Website offers resources for couples of all faiths
Putting a modern image on traditional values, the U.S. Catholic bishops recently launched a Web site designed to promote healthy marriages. The Web site which is located on the Internet at www.foryourmarriage.org, can aid couples of all faiths. With everything from daily marriage tips to statistics on divorce and cohabitation, this site is an up-to-date resource.
The For Your Marriage Web site includes resources for everyone, including engaged and married couples, and facts about Catholic marriage. The Web site is designed for a wide and varied audience and is part of larger campaign which includes television public service messages which can be viewed on the site. In just one month, the site has received nearly 500,000 hits with the average visitor viewing 6-12 pages.
The site offers daily marriage tips that suggest simple ways to cultivate a healthy marriage. A link on the home page also gives couples a tool to find Catholic marriage information locally. A monthly marriage quiz can serve as a conversation starter on sensitive issues.
Information on conflict resolution, communication, and financial concerns is posted throughout the Web site. Topics such as intimacy and parenting also are featured. Visitors also can view stories and advice from married couples.
“The Internet has become a crucial means for evangelizing, especially among younger people,” said Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, Chairman of the bishops’ Marriage and Family Life Committee. “We hope youth especially will find inspiration and hope at the stroke of a key.”
The contemporary design of the For Your Marriage Web site has versatility and accessibility to enable the Internet to be a medium for evangelization and education.
The For Your Marriage Web site is part of a multi-year National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage. The simple exhortation to do something for your marriage is the practical advice promoted by the Web site and the entire campaign.
The For Your Marriage Web site, and the TV and radio spots are funded by the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Communication Campaign, which collects money in parishes nationwide to support church media efforts.