Rachel Evans
Marriage is considered a sacrament in the Catholic Church, and weddings between two Catholic faithful ordinarily take place during Holy Mass. While the number of Catholic marriages in the United States is at its lowest point since 1965, with just over 150,000 Catholic marriages in 2014, research suggests that over 70% of Catholics are still married to Catholic spouses. This indicates that a majority of Catholics continue to marry within the Church, despite a general societal trend away from marriage and a decline in allegiance to institutional norms among younger Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic marriages in the US in 1970 | 420,000 |
| Number of Catholic marriages in the US in 2014 | 154,000 |
| Number of Catholic marriages in the US in 2014 (another source) | 151,364 |
| Percentage of adult Catholics who are married | 53.9% |
| Percentage of adult Catholics who are separated | 3.3% |
| Percentage of adult Catholics who are widowed | 6.4% |
| Percentage of adult Catholics who have never married | 27.7% |
| Percentage of Catholic adults who are divorced | 8.7% |
| Percentage of Catholic adults who have experienced divorce | 20.7% |
| Average age of first marriage for Catholics | 24 |
| Percentage of Catholic mothers and fathers who are married | 79% |
| Percentage of Catholic mothers and fathers who are married to another Catholic | 76% |
| Percentage of Catholic parents who attend Mass weekly | 22% |
| Percentage of Catholic parents with three or more children who attend Mass at least once a month | 66% |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage rate among Catholics
Marriage is considered a sacrament in the Catholic Church. Weddings in which both parties are Catholic faithful are typically held in a Catholic church, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "the celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place during Holy Mass, because of the connection of all the sacraments with the paschal mystery of Christ."
However, the number of Catholic marriages in the United States is at its lowest point since 1965. According to statistics from Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, there were over 420,000 Catholic marriages in 1970, but this number had decreased to just over 154,000 in 2014. This decline in Catholic marriages cannot be attributed solely to an increase in Catholics marrying non-Catholics, as research from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) found that more than 70% of Catholics are married to Catholic spouses.
The decline in Catholic marriage rates may be due to a variety of factors, including a general societal trend away from marriage, with lower marriage rates in the population as a whole, and people choosing to marry later in life. Additionally, there may be a decreasing importance of the church among young Catholics, and a lower level of institutional allegiance among younger Catholics, as measured by mass attendance.
Despite the decline in Catholic marriage numbers, there is some evidence of a cultural shift among the youngest generation of Catholics, with a growing reverence for marriage and a profound love for families. Additionally, Catholic marriages may be strengthening, with divorce statistics indicating that Catholic couples are less likely to break up. This could be due to the positive impact of marriage-preparation programs and the Church's leadership in emphasising the need for adequate time for marriage preparation.
In summary, while the number of Catholic marriages in the United States has decreased significantly since 1970, there are complex societal and cultural factors influencing this trend, and there are also signs of a potential shift towards a greater appreciation of marriage among younger Catholics.
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Catholics marrying non-Catholics
The number of Catholic marriages in the United States is at its lowest point since 1965. While there were over 420,000 Catholic marriages in 1970, that number has dropped to just over 154,000 in 2014. This decline is not due to an increase in the percentage of Catholics marrying non-Catholics. Research from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) found that more than 70% of Catholics are married to Catholic spouses, with younger Catholics only slightly more likely to be married to a non-Catholic.
The Catholic Church does allow Catholics to marry non-Catholics, but it is not encouraged. Such marriages are called "mixed marriages". If a Catholic marries a non-Catholic Christian (e.g. an Episcopalian, Presbyterian, or Baptist), the wedding is a sacramental marriage. If a Catholic marries a non-baptized person (e.g. a Hindu, Jew, or Muslim), the wedding is a non-sacramental marriage. In either case, the Catholic Church requires the couple to meet certain criteria. Both parties must be prepared to remain together until death (no divorce) and to be open to having children, who must be raised in the Catholic Church. The Catholic spouse must also promise to do everything in their power to raise the children as Catholics and inform the non-Catholic spouse of that promise.
To be considered validly married in the eyes of the Church, Catholics must fulfill four requirements. Firstly, both spouses must be free to marry. Secondly, they must freely exchange their consent. Thirdly, they must intend to marry for life, be faithful, and be open to having children. Lastly, their consent must be given in the canonical form, i.e., in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized church.
A Catholic wishing to marry a non-Catholic must obtain a dispensation, or special permission, from their bishop. This is usually granted as long as the Catholic promises to continue practicing the Catholic faith and raise their children as Catholics. The wedding ceremony can take place in a Catholic church or a non-Catholic church, but in the latter case, permission from the bishop is required for the marriage to be free of defect of form. A non-Catholic minister may attend the marriage ceremony and address, pray with, and bless the couple, but a Catholic priest must also be present to officiate the wedding.
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Catholic marriage rituals
Catholic weddings are steeped in tradition and ritual, with couples partaking in many rituals and sacraments as laid out by the Catholic Church. Weddings in which both parties are Catholic faithful are usually held in a Catholic church, while weddings involving a Catholic and a non-Catholic can be held in a Catholic church with the Bishop's permission.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The intimate community of life and love that constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws... God himself is the author of marriage. The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman." This highlights the importance the Catholic Church places on marriage as a sacred institution.
