"Happily married people have lower blood pressure than unhappy married people or singles, a Brigham Young University study says.
"There seem to be some unique health benefits from marriage. It's not just being married that benefits health -- what's really the most protective of health is having a happy marriage," study author Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist who specializes in relationships and health, said in a prepared statement"
Full story
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Survey reveals Mass behind marriage success
"A new survey on marriage reveals those who attend Mass every week are six times as likely as those who rarely or never attend to report that their view of marriage has been "very" informed by their Catholic faith."
Full story
Full story
Monday, March 17, 2008
Birth rate halved, parenthood delayed in children of divorce
"Girls whose parents divorce are half as likely to have children as those whose mother and father stay together, a U.K. study revealed yesterday. The finding came from research into how changes in marriage laws have affected women's lives.
"Scientists found girls who grow up in a country which allows divorce are less likely to marry and are more likely to delay having children.
"Jill Kirby, director of the centre-right think tank Centre for Policy Studies, said:
"This demonstrates how the effect of divorce and family break-up is at work through the generations. The failure of a family – and most often now it is not a married family – puts women off having children themselves. It is an example of the long-term impact of the flight from marriage. The effects will be felt not only by us now, but by future generations. This study also shows that women suffer most from the effects of divorce and family break-up."
Full story
"Scientists found girls who grow up in a country which allows divorce are less likely to marry and are more likely to delay having children.
"Jill Kirby, director of the centre-right think tank Centre for Policy Studies, said:
"This demonstrates how the effect of divorce and family break-up is at work through the generations. The failure of a family – and most often now it is not a married family – puts women off having children themselves. It is an example of the long-term impact of the flight from marriage. The effects will be felt not only by us now, but by future generations. This study also shows that women suffer most from the effects of divorce and family break-up."
Full story
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Deacon preaching NFP finds most couples don’t know teaching on contraception
"When I mention NFP, people look at me like I am an artifact from another age,” Deacon Ken Donahue explained. “It’s one of the principles of Catholic teaching that people don’t think applies to them.”
But for many couples, including many Catholics, information about NFP is largely unknown or misunderstood."
Full story (and it's a good one!)
But for many couples, including many Catholics, information about NFP is largely unknown or misunderstood."
Full story (and it's a good one!)
The Best Preparation for Marriage - And It's Not Living Together
Mike & Harriet McManus, authors of "Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers," note that two-thirds of couples marrying today are living together.
Such couples often believe a myth that they are in a "trial marriage." But they are really in a trial divorce in which they face an 85% chance of breaking up either before the marriage or afterwards.
The McManuses offer 3 tips for better marriage prep.
And more info here, too.
Such couples often believe a myth that they are in a "trial marriage." But they are really in a trial divorce in which they face an 85% chance of breaking up either before the marriage or afterwards.
The McManuses offer 3 tips for better marriage prep.
And more info here, too.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The media's rush to divorce the Spitzers...
With this week's news about former NY governor Eliot Spitzer, there's been a lot of media coverage about the role of Silda Spitzer, and whether she should have been at his side during the two press conferences that he held. In most, if not all, of the coverage, a lot of the commentators and "people on the street" have said they couldn't understand why a wife would do that, and that if it were them, they'd be walking out the door as quickly as possible.
Amazingly, nobody was really sticking up for Mrs. Spitzer for her role of being up there supporting her husband and family. Instead, they have offered sympathy (which is fine), but there's still a vast rush towards judgment that she's calling the lawyers as soon as this is over.
Obviously, what Mr. Spitzer is accused of doing was horrendous and shocking, and families have divorced over much less infractions. But marriages have also survived greater infractions. If this marriage is going to survive, there will have to be a lot of open communication, discussion, possible professional help, and yes, forgiveness.
If Mrs. Spitzer were to forgive her husband, how would the media treat this act? Would they be amazed at the act of forgiveness? Would they go, "Wow, there's a woman who wants to save her marriage, in the face of unbelievable odds?" Probably not, instead there would be sarcastic comments about how she was doing it for political reasons, or other such nefarious purposes.
It's been clear over the past few days about the culture that we live in today -- how easy it is for people to rush towards an immediate divorce instead of thinking about ways that couples can work on their problems. Sure, the Spitzer case in an extreme example, but it's also not hard to watch the media rush towards divorce in less-heinous cases. It just highlights how much work we have to convince people about the joys of marriage and the power of forgiveness.
Amazingly, nobody was really sticking up for Mrs. Spitzer for her role of being up there supporting her husband and family. Instead, they have offered sympathy (which is fine), but there's still a vast rush towards judgment that she's calling the lawyers as soon as this is over.
Obviously, what Mr. Spitzer is accused of doing was horrendous and shocking, and families have divorced over much less infractions. But marriages have also survived greater infractions. If this marriage is going to survive, there will have to be a lot of open communication, discussion, possible professional help, and yes, forgiveness.
If Mrs. Spitzer were to forgive her husband, how would the media treat this act? Would they be amazed at the act of forgiveness? Would they go, "Wow, there's a woman who wants to save her marriage, in the face of unbelievable odds?" Probably not, instead there would be sarcastic comments about how she was doing it for political reasons, or other such nefarious purposes.
It's been clear over the past few days about the culture that we live in today -- how easy it is for people to rush towards an immediate divorce instead of thinking about ways that couples can work on their problems. Sure, the Spitzer case in an extreme example, but it's also not hard to watch the media rush towards divorce in less-heinous cases. It just highlights how much work we have to convince people about the joys of marriage and the power of forgiveness.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The thrill of the chaste
Fed up with casual, meaningless sex in the modern dating world? Unsatisfied with today's sex-obsessed culture?
Consider an alternative, says Dawn Eden. The author of “The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On” argues in defense of chastity, providing personal details of her conversion to sexless dating.
Full story. And, Dawn Eden's blog.
Consider an alternative, says Dawn Eden. The author of “The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On” argues in defense of chastity, providing personal details of her conversion to sexless dating.
Full story. And, Dawn Eden's blog.
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