Couples Appreciate Marriage Preparation
A recent national study examined the impact of marriage preparation in the Catholic Church. It found that marriage preparation was rated as a valuable experience by the vast majority of those who participated in it.
- Marriage preparation was seen as helpful through the first 5 years after the wedding.
- The mandatory nature of marriage preparation does not get in the way of couples valuing it highly.
- It was perceived as most valued when presented by a team of clergy and lay leaders.
- The intensity of a program impacts its evaluation — too few and too many sessions limit its value.
- Rated most helpful were the 5 C's: communication, commitment, conflict resolution, children, and church.
- Attitudes toward marriage preparation are colored by a sense of belonging to and participation in church practice.
- Interfaith couples come to marriage preparation with lower levels of church involvement and lower expectations of the program. They are more likely to drift from church practice.
(Source: MARRIAGE PREPARATION IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: GETTING IT RIGHT (Center for Marriage & Family, Creighton University, 1995.)
