Marriage as the Church Understands It

Marriage in the teachings of the Catholic Church is viewed as a permanent and exclusive partnership between a man and a woman, who have become husband and wife through a sacred covenant with God and each other. It is based on love, faith, fidelity, partnership, and openness to children. Although it is considered a vocation – a calling from God, it is recognized that sometimes married couples are faced with difficulties they feel their marriage cannot overcome, and the marriage breaks down.