When the Lord joins a couple together in marriage, "they are no longer two but one flesh" (Mt 19:6). With almost half of the Christians of our country divorced, we can come to only one of two conclusions: either God did not join these couples together, or they are not being faithful to their marriage covenant.

To help couples be faithful, we should prepare them for marriage much more carefully. For example, they should be taught from the beginning the truths concerning the indissolubility of marriage, the Church's teaching on not using artificial means of birth control, etc. This will probably mean witnessing fewer weddings. We should also do everything we can to encourage, support, and strengthen existing marriages. We definitely should not do what we've been doing, because it is obviously, woefully inadequate. We need different results, and different results will only come from radically, not slightly, different means.

Christian marriages are in a state of emergency. Singles, priests, religious, married couples, and the divorced should all rally in prayer and active service to quickly change the state of Christian marriage. If one member of Christ's body suffers, they all suffer (1 Cor 12:26). Let's lay down our lives for each other and for Christian marriages (see 1 Jn 3:16).

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2010

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