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Special Mass celebrates marriage Special Mass celebrates marriage
(20 minutes later)
More than 700 couples with 43,000 years of marriage between them are renewing their vows during a "Mass for matrimony" at Westminster Cathedral. Hundreds of couples with 43,000 years of marriage between them have renewed their vows during a special service at Westminster Cathedral.
The couples are all celebrating significant wedding anniversaries during 2008, including nine who have been married for more than 60 years. About 700 couples who have been married for between 10 to 60 years attended.
They have been personally invited by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. The celebration was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales.
He said the institution of marriage was "deeply important" to Britain's future. It was intended to highlight the importance of marriage as an institution
During the Mass the couples - who are all Catholic - will be blessed by the cardinal, who is the leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales. "You speak to any government official or social services and you'll find that much of the trouble that comes - whether it's crime or disruption - is from broken families," Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said.
“Today, perhaps more than ever in the life and history of the Church, we need the visible witness of the love between husband and wife," he said. "So the breakdown of marriage in my view is one of the greatest evils of our day.
Ups and downsUps and downs
“I know politicians of all parties realise that marriage and the well-being of the family are deeply important to the future of Britain as they help to bring stability and the values of fidelity and commitment to society." "Many, many young people, when expressing their dreams and hopes express the desire to one day be happily married and to have a family." People do not give marriage a chance today. People give up too easily Esther Buckingham class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4771&edition=1">Send us your comments
People do not give marriage a chance today. People give up too easily Esther Buckingham class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4771&edition=1">Send us your comments Ann and John Ward, from Bethnal Green, east London, will celebrate 50 years of marriage in August.
And he added: "Of course, some people do a courageous job as single parents, or have felt the pain of a broken marriage. Mrs Ward said: "In a marriage you need patience, tolerance and to take the good times with the bad. We've had a lot of bad times and got through them, and we've had a lot of good times."
"But I know that most parents do not want their children to be taught that marriage is just another lifestyle choice. Many, many young people, when expressing their dreams and hopes express the desire to one day be happily married and to have a family.” And she added: "Things have changed and young people want so much now. They want certain things before they get married. And divorces are so quick now and it's easy to walk away.
Esther Buckingham and her husband Bert from St Albans, Hertfordshire, who celebrate 50 years of marriage in June, are among those attending the service. "You've got to work at it."
Esther Buckingham and her husband Bert from St Albans, Hertfordshire, who celebrate their 50th anniversary in June, were among those at the service.
Cohabitation
"We've had our ups and downs, but we are very happy," she said."We've had our ups and downs, but we are very happy," she said.
"That is not to say that marriage is easy, but people do not give marriage a chance today. People give up too easily.”"That is not to say that marriage is easy, but people do not give marriage a chance today. People give up too easily.”
'Best for children'
Finola Turner, from Northolt, west London, who has been married for 40 years, said: “We need marriage. It is best for children. They need the stability of having two parents who will always be there."
Marriage rates in England and Wales are at their lowest since records began, but it remains the most common form of domestic partnership.Marriage rates in England and Wales are at their lowest since records began, but it remains the most common form of domestic partnership.
In 2006, the number of marriages fell by 4% on the previous year to 236,980, according to the Office for National Statistics.In 2006, the number of marriages fell by 4% on the previous year to 236,980, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The divorce rate is at its lowest level since 1984. In 2006 there were 12.2 divorcing people per 1,000 married population, a 7% drop on 2005. In 2006 there were 12.2 divorcing people per 1,000 married population - the lowest rate is since 1984.
Cohabitation has roughly doubled in the past 20 years to 24% of men aged under 60 and 25% of women.Cohabitation has roughly doubled in the past 20 years to 24% of men aged under 60 and 25% of women.
Statistics from the Catholic Directory show 10,465 marriages between Catholics in 2006 - down 4.5% from the previous year.