Church in Costa Rica extends pre-marital preparation to help prevent failed marriages

Jan 31, 2006 / 22:00 pm

In response to an increase in failed marriages in Costa Rica, the Church in that country has decided to extend the length of pre-marital instruction and to require that priests celebrate marriage ceremonies exclusively in churches.

The Archdiocese of San Jose announced it would release the  “Decree on Catechetical Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage” this Thursday and that it would be implemented throughout the entire country.

According to Father Sixto Varela, the main changes to premarital instructions would primarily be in the structure of the meetings, which he said would be better-planned and last around 30 hours.

Father Varela said priests would continuing interviewing couples to determine if they are ready for the sacrament of Matrimony, as often a deficient “pre-marital instructions is what results in couples not taking marriage seriously.” 

Father Alvaro Saenz, Director of Communications for the archdiocese, underscored that “the Church desires couples better prepare themselves and grow deeper in the areas of faithfulness and communication.”