SECTION: A; Pg. 5

LENGTH: 641 words

HEADLINE: Churches commit to plan that promotes marriage

SOURCE: Staff

BYLINE: RICHARD VARA, Houston Chronicle Religion Editor

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:
WASHINGTON - Catholic bishops and several Protestant groups joined together Tuesday to issue an unprecedented "Christian Declaration on Marriage," the first step in a national ecumenical effort to combat divorce and cohabitation.

"Our nation is threatened by a high divorce rate, a rise in cohabitation, a rise in (out-of-wedlock) births, a decline in the marriage rate and a diminishing interest in and readiness for marrying, especially among young people," said the statement, which was released at a news conference during the second day of the annual meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The declaration brought together such disparate bodies as Catholics, Southern Baptists, the National Association of Evangelicals and the National Council of Churches. Roman Catholics constitute the largest Christian denomination in the United States, with more than 60 million members.

The statement called for marriage-preparation programs, mentoring couples to assist other married couples and assistance for troubled marriages.

Free Methodist Bishop Kevin Mannoia, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, said the diverse church leaders were also preparing for a "marriage summit" to discuss ways to strengthen marriage.

"The situation today requires that we once again make a 'case for marriage,' " said Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore, representing the nation's Catholic bishops. "In itself, this offers a sad commentary on the state of our culture.

"But on the other hand, the fact that many people have joined this effort and are together creating a small but growing movement in favor of marriage is a cause of rejoicing."

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, lauded the declaration while acknowledging that the churches have failed in emphasizing the importance of lifelong marriage.

"We are aware that there needed to be remedial education in our faith communities," said Land, who attended the news conference.

The leaders denied that the emphasis on lifelong marriage between men and women was a reaction to the gay rights movement and its seeking of the legalization of same-sex marriages.

The bishops' meeting has been marked by protests by gay rights groups including Dignity, a Catholic group. More than 100 protesters were arrested Tuesday morning at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

The leaders said the declaration was motivated by the deteriorating state of marriage in the United States and the social and personal problems caused by family breakups.

In other action, the bishops announced that their domestic anti-poverty program would award $ 1 million to community programs aimed at reducing crime.

Bishop John J. Liebrecht of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo., and chairman of the 30-year-old Catholic Campaign for Human Development, said the money would be used to improve housing, education and security for the impoverished.

The Rev. William Pickard, a prison chaplain and a parish priest from Scranton, Pa., said $ 80,000 in funding over two years helped a housing project in his city reduce crime by organizing residents.

The residents then obtained better lighting, more police patrols and recreational programs for youths, he said.

The $ 1 million fund will help implement the bishops' call for criminal justice reform.

The statement, known as "Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice," will come up for consideration today.

The bishops are seeking extensive reforms in the criminal justice system to improve treatment of inmates, crime victims and their families.

Leibrecht said a big obstacle to reform is that public sentiment does not go beyond punishment, and he urged Catholics to get involved in rehabilitation efforts.



GRAPHIC: Photo: Cardinal William Keeler and other clergymen presented a "Christian Declaration on Marriage" in Washington Tuesday.; Associated Press

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LOAD-DATE: November 16, 2000