Religious Freedom Week 2019

New USCCB Video: "Saying I Do: What Happens at a Catholic Wedding"

USCCB News Release (August 8, 2013):

A new video, “Saying I Do: What Happens at a Catholic Wedding,” introduces viewers to the Rite of Marriage and answers frequently asked questions about Catholic marriage. The video is intended for engaged couples, their families and people involved in marriage preparation, and anyone with questions about Catholic weddings.

“This will be a valuable addition to marriage preparation programs. The Catholic Rite of Marriage is profound and beautiful and I hope that engaged couples and their families will take this opportunity to learn more about it,” said Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The video includes a brief overview of the sacrament of marriage and an explanation of the three forms of the Rite of Marriage. It answers basic questions such as when and where Catholic weddings can be held and how non-Catholic clergy can participate in the ceremony. The video was produced by USCCB’s Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth in collaboration with the Secretariat of Divine Worship and the Department of Communications.

“The video is a great way to help people to visualize the Catholic way of celebrating weddings,” said Father Daniel Merz, USCCB’s associate director of Divine Worship.  “It’s good to get these images in our heads rather than more secular ones that really don’t reflect Christian marriage.”

The 22-minute video is available on the homepage of the For Your Marriage website: www.ForYourMarriage.org [or on YouTube].

Video: Archbishop Cordileone's Reaction to Supreme Court Rulings

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone (San Francisco), chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage: “The effect of the Court’s decision is to undermine in the law the principle that children have a right to a mother and a father.”

New Videos: Washington State Bishops Defend Marriage

In four new videos, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle and Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Spokane urge Catholics in Washington state to uphold marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Background: In the upcoming November election, Referendum 74 will give voters in Washington state the chance to reject or approve a law passed in February 2012 that redefined marriage to include two persons of the same sex.

For more information: See the website of the Washington State Catholic Conference.

VIDEO: Bishop Cordileone's address to bishops' general assembly on promotion and defense of marriage

On Thursday, June 14, Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, delivered the above address to the U.S. bishops gathered in Atlanta for their biannual general assembly. He spoke about the current cultural situation, the catechetical efforts being advanced by the Subcommittee, impending legal and political issues, and a new social science study on children raised in various family structures.

Read the text of Bishop Cordileone’s speech here.

Videos on Marriage from North Carolina Bishops

In North Carolina, citizens will be asked on May 8th to vote on a marriage amendment that would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman in the state’s Constitution. In anticipation of the marriage amendment vote, both Catholic bishops in North Carolina have produced videos explaining what marriage is and why the marriage amendment matters.

Watch the North Carolina Bishops’ Videos:

Bishop Peter Jugis from Diocese of Charlotte

Bishop Michael Burbidge from Diocese of Raleigh

For more information about the Catholic efforts to defend marriage in North Carolina, see the Catholic Voice NC website.