Contracts are Seen as More Binding than Marriage
Special to the Catholic Business Journal by Thomas M. Loarie
NAPA – Dr. Scott Hahn, Founder and Director, Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology and professor at Franciscan University, and Dr. Tim Gray, professor of Sacred Scripture at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, began the formal program at the 5th Annual Napa Institute by focusing on marriage, family, and evangelization. This coincides with Pope Francis’ intense interest in these topics and his upcoming visit to the United States this Fall.
Dr. Hahn began by focusing on marriage and its unique role in evangelization. Marriage, however, is going through a profound crisis. We are experiencing a significant shift in attitudes towards marriage. Many more Americans are living with their partners rather than tying the knot. Nearly half of women aged 15 to 44 years old “cohabited” outside of marriage between 2006 and 2010, compared with 43 percent in 2002 and 34 percent in 1995.
Dr. Hahn underscored we have lost sight of the sacramental nature of marriage.
“It [Marriage] is not something we do for God, but something God does for us. It is misunderstood and treated as a contract. It is not. It is a covenant, a permanent, life-giving gift,” Dr. Hahn explained.
Is marriage easy? “No,” Dr. Hahn said, “that is why God is needed…God provides the grace for the on-going conversion of heart… This is not a 50/50 relationship, but rather, a 100/100 full exchange of the person.”
The role of a father in evangelization was also addressed. Dr. Hahn cited the results of a recent Southern Baptist study that highlighted the role of a father in a family’s spiritual and religious development. According to this study, if the father is a practicing Christian, 93% of the family members will follow his lead. For mothers who are practicing, the number drops to 17%, and if only the oldest child practices, it drops further to only 3.7%. Hahn added, “Unfortunately, we have a crisis in manhood.”
Pope Benedict said the crisis of fatherhood is the heart of the crisis facing us.
Dr. Gray expressed concern that people today have not just lost their belief in God, but in human love. He noted, “We all marry the wrong person. We marry people like ourselves, selfish and ego-centric. We need God’s help, but how can we rely on God when we do not even believe in Him and the grace He provides? … We spend more time on taking care of our physical health with no regard to our spiritual health. The crisis of marriage and the family has its roots in the crisis of faith.”
“When we receive the Eucharist, we say ‘I do not deserve for You to come under my roof’; when we marry, we should tell our spouses, ‘I do not deserve for you to come under my roof! … We are all on the hook in marriage for sacrificial love. Note also that after the fall of Adam and Eve, their marriage was the first thing to fail,” said Dr. Gray.
As Pope Francis said: “Marriage needs to be the Gospel, the Gospel of love.” The new evangelization begins at home with the family and a father.
About the Napa Institute – The Napa Institute was formed to help Catholic leaders face the challenges posed in the “next America” — to continue the work of the Apostles and their successors, the Bishops, heeding Christ’s call for ongoing evangelization. By leading participants to a deeper understanding of the truth behind the faith, the Napa Institute emboldens Catholics to live and defend their faith with a peaceful confidence that is borne out of solid formation, fellowship and spiritual enrichment.
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Thomas M. Loarie is a seasoned and pioneering CEO in the medical device field and a columnist for Catholic Business Journal. For a more robust bio click here: http://catholicbusinessjournal.biz/content/thomas-m-loarie-0. He may be reached at TLoarie@CatholicBusinessJournal.biz