Section 3 - Marriage and the family Flashcards
How attitudes towards divorce and marriage have changed
- Divorce is now accepted as part of a normal life
- Same sex couples can be married (since 2004)
- Only a minority of marriages take place in a church (34% in 2006)
- Most people have sex before they get married
Reasons for the change: Cohabitation and marriage
- Increased availability of contraception (safer to have sex without being pregnant)
- Media publicity from celebs ( they lived together without being married cohabitation was more popular)
- Christianity lost influence (less people going to church -> don’t have to refrain from sex)
- Presentation on TV and films (sex outside marriage, become a norm, expectable)
Reasons for the change: Divorce
- 1969, cheaper and easier to divorce
- Increased equality for women (If their husband treats them badly they can divorce them)
- Woman are financially independent (Divorce -> live on their own)
- Change in how long people are married for (occur after 10 yrs of marriage)
Reasons for the change: Family life
- Increase in cohabitation (families where parents aren’t married)
- Increase in divorce leads to re-marriage
- Extended family is more popular (grandparents look after the children)
- Increase in divorces leads to single parents
Reasons for the change: Homosexuality
- Changes in the law make it easier for society to be more accepting
- Increased openness of gay celebs -> more acceptance of all gays
- Stonewall changed peoples attitudes -> greater acceptance of rights for homosexuals
Christian attitudes towards sex outside of marriage
- Adultery is condemned by Jesus in gospels -> Christians follow
- Catechism -> pre-marital sex is wrong
- Against adultery breaks wedding vows (faithful)
- Against adultery -> Condemned in the 10 commandments
Liberal protestants view on sex outside marriage
They accept cohabitation and sometimes sex before marriage
Catholic Christians view on sex outside marriage
They try to encourage abstinence before marriage and faithfulness in marriage
Evangelical Christians view on sex outside marriage
Do not accept any form sex outside of marriage
What is the purpose of a marriage
- Procreate (create new life)
- Unitive (bringing 2 people together)
- Restrict sex to each other (Stay faithful)
- Parent a catholic Christian family
- Only one (No divorce)
- Sacrament
- Encourage and support each other
NON CATHOLIC Christian attitudes on divorce
- Jesus allowed divorce in Matthew 19:9
- Better to divorce than live in hatred
- ‘Choose the lesser of two evils’ (Effects of not divorces are worse than divorcing)
- Allowed forgiveness if they confess their sins, should have another chance
CATHOLIC attitudes on divorce
- Jesus said it was wrong in the gospel
- Couple have made a covenant with God -> cant be broken by any earthly power
- Catechism -> Marriage cant be dissolved - religious divorce is impossible
- Its bigamy (divorce and remarriage) Catholic church allows annulment (if you were drunk when you make your vows)
Why family IS important to Catholics
- Someone to look after you (as you get older)
- Learn values (right and wrong)
- Part of catholic marriage vows to have children
- Learn about religion (baptism)
Why family IS NOT important to Catholics
- Want a career/ education
- Might not agree with family rules/POV
- An upbringing away from family
- Children become less dependant
How catholic parishes help to keep families together
- In masses they remind parents of the vows they made
- Parish priest is always available to give advice/help
- Offer financial support (Catholic marriage care)
- Leaflets -> ‘What is life like’ help parishes to meet the needs of families
- National programme of support, gives advice to parishes to help families (resources)
