Marriage key foundation for healthy society, says bishop – but Gen Z isn’t listening
The Catholic Herald• February 5, 2025
The comments from the point man for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) on marriage and family come ahead of National Marriage Week, celebrated from 7-14 February. However, the bishop’s advice that “we should all be working towards a society that values marriage” is increasingly falling on deaf ears among younger generations.
In December 2024, UK charity Marriage Foundation found that just over half of all Gen Z men and women – 57 per cent of those born in 1997 and afterwards – will ever marry.
“This is why we must speak up for marriage and uphold the theme of the week – ‘Hope in Marriage’,” the Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life said.
“We can offer our contribution towards a culture that respects and values marriage, knowing that it’s the foundation for a happy and healthy society.
“National Marriage Week is a time for all of us to think about this special sacrament and how it can change lives. It’s a chance for married couples to strengthen their bond by being kind to each other, talking openly and sharing experiences.
“And for all of us, as we celebrate the beauty of marriage this week, let’s make sure that we support and encourage couples in their journey.”
Bishop MacDonald described how in times of division, happy and functioning marriages can be an encouraging sign of God’s love.
“As we mark National Marriage Week 2025, these resources aim to help us to think about the huge importance of marriage in our lives and society.
“In a world that can be confusing and divided, hope shines brightly especially in this Jubilee Year. And the hope of marriage is that it becomes a source of stability and happiness, showing us the endless love that God has for all of us.”
Bishop MacDonald explained what makes a Christian marriage special, and why it is much more than just a legal agreement as viewed by the secular world.
“For Christians, marriage isn’t just a legal agreement, it’s a special promise between husband and wife, like the covenant between God and humanity,” the bishop said.
“And God’s promises are always fruitful. Pope Benedict XVI once said, ‘Marriage is a way to save ourselves and our society’, because marriage is a source of hope, strength and new beginnings for everyone involved.”
Set against a background of declining marriage rates, this year’s National Marriage Week also follows comments from Pope Francis about the scale of suffering of children around the world today, during which he criticised what all too often appears global indifference to such a calamitous reality.
Children across the world have to deal with various difficulties, the Pope said, while noting that in even in developed nations children often experience anxiety and depression, and many are “drawn to forms of aggression or self-harm”.
“Moreover, a culture of efficiency looks upon childhood itself, like old age, as a ‘periphery’ of existence,” the Pope said, adding that many young people struggle to find hope in themselves and their circumstances, calling this “sad and troubling”.
Endless research has indicated that the most crucial and influential factor toward a stable and happy childhood is to grow up supported by two loving parents joined in matrimony.
(Image courtesy Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.)