A valid Catholic marriage requires four elements: the spouses must be free to marry, they must freely exchange their consent, they must intend to marry for life, be faithful, and be open to having children, and their consent must be given in the canonical form, i.e., in the presence of two witnesses and before an authorized church official.
Catholic couples are expected to undergo Pre-Cana, a marriage preparation course or pre-wedding counselling, before their wedding. This is derived from the Bible story in John 2:1-12, known as the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, where Jesus Christ turned water into wine. The presence of a priest throughout wedding planning is also important to guide the couple through the necessary steps, which may include the sacrament of Confirmation for those who haven't undergone it. Official wedding announcements, known as Banns of Marriage, may be posted in the church bulletin for the three Sundays before the wedding.
The wedding liturgy is considered the high point of the wedding day, where the couple becomes husband and wife in a lifelong covenant of marriage, a sacrament for baptized Christians. The celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful typically occurs during Holy Mass, connecting all the sacraments with the paschal mystery of Christ. The Catholic Church emphasizes that the wedding should be a Christian celebration, focusing on the Lord's blessing and presence rather than worldly details.
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Divorce rates among Catholics
Various national surveys and studies have been conducted to understand the divorce rates among Catholics. One study by the Pew Research Center found that 20.7% of Catholic adults have experienced divorce at some point in their lives, with 8.7% describing their current marital status as divorced. Another study by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate reported a slightly different figure, with 28% of ever-married Catholics having divorced at some point. This figure is still lower than the divorce rates for those with no religious affiliation (40%), Protestants (39%), and those of other religious faiths (35%).
The lower divorce rates among Catholics may be attributed to the strong emphasis Catholicism places on the permanence of marriage. Additionally, Catholics who marry other Catholics have a lower divorce rate of 27% compared to Catholics who marry non-Catholics, which can be as high as 49% for Protestants and 48% for non-religious spouses.
It is worth noting that the divorce rates among Catholics who actively practice their faith are even lower. Nominal Catholics are 5% less likely to divorce than non-religious individuals, while actively practicing Catholics are 31% less likely to divorce. This suggests that religious observance and participation in the Catholic Church may play a protective role in marriages.
While divorce rates among Catholics are lower than other groups, it is still a significant issue within the community. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has acknowledged the need for adequate marriage preparation and formation within the Church to strengthen Catholic marriages and lower divorce statistics. Additionally, the Church offers annulments, which are decrees by a church court that a marriage was invalid from the start due to factors such as a lack of full knowledge and consent by both parties. In 2013, about 23,302 new petitions for marriage annulments were introduced in the US, with 21,079 sentences in favor of nullity.
In conclusion, while divorce rates among Catholics are lower than the general population and other religious groups, it still affects a significant number of individuals. The Catholic Church has recognized the impact of divorce and responded through initiatives such as marriage preparation programs and outreach to divorced individuals, highlighting the importance of supporting those experiencing marital difficulties within the community.
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Catholic marriage annulments
The Catholic Church considers marriage a sacrament and a lifelong bond. It is a sacred union between a man and a woman, and the Church believes that it can only be dissolved by the death of one of the spouses. If a Catholic wishes to remarry after a divorce, the Church requires a declaration of nullity, or an annulment, to establish that an essential element was missing in the previous union, rendering it invalid. This is a quasi-legal process that involves a Church tribunal, or a Catholic Church court, examining the events leading up to and at the time of the wedding ceremony. The tribunal looks at information submitted by one or both former spouses to determine if all the requirements for a valid marriage were met. These requirements include the spouses being free to marry, their mutual consent to marry, their intention to be faithful and open to having children, and their consent given in the presence of two witnesses and a properly authorized Church minister.
Annulments are granted in cases where it is discovered that one spouse was already validly married, or in “defect of form” cases where Catholics marry outside the Church without exchanging vows before a priest and two witnesses as required by canon law. The length of the annulment process depends on the type of procedure followed, such as the ordinary judicial process, the process before the bishop, a documentary process, or a process before a Roman court. The diocesan tribunal can provide a more precise estimate based on the specific case.
While the annulment process can be challenging, especially when one spouse comes from a faith that accepts divorce and remarriage, it is an important step for divorced Catholics who wish to remarry in the Catholic Church. It is not a sign of excommunication, and divorced Catholics are considered to be in good standing with the Church. They have the right to receive holy Communion as long as they have not entered an uncanonical marriage. Pope Francis has also made changes to the annulment process, declaring that it should be easier to file for and obtain an annulment, showing compassion and mercy.
It is important to note that a Catholic annulment does not affect the legitimacy of children born from the annulled marriage and that the Church will always recognize that the spouses were married. The annulment simply states that the marriage was not a sacrament and did not meet the requirements for validity in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
79% of Catholic parents are married, with fewer than 1% being widowed.
76% of married Catholic parents have a Catholic spouse.
53.9% of adult Catholics are currently married.
Catholics have the lowest divorce rates compared to other religious affiliations. However, 20.7% of Catholic adults have experienced divorce at some point in their lives. While divorce rates are decreasing, more young Catholics are choosing to marry in the church.
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