MARRIAGE IS GOOD

THREE IMPORTANT PUBLIC PURPOSES

SERVED BY MARRIAGE

1.  Societies seek to ORGANIZE THE BEARING AND

REARING OF CHILDREN through marriage as an
institution. Ensures that children have the love and
support of their father and mother.
 THREE IMPORTANT PUBLIC PURPOSES
SERVED BY MARRIAGE

2.Marriage PROVIDES DIRECTION, ORDER, AND

STABILITY TO ADULT SEXUAL UNIONS and to their
economic, social, and biological consequences.
 THREE IMPORTANT PUBLIC PURPOSES
SERVED BY MARRIAGE

3.  Marriage CIVILIZES MEN AND WOMEN, furnishing them

with a SENSE OF PURPOSE, NORMS, AND SOCIAL
STATUS that orient their lives away from vice and
toward virtue.
 INTRINSIC GOODS OF MARRIAGE
NATURAL MUTUAL SELF-
GIVING: fidelity ,
acceptance : Permanence
/Exclusivity

ELEVATES, ORDERS, CONSTRAINS

NATURAL DESIRES ----fidelity and
care.

PERFECTS SEXUAL NATURE :

Procreative and Unitive Meaning of
sexual drive ( Unique Biological Unity)

NATURAL DEFENSE AGAINST

COMMODIFICATION and
TRIVIALIZATION OF HUMAN
RELATIONSHIPS ( Till death....)
 EXTRINSIC GOODS OF MARRIAGE
( Utilitarian Goods )

I. RELATIONAL GOOD
A. Personal union, intended for the whole of life, of
husband and wife. ( good of spouse )

u  Mutual dependence and Obligation :

STRENGTHENED by PERMANENCE

u  Biological, Psychological, Emotional,

Social and Sexual complementarity of the male
and female sexes. ( shared maturity) ))
B. Ordinarily, both men and women who marry are
better off as a result.

u  Marriage as a COUNTER CULTURAL INSTITUTION : A

SELF ( LESS ) ACT

- An opposition to a self-centered society popular

culture : “ME,” `If it feels good, do it!' DO WHAT PLEASES
THEM AT THE MOMENT WITHOUT A THOUGHT TO THE
BROADER LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR
ACTIONS.
B. Ordinarily, both men and women who marry are
better off as a result.

u  Marriage has significant benefits for the well-being

of adult men and women who enter into it.

- emotional: security, shared responsibility, protection,

stability, support
- psychological : discipline, commitment, long- term
outlook, fidelity, lowers testosterone levels
( moral too )
- social : paternity, suppport
- economic: financially, responsible expense ( savings )
- physical : health is shared responsibility, women less
victimized
- moral: avoidance of risky behaviours, more civilized,
industry,
 Benefits of a Healthy Marriage for Men
Researchers have found many benefits for men who are in healthy
marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages, including the following
statistics:
Longer lives
Physically healthier
Wealthier
Increase in the stability of employment
Higher wages
Emotionally healthier
Decrease risk of drug and alcohol abuse
Have better relationships with their children
More satisfying sexual relationship
Less likely to commit violent crimes
Less likely to contract STD's
Less likely to attempt or commit suicide
 Benefits of a Healthy Marriage for Women

More satisfying relationship

Emotionally healthier
Wealthier
Less likely to be victims of domestic violence, sexual
assault, or other violent crimes
Less likely to attempt or commit suicide
Decrease risk of drug and alcohol abuse
Less likely to contract STD's
Less likely to remain or end up in poverty
Have better relationships with their children
Physically healthier
Vatican Council II affirms that the intimate
partnership of married life and love is not only
ordered towards the goods of offspring and
society, but also for the good of the spouses.
(Gaudium et Spes #48)

John Paul II speaks of the capacity for marriage

to cure the negative effects of sin with the help
of God's grace in the sacraments, and through
prayer and forgiveness in the family. (Letter to
Families #14)
 II. PROCREATIONAL GOOD
u  Satisfies children’s need to know their
biological origins : FATHER and MOTHER

- a framework of love for nurturance,

education and development

- seedbed of sociability and virtue

u  Protects and nurtures mental , psychological,

sexual, moral, emotional and social health
of children
 II. PROCREATIONAL GOOD

u  Sexuality differences are crucial in Parenting

- FEMALE HORMONE : Peptide Oxytocin

- MALE HORMONE : Testosterone

The Church recognizes the goodness of unity and
difference in existence. Just as the persons of the
Trinity are different, yet have all that the other has, so
also do men and women in marriage become fully one,
but with different resources and ways of relating.
(John Paul II, Letter to Families #8 & Mulieris Dignitatem #10)

Speaking about the equal dignity of men and women,

the U.S. Bishops address gender difference. They talk
about particular physical and psychological gender
traits that result in varying skills and perspectives. As
noted above, men and women mutually benefit from
marriage, but they receive these benefits in different
ways. (USCCB, Follow the Way of Love, 1993, p.19)
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

A. Marriage is a wealth-creating institution,

increasing human and social capital.

1.  network of relationships: a key ingredient of the

“social capital” (generosity, self-sacrifice, trust, self-
discipline)
- crucial in every domain of social life.
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

A. Marriage is a wealth-creating institution,

increasing human and social capital.

2. economy and state depend upon families to

produce the next generation of productive workers
and taxpayers.
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

A. Marriage is a wealth-creating institution,

increasing human and social capital.

3. ordered and regulated sexual relationships

benefits human society
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

B. Marriage sustains civil society and promotes

the common good.

1. renewal of human capital : national economy needs

human capital at replacement level
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

B. Marriage sustains civil society and promotes

the common good.

2. young stable patterns of work and self-reliance, directed

by parents , provides basis for developing useful skills/
gaining a profession.
 MARRIAGE BENEFITS ON CHILDREN
( Statistics)
More likely to attend college
More likely to succeed academically
Physically healthier
Emotionally healthier
Less likely to succumb to drugs or alcohol abuse
Less likely to commit delinquent behaviors
Less likely to be a victim of physical or sexual abuse
Be open and honest with the couples you help
Seek wisdom and understanding from God
Have a better relationship with their mothers and fathers
Decreases their chances of divorcing when they get married
Less likely to become pregnant as a teenager, or impregnate someone
Less likely to be sexually active as teenagers
Less likely to contract STD's
Less likely to be raised in poverty
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

B. Marriage sustains civil society and promotes

the common good.

3.  Marriage/ family assist in caring for the sick and

elderly and provide unremunerated care for their
loved ones, paying taxes, and produce children
forming future generations of tax-paying workers.
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

B. Marriage sustains civil society and promotes

the common good.

4. Marital breakdown reduces the collective welfare of

our children, strains our justice system, weakens civil
society : Public expenditures on criminal justice, police,
courts, and prisons

Crime is driven in part by the breakdown of marriage.

 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

B. Marriage sustains civil society and promotes

the common good.

5. When marriage weakens, the equality gap widens, as

children suffer from the disadvantages of growing up in
homes without committed mothers and fathers.
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

B. Marriage sustains civil society and promotes

the common good.

6. A functioning marriage culture serves to protect

political liberty and foster limited government
intrusion.
 III. SOCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL GOOD

B. Marriage sustains civil society and promotes

the common good.

7. Religion plays a vital role in creating and sustaining

marriage as a social institution. ( limits state intrusion )