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Difficulties in Premarital Pastoral

Pero Aračić ; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet u Đakovu Sveučilišta Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Đakovo, Hrvatska

Sažetak

This work deals with pastoral preparations for marriage, with an emphasis on observing the difficulties they can prevent. In this complex matter, of particular importance are the results of the first research done on participants of our preparatory course, and their views and attitudes regarding reasons for a Catholic marriage, the stability of a Christian marriage, sexual relations before and after marriage, family planning, and respect for the life of the foetus, with statistics concerning practising faith on the one hand, and acceptance of Church teachings on the other. The results are presented on 32 tables. These results show that both attitudes and behaviour are partially satisfactory and partially unacceptable. It is necessary to observe a certain percentage of distanced, that is to say Christian in their own way, of which 24% identify with Church teachings, while 51,7% accept »everything my Church teaches«. 82,4% accept that marriage is insoluble, a belief in the strengthening of marriage as the reason for a Church wedding is field by 76,5%. That abortion is the murder of a human being is accepted by 71,1%, and 66,1% say that conception will be planned according to the natural rhythm method of birth control. However, the acquisition of data concerning many other attitudes and results, as well as figures revealing how successful marriages and families are in reality, remain a challenge to be met by Church actions.
As a matter of fact, this data aids in the observation of the main difficulties in these pastoral activities, because they deal with mature, grown up individuals. With good reason the following question arises: What can be accomplished in a short course? Obviously critical observation of pastoral work with youth is necessary. We have to put this segment in the context of the pastoral of marriage and the family in general.
The third part of this text takes, for the first time, and overall look at what is being done in this area throughout Croatia. Obviously systematic and demanding preparatory courses for marriage within the Church are being attempted. About 10 000 people are involved in this long and cooperative method of preparation, and approximately 40 000 people are married in the Church annually. The fourth part is devoted to a detailed development of ideas about preparations for marriage (long term, short term, and right before) according to the latest Church documents, but with particular emphasis on the need to place this segment in the context of the pastoral of marriage and the family as a whole. Short - term preparation is treated on the basis of the experience of the so-called »Đakovo model« and compared to the latest documents from the Pope's Council for the family in this matter.
The final part looks at the orientation for current and immediately feasible practices, as well as orientation in the near future towards systematic formation/creation of such complete practices.

Ključne riječi

preparatory course for marriage; marriage pastoral as a whole; engaged couples; the sacrament of marriage; sexual relations before and after marriage

Hrčak ID:

31504

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/31504

Datum izdavanja:

22.12.1999.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 1.565 *