Ireland: New research shows strong, though declining support for marriage

Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin and President of ACCORD, launched new research on marriage and families in Ireland on Tuesday. The study, undertaken by Amárach Research, was published after the blessing of engaged couple Ms Leona Gallagher and Mr Paul McNulty at the Shrine of Saint Valentine in Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Whitefriar Street Church in the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Mr Gerard O'Neill, chairman of Amárach Research, presented the findings which were based on Irish society's attitude towards marriage and families, and these were recorded in the year 2006, and also in 2014. In 2006 Amárach undertook a nationwide face-to-face poll of 1,000 adults, and in 2014 a comparative online poll was undertaken using a similar cohort. The results seek to capture continuity and/or attitudinal change towards marriage and families over the intervening eight years.

The research sought to measure Irish perception of our commitment to marriage; value placed on the importance of family; attitude towards raising a child by mother and father; opinion on whether couples who have children ought to be married; and, awareness of ACCORD and the services it offers.

Key findings from the 2014 Amárach research 'Marriage & Families'

- Marriage as an institution has strong support in Ireland. In 2014 54% disagreed that it is "old-fashioned or out-moded", and this was down from 64% in 2006.

- In 2014 51% agreed that "most married couples I know have happy healthy marriages", but this figure was higher in 2006 at 60%.

- In 2014 64% believed "couples should live together first in order to decide if they would suit being married", and this figure was slightly higher at 67% in 2006.

- In 2014 61% considered marriage as a life-long commitment. This has increased from 56% in 2006. This view is particularly strong amongst young people (25 - 34 years).

- Fewer people believe that "the importance of family is decreasing in Ireland." There was a fall from 64% to 54% between 2006 and 2014, indicating that family, for some, has become more important.

- In 2014 65% of people agreed that a child is more likely to grow up happy if raised in a home with a loving mother and father. This question was asked in 2014 but not in 2006.

- In 2014 32% agreed that "couples who have children ought to be married" whereas 46% agreed in 2006.

- In 2014 over half (53%) of those surveyed were aware of ACCORD, the Catholic Marriage Care Service, and this figure is the same as in 2006.

In his remarks Bishop Nulty praised married couples celebrating their silver, golden or diamond wedding anniversaries. "They are rarely thought of as revolutionaries. Yet, according to Pope Francis, that is what they are. Aware that faithful and lifelong marriage is regarded by many as out of fashion. Pope Francis urged millions attending World Youth Day in Brazil a year and a half ago to 'swim against the tide' and 'rebel' against a 'culture that sees everything as temporary", a culture which says "it is not worth making a life-long commitment ... because we do not know what tomorrow will bring'."

"There is no doubt that in many parts of the world attitudes to marriage and the family have changed dramatically in recent years - including here in Ireland," he said.

Referring to the research findings, Bishop Nulty said: "It is interesting that the survey by Amárach Research for ACCORD, published today, illustrates this very fact with a key finding: "65% of Irish adults agree that a child is more likely to grow up happy if raised in a home with a loving mother and father."

"Another finding worth noting from the Amárach Research is that 61% of Irish adults agree that couples who marry should make a lifelong commitment to one another, to be broken only under extreme circumstances. I highlight this aspect of the research because, when the same question was asked in 2006, the figure was only 56%.

Bishop Nulty said: "We have never been in a better position than we are today to show all that the Church says about marriage and the family is life-giving, life-affirming and focused on the good of spouses, children and society. We have never been in a better position than we are today to show that, whereas much of contemporary culture exploits the human body and sexuality, the Church celebrates, cherishes and respects the dignity of the human body and the tenderness, beauty and sensuality of sexual life within marriage.

"We are also well placed to explain that, whereas so much of our contemporary 'throw away' culture rejects the generative integrity of our sexual nature, the Church celebrates the wonderful and astonishing gift of every new and unique life that flows exclusively from the generative capacity and complementarity of a father and a mother.

Much of our contemporary culture commodifies children and relegates their best interests to a less important level than the interests of adults. The Church, in her teaching and tradition on marriage and the family, gives priority to the welfare of children and to the right of every child to know, and where possible to be loved and brought up by his or her biological mother and father.

The Sacrament of Marriage reflects the union between Christ and the Church - one man, one woman, united in Christ, in faithful love. No law, no referendum can alter the true nature and meaning of marriage. Marriage has always recognised sexual difference, and the complementarity of the sexes. This is because society recognises the importance of the setting in which new human life, new members of society, come into existence. It is of vital importance to society that the definition of marriage is protected, sustained and supported."

The Amárach research 'Marriage & Families', and details of the survey methodology, are available on www.catholicbishops.ie.

ACCORD, Catholic Marriage Care Service, is an agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. The first ACCORD centre in Ireland was opened in 1962 at Saint Mary's Parish, Belfast, in the Diocese of Down & Connor. For more information see: www.accord.ie