THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Most statistics indicate that the overall divorce rate in the United States, among all people, religious or non-religious, is about 40% to 60%. The range is based on an average between first marriages, second marriages and third marriages. A first marriage has about a 50% chance at survival in the United States. Chances of survival go down with each consecutive marriage.
Now based on this information, and the statistical graph above, we can instantly see that the practice of any Christian religion does significantly help the survival chances for a marriage. Case in point; if the married Christian couple practices Catholic or Lutheran Christianity, the divorce rate is about 21%, which indicates the marriage has about a 79% chance at survival. If the married Christian couple practices Baptist Christianity, the divorce rate is about 29%, which indicates the marriage has about a 71% chance at survival. If the married Christian couple practices one of the new trendy "nondenominational" forms of Christianity, the divorce rate is about 34%, which indicates the marriage has about a 66% chance at survival.
What I find interesting about these statistics is that the more "ancient" and "traditional" the form of Christianity, the more likely a marriage is to survive. Granted, these are statistics, and based on an overall picture. We cannot apply them to each and every individual couple, and of course, there are always exceptions to every statistical rule. However, when we're looking at odds alone, we find that the best chance a marriage has at survival, in our incredibly decadent culture, is for the couple to practice some form of Christianity. However, of all the different forms of Christianity, Catholicism is one of two that is MOST LIKELY to increase the chances of a marriage survival. The only Protestant form of Christianity that compares is Lutheranism.
6 comments; post here:
Sir Knight,
Congratulations! You have managed to PROVE with hard STATISTICS how the rampant moral relativism of our age goes hand in hand with emotional failure...
Luther was of course the first protestant, so, it just goes to show how the "new trendy" 21st century forms of "chistianity" have strayed way off...
What about the TEC? What's the divorce rate among its members?
Unfortunately, it appears Catholic Christians have a higher cohabitation rate than Protestants though, even though overall Catholics are better at maintaining marriage. We've got to work on the cohabitation thing.
Another thing is that statistics on Catholics are really tricky, because people who were raised Catholic continue to identify as Catholic even if they do not practice, while ex-Protestants do not continue to identify as Protestants. Taking this into account, we may be doing even better than Protestantism in regards to divorce.
I think it was Bishop Sheen who coined the phrase "the family that prays together stays together" Pete Frey
Thank you for posting this article. It encourages me to re-new my efforts with my family by praying the rosary with them and the liturgy of hours; to guide them as they strive for their dreams and goals. It clearly shows without the foundation of Christ in our lives as men, the foundation of our family will simply erode. Thank you again.
Yours in Christ,
GS in Idaho
As a faithful Catholic spouse faithful to my sacramental vows of Marriage despite my spouse abandoning me- what I have learned in this valley of pain is that our church needs to do more to preach what it teaches in regards to marriage and its indissouluable life long commitment. Too many liberal priests are out there willing to "be pastoral" to someone like my dissulutioned spouse wanting to "find a new mate" by suggesting that somehow it is not a mortal sin to willfully abandon the marriage/and children. This has been an eye opener for me and I pray for true Faithful Bishops, and priests to follow Pope Benedict in preaching the TRUTH. And may Pope Benedict guide them.
As the family goes so does society.
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