Please run these in your parish for one month or more during this year leading up to the election.

Marriage Minute:  What is Marriage?

Marriage is the lifelong partnership of mutual and exclusive fidelity between a man and a woman ordered by its very nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. The bond of marriage is indissoluble – that is, it lasts “until death do us part.” At the heart of married love is the total gift of self that husband and wife freely offer to each other. Because of their sexual difference, husband and wife can truly become “one flesh” and can give to each other “the reality of children, who are a living reflection of their love” (Familiaris Consortio, no. 14).

Marriage between a baptized man and a baptized woman is a sacrament. This means that the bond between husband and wife is a visible sign of the sacrificial love of Christ for his Church. As a sacrament, marriage gives spouses the grace they need to love each other generously, in imitation of Christ. (USCCB.org, Marriage: Unique for a Reason)

Marriage Minute:  Why does the Catholic Church care so much about marriage?

The Catholic Church cares about marriage because marriage is a fundamental good in itself and foundational to human existence and flourishing.  Following the example of Jesus, the Church cares about the whole person, and all people.  Marriage (or lack thereof) affects everyone.  Today, people all over the world are suffering because of the breakdown of the family—divorce, out-of-wedlock childbearing, and so on.  Marriage is never just a “private” issue; it has public significance and public consequences.  One only has to think of the connection between fatherless families and young men in jail to know that this is true.  In addition, the proposal to “redefine” marriage to include two men or two women is really a proposal to “redefine” the human person, causing a forgetfulness of what it means to be a man or a woman.  This is a basic injustice to men and women, children, and fathers and mothers. Marriage is truly one of the most important social justice issues of our time.  (USCCB.org, Marriage: Unique for a Reason)

Additional Bulletin announcements will be sent out monthly in the Clergy Bulletin starting in February or can be found at http://mncc.org/issues/marriage/bulletin-announcement-archive/