In a previous posting, I was attacked for my opinion on the annulment situation in the United States, that opinion being that annulments are too readily granted in this country. "Lack of due discretion"is a common reason given for these annulments.

Let me just vent/throw this out for your consideration and comment. I note that the post I had responded was dealing with a non-Catholic marriage, so my commments here would not apply there.

If "lack of due discretion" is a given reason for so many annulments, maybe these couples aren't being properly prepared for marriage in the first place. Most dioceses require that couples notify the diocese 6 months to a year before the wedding. In my case, we met with a priest several times before the wedding, when he not only filled out paperwork but counselled us. Thank goodness he was helpful in this manner. And thank God our parents raised us well, too. We understood what we were getting into and what was required of us. Our pre-Cana class was a joke. The only helpful exercise was the one on finances. Couples don't need to be told how to "feel good about each other" and other nonsense. They should be taught Casti Connubi, Humanae Vitae, and other Church teachings on marriage and morals. They should be made to understand St. Paul's exhortation for wives to obey their husbands and , likewise, for husbands to BE WILLING TO DIE FOR THEIR WIVES. Maybe there is a lot of "lack of discretion" today because people are so selfish and immature and think marriage is just fun and sex. These dioceses should be doing a better job in their marriage prep classes!!

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), July 25, 2002

Answers

Christina,

I'm going to brag a little bit about my diocese. Our pre-Cana class went into a lot of detail on Humanae Vitae (lot's of teachings on sexual morality) and other Church teachings. I don't know if Casti Connubii was specifically mentioned; but our definately wasn't a feel-good session.

I would say that I liked the pre-Cana, though the group was quite large (~50-70 couples?). The benefit of the large number is that the speakers really prepared for their presentations. I think with smaller numbers, speakers (in all fields) have a tendency to prepare less thoroughly. That's the trade-off that I see: more intimate setting vs. better prepared speakers.class

Overall, I'd give my diocese a B+, only because there's always room to improve.

Enjoy,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), July 25, 2002.

PS:

CASTI CONNUBII (On Christian Marriage)

Pope Pius XI, Encyclical promulgated on 31 December 1930

HUMANAE VITAE (On The Regulation Of Birth)

Pope Paul VI

Encyclical Letter Of His Holiness promulgated on 25 July 1968.

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), July 25, 2002.

Well, that's Arlington for you, huh? :)

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), July 25, 2002.

Christina,

You're so right! Anyway, if the housing prices weren't so bad, I'd say all Catholics should move here.

Enjoy,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), July 25, 2002.

Christina,

AMEN sister!!!

This is no knock on the Catholic Church, which has fulfilled her duty to teach to us the correct Catholic and Holy way of Marriage evident in the aforementioned documents (CC and HV). Unfortunately it is a very few weeds who have grown up with the wheat that are leading their sheep astray. Marriage is a very very serious sacrament! It is a taste of what our Marriage will be like in Heaven with Christ, and it is intended to guide us and condition us as such! On earth it is till death do us part; a far cry from eternal (which is how our Marriage with Christ will be). And if we can not even uphold our promise to a mortal spouse "till death do us part", how then will we ever be able to uphold our promise to Christ "eternally". 50% is an 'F' on any test you take. And a divorce rate of 50% shows just where we are at on this test. It disgusts me to see the Hollywood marriages which last only a couple months at best! Is it a big joke to them, or do they really think that it will last? I agree fullheartedly with Christina. There has got to be a better way of training and teaching the Truth to Catholics. The Pope and Magisterium cannot reach the masses alone, it has got to begin with each Pastor at the parish level. I hope and pray that there is an uprising of strong and valiant Pastors to supplant (comes from "Jacob":) some of the week spineless ones that exist now.

Holy Mary, Pray for our young couples so that they desire to imitate our Marriage with Christ in Heaven; eternally.

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.ccom), July 25, 2002.