.
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Posted Saturday, February 06, 2010 9:13 AM By Mark from PA
1abqdad, you say that we are losing so many wonderful people to the fundamentalists. These are mostly people that don't believe in the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. If people have a devotion to the Eucharist they won't end up going to these fundamentalist sects. I have had many Mormons talk to me and when I tell them what I believe, they never come back.
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Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:57 AM By 1abqdad
Sorry Mark, but I disagree. Belief in the presence is NOT the basis of our faith, but a wonderful GIFT. If you look at the books that are being published by the "anti-Catholic" fundamentalists and their websites, you'll see the aspects of our faith that they attack. THOSE are the areas that we must address in our CCD and RCIA classes! However, we must also ensure that we are providing a complete and thorough treatment of our faith, including our history, traditions, and culture as well as the sacraments, so that we are able to deal with the Mormons, fundamentalists, and most importantly, heretic Catholics come to our "doors"; literally and figuratively! If the Mormons left your house so easily, you had pretty wimpy ones!!! (I usually just offer them beer...and burp...)
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Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2010 8:43 AM By Grisha
When the Mormon misionary kids approach me I tell them "Boys, I spent six months working a radio car on the graveyard watch with a Mormon partner. If hecouldn't convert me, you sure won't. Say, where are you from?" Jim was a great partneespecially in a tight situation. The problem was I allways had to drive because without any coffee, he's doze off.
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Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2010 8:47 AM By Mark from PA
I don't really read any of that "anti-Catholic" fundamentalist garbage. I think a lot of those fundamentalist preachers are on big ego trips. The last Mormons that came to my house were nice young men. The one guy told me where he was from and except for that didn't really get a word in. When I was talking he seemed to have a deer in the headlights look. I told them that I was very active in my church and didn't have time to go to their church.
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Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2010 9:02 AM By RR
1abqdad: I laughed so hard at your last statement in your post @ 7:57 my eyes had tears in them and my stomach hurt. Good stuff!!
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Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2010 10:21 AM By 1abqdad
Anyone with children know that they have an obligation to have the answers for them. (When Possible) When it comes to their faith, they will invariably get harassed by the fundamentalists at some point in time, and it is in their best interest if their PARENTS know the answer. (Many fundamentalist groups train children at a relatively young age all of the right terms to attack Catholics. (The present "joke" is, "We'll be waiting for you in heaven while you're sitting in purgatory.") Why I certainly hate to consider them as such, the saying that applies is... "Know thy enemy" And, if you fail to prepare your children to deal with their attacks, you are putting your children at risk! (By the way, aren't the parents responsible for their children's faith formation?) Ignorance is no excuse! By the way, our Mormon missionaries were apparently far more fun than yours... Of course, this was 30 years ago, when men were men and danced with women!
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Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:20 PM By JLS
Grisha, I'm happy that you have returned to reality. I used to drive all night long. The secret to staying awake is coffee and donuts. In retrospect, it would help to bring a toothbrush also, so that your dentist has something to work on later in your life.
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Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2010 4:35 PM By The Truth Hurts
Please bulldoze the huge anti-Catholic California Redwood from your own eye before you make sweeping negative generalizations and belittle others who also believe that homosexual acts are sinful.. Mark from Pa says "I don't really read any of that anti-Catholic fundamentalist garbage." Mark is selfishly content to have others read his sugar coated anti-Catholic views that could also be labeled as slippery coated garbage. The reason given for a Catholic not attending a Mormon church should not be because you are *active* in your Church and don't have time to go to their church. Is there such a thing as a passive aggressive heretic? Can a passive aggressive heretic produce faithful converts or can they produce "a deer in the headlights reaction look"? The reason for not attending the Mormon church should be "No thank you, I believe and accept all of the teachings of the Catholic Church". Of course you have to accept and support all of the teachings of the Catholic Church to say that. When you reject those teachings yourself, it is much more comfortable to say "I'm active in my church and I don't have time to go to your church"! Many of the church dissenters that are the CCD topic of discussion are also very active. They're just not faithful. Interesting fact :The large trees in PA are called Slippery Elms.
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Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 2:21 PM By Mark from PA
The Truth Hurts, my views are not anti-Catholic. I find your slur about being a heretic hateful.
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Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 5:25 PM By Mark from PA
It is one thing to dislike a person but it is another to call a person names and vilify them. That isn't the church that I was raised in. Sadly, I see an atmosphere of hostility towards some in the Church. What would you do if I belonged to your parish, The Truth Hurts? What would you have done if I went to school with you?
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Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 6:17 PM By JLS
PA, where did you learn that discernment is a hateful act?
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Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 6:19 PM By JLS
PA, I hate to inform you, but the mainstream fundamentalists are baptised Catholics, even though they might be members of heretical professions. Baptism is a powerful sacrament.
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Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 6:26 PM By JLS
When the Jehovah's Witnesses approach my property, and I look at them, they flee. When the Mormon missionaries knock or walk up to greet me, I invite them in when I'm not busy. Mormons and JWs are radically different. The LDS religion itself is off base, but the Mormons themselves are social and good folks. The JWs are wierd and do bizarre anti-social things and are obnoxious. Now the Baptists ... well, they're a tough lot, and baptism puts them into some great witness for Christ. Some of these groups have created subcultures that are closed in on themselves and it is not pleasant when in their turf. The reason they remain closed in is due to lack of "power" due to their heretical nonsense. Catholics have no reason to be closed circle and are commanded by Christ to be in the world but not of it.
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Posted Monday, February 15, 2010 11:08 PM By Abeca Christian
We the Catholic People who are in good will, truly know about family life, what our Lord has already handed down to us through His people, through Christ, we have been blessed with God's graces and His love to embrace all aspects of how we should live this life here on earth. Though not always an easy one, but always one we embrace and cherish. We understand the dignity of human life, therefore we do not take for granted life here in earth and we fight for what is right and does good honor in our Lord, we also look forward to one day uniting with God and all that comes with His gifts. We understand how important salvation is and live here on earth desiring it. Yes JLS very well said, we are commanded to live our faith in this world, to be in the world but not of it. Very well said JLS. For that we have the pride of faith, pride in what our Lord has handed down to us who faithfully embrace Him and all of His ways. Learning daily with humility. ....and still growing with what truly matters....His will! In Jesus Christ...
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