Focus groups tell bishops church teaching on marriage a help, a challenge

WASHINGTON - Catholic married couples find church teaching on marriage as a sacrament and a vocation to be very helpful but see its teaching on contraception as a challenge, according to participants in nearly 200 focus groups sponsored by the U.S. bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family Life.

The focus groups, held in late 2005 and early 2006, involved more than 1,500 people in 64 dioceses and one eparchy. Groups were held for newly married couples, those in their middle years and older couples; Spanish-speaking couples; and remarried couples. There were also groups for divorced and separated people and single young adults. "We pastors need to find fresh, bold ways to promote the rich teachings of the church," said Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Knoxville, Tenn., committee chairman. "Hearing from the focus groups is one step toward that goal." Participants in the focus groups discussed their personal experience of marriage, church teaching about marriage, and parish and diocesan support for married couples. Among key findings were: - Although participants generally did not see their parish as a source of direct support for marriage, many found that participation in parish ministries strengthened their marriage. - Participants expressed a need for more opportunities for adult faith formation, small groups and support groups, retreats and days of reflection for married couples, mentoring, and resources and referrals for couples with marital difficulties. - Some couples spoke positively about the value of natural family planning, while others were open to learning more about it. "The teaching on sexuality in general and contraception and natural family planning in particular drew a mixed response," said the report on the focus groups. "Some cited it as helpful in their marriage, but most who mentioned it saw it as a challenge." - Pastors should raise awareness about marriage, especially through preaching, and clergy and parish staff should be trained so that they can better respond to couples in trouble. Couples ranging from those recently married to those married for years expressed an appreciation for the church's teaching on marriage as a "lifelong commitment," the report said. - Some divorced participants said the annulment process brought them healing and closure, while others said they had not begun the process, sometimes because of incorrect information about what is involved. Some said they do not believe in annulments, and some were deterred because they heard it was a difficult and complicated process. Bishop Kurtz said in a statement that the findings "show that church teachings have found a good hearing in the lives of participants" and "highlight the challenges of those truths that are not easily received and lived in our culture." The focus groups are part of the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage, launched by the bishops in 2004 to call attention to the meaning and value of marriage. An eventual pastoral letter on marriage is part of the initiative, as are leadership resources, public messages and advocacy and assistance to parish ministries.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops