With marriage on the decline, a campaign to promote marriage has hit the streets. For Your Marriage is showing up on billboards and online, and the Archdiocese of Baltimore is in full support of its message.
“It’s something we think is important,” said Sean Caine, communications director, “especially at a time when there are so many threats to the institution of marriage and to families.”
The U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops created this national initiative and asked the archdiocese to contribute to the overall cost by adding a local sponsorship on some of the Maryland billboards.
“What have you done for your marriage today?” is the hefty question posed, depicting a contemplating person on a colored background. Fifteen billboards include the text “sponsored by the Archdiocese of Baltimore” along the bottom, for which the archdiocese paid $705.
The Web site address, www.foryourmarriage.org, is visible as well and provides resources for couples at all stages of marriage, and those preparing to marry.
The archdiocese’s sponsorship is a tangible demonstration of the benefits of supporting the Catholic Communication Campaign, which assists all parishes, schools, and Catholic institutions in promoting the good news of the church.
“We have a second collection every August to support this campaign,” said Mr. Caine, “which helps to fund projects that raise the public’s awareness of issues fundamental to the common good – such as marriage and family.”
For Your Marriage now has statewide exposure with billboards seen in Salisbury, Hagerstown, and Baltimore.
“The message teaches people to ask themselves the question, ‘What can you do to make your marriage better?’” said Mr. Caine. “Happy and healthy marriages benefit the entire society and something the church supports wholeheartedly.”