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| Special Mass celebrates marriage | Special Mass celebrates marriage |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of couples with thousands of years of marriage between them have renewed their vows during a special service at Westminster Cathedral. | |
| About 700 couples who have been married for between 10 to 60 years attended. | About 700 couples who have been married for between 10 to 60 years attended. |
| The celebration was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales. | The celebration was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales. |
| It was intended to highlight the importance of marriage as an institution | It was intended to highlight the importance of marriage as an institution |
| "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. | "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. |
| "So the breakdown of marriage in my view is one of the greatest evils of our day. | "So the breakdown of marriage in my view is one of the greatest evils of our day. |
| Ups and downs | Ups and downs |
| "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 Send us your comments | "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 Send us your comments |
| Ann and John Ward, from Bethnal Green, east London, will celebrate 50 years of marriage in August. | Ann and John Ward, from Bethnal Green, east London, will celebrate 50 years of marriage in August. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "You've got to work at it." | "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. | Esther Buckingham and her husband Bert from St Albans, Hertfordshire, who celebrate their 50th anniversary in June, were among those at the service. |
| Cohabitation | 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.â | "That is not to say that marriage is easy, but people do not give marriage a chance today. People give up too easily.â |
| 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. |
| In 2006 there were 12.2 divorcing people per 1,000 married population - the lowest rate is since 1984. | 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. |