Item from the Smart
Marriages Archive, reproduced in the Divorce Statistics
Collection
Church, state join struggle to save U.S. marriages
In Michigan, a Wayne County judge launched a partnership with religious
leaders to provide counseling and other services when marriages are
breaking up. Under the agreement Circuit Judge Helen Brown wrote, church
leaders would give extensive premarital counseling, programs to help
marriages in trouble, and safe places for parents to hand off children
when
sharing custody.
If Brown has her way, parents in Wayne County who file for divorce will
be
handed a list of churches that provide counseling or mediation in the case
of custody disputes. Clergy of all denominations have enthusiastically
received the concept.
In Adrian, Mich., District Court Chief Judge James Sheridan ruled that
officials performing civil weddings in his jurisdiction must train couples
in conflict resolution first. "Divorce is a community issue, not just
a
religious matter," he said. "I'm tired of seeing so many divorces
and
their
consequences come through my court."
In Grand Rapids. Mich.. clergy and community officials together decreed
May
16 to be "Celebrate Marriage Sunday." People in the pews and on
prayer
mats heard sermons on the theme.
Commented Imam Abdullah El-Amin of the Michigan Council of Islamic
Organizations, zI think this is wonderful. The Quran tells us we should
be
involved in cases of marital strife."
Not surprising, there has been dissent. The American Civil Liberties Union
is concerned about a possible state endorsement of religion. Brown says
the
concerns are unfounded and points out that courts often turn to
church-based programs such as Catholic Charities to aid with social
service
matters.
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