By Ann Marie Foley - 13 February, 2019
Both men and women agree that technology and social media cause difficulty in their relationships and marriages. Research also shows that the most prevalent family concerns are about finances and separation.
This is according to new research for Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service. The research is based on counselling sessions and issues raised by clients between January 2016 and December 2017 on a sample of 3,000 clients. The research was carried out by Mira Dobutowitsch, a PhD student at the Department of Education, Maynooth University.
Other findings are that clients who have difficulty in communication are likely to have difficulty in conflict. Males and females do not differ significantly in their views on conflict; and the most problematic issues in conflict are poor resolution of arguments and disagreements, frequency of arguments and frequency of yelling and shouting.
Men are more likely to ignore or not listen to their partner; they rate problematic behaviour less negatively than women; and more men than women have concerns about their partner being in another close relationship, emotional or physical. Women are more likely to rate childcare and home duties as a problem.
The report was published as Accord released its 2018 figures for marriage preparation courses and relationship counselling. The statistics, published on Tuesday (12 February 2019), show that 16,048 individuals attended Accord marriage preparation courses across the island of Ireland in 2018. This compares with 15,504 in 2014. The highest number, some 17,108, attended courses in 2016.
Accord provided 24,180 counselling sessions to individuals and couples during 2018 throughout Ireland, north and south. This is down from 38,881 in 2014. The number of sessions has continued to fall each year, with 26,946 in 2017.
Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, and President of Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service CLG, blessed an engaged couple on the day of the Accord report launch in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Whitefriar Street, where the holy relics of Saint Valentine are interred.
“The heart is very much the symbol of love and Valentine’s Day. It will feature on many a card or gift exchanged in two days’ time. The heart is at the centre of our work with Accord as we continue supporting and accompanying couples towards a deeper understanding of the gift of sacramental marriage,” said Bishop Nulty.
“The love of a married couple is a very special kind of love, a love that is life-giving, permanent and exclusive.”
Bishop Nulty with Emer Duffy and Killian Casey (St Valentine statue in background)
He blessed engaged couple Emer Duffy from Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 and Killian Casey from Ballyboden, Rathfarnham, Dublin, who said that their romance blossomed after a GAA match at Croke Park.
Recalling the words of Pope Francis at the same Croke Park at the World Meeting Of Families 2018 about supporting couples and families, Bishop Nulty said: “Our love and care must extend to all.”
He added: “This annual blessing ceremony allows us in Accord to reflect on the valuable contribution marriage and the family offer the wider society.”
He thanked all those who work in Accord, including facilitators, counsellors and staff.
The first Accord centre in Ireland was established in 1962 at Saint Mary’s Parish, Belfast, in the Diocese of Down & Connor. Up until recently Accord was an agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and operated as an unincorporated association.
Since 2017, Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service has changed its governance structure to operate as three distinct companies limited by guarantee. These companies include one to cover Northern Ireland, one for Dublin and the third for 34 centres in the Republic of Ireland and Central Office in Maynooth. In total the three Accord companies currently operate in 54 centres throughout the island of Ireland – north and south.
