What is marriage? Are a man and a woman really essential to marriage? What about the child … and the role of mothers and fathers? Is it discriminatory to defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman? What impact does the redefinition of marriage have on religious liberty?

These are just a few of the many questions about marriage today. They all hinge upon the first question: What is marriage? When the answer to this question is understood, everything else falls into its proper place.

Marriage is unique for a reason. We invite you now to find out why:

• Brush up on the basics of marriage
• Dive in deep to the Catholic Church’s teaching
• Join the conversation about marriage, children, society, and more!
• Order resources for your parish, class, or home

Diocese of Providence’s Marriage resources

• Five Problems with “Homosexual Marriage”
• Supreme Court to Consider the Future for Marriage
• Statement of Bishop Tobin on President’s decision to support same-sex marriage
• Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell . . . Don’t Sin
• Protecting religious freedoms
• Same-sex couple files discrimination suit against owners of Vermont inn
• Faithful oppose civil unions at Town Hall meeting
• House fails to support same-sex marriage
• Civil Unions are not the answer
• Rep: Colleague trying to bargain on gay marriage issue
• Considering the consequences of same-sex marriage
• Marriage should be strengthened, not redefined
• “Rhode Island, Most Catholic State, Welcomes Gay Marriage”
• Why You Should Worry About ‘Gay Marriage’
• Why ‘Gay Marriage’ is Wrong

What does the Catholic Church teach about marriage?

Basing her teaching on God’s revelation in Scripture and the meaning of the human person, created male and female in the image of God, the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is the lifelong partnership of mutual and exclusive fidelity between a man and a woman ordered by its very nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children (see CCC, no. 1601; CIC, can. 1055.1; GS, no. 48). The bond of marriage is indissoluble – that is, it lasts “until death do us part.” At the heart of married love is the total gift of self that husband and wife freely offer to each other. Because of their sexual difference, husband and wife can truly become “one flesh” and can give to each other “the reality of children, who are a living reflection of their love” (FC, no. 14).
Marriage between a baptized man and a baptized woman is a sacrament. This means that the bond between husband and wife is a visible sign of the sacrificial love of Christ for his Church. As a sacrament, marriage gives spouses the grace they need to love each other generously, in imitation of Christ.

(From FAQ #3 in The Meaning of Marriage and Sexual Difference FAQs)

(Content courtesy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)