The TrueMarriage project seeks to ensure that religious marriages and other fundamental aspects of marriage are recognized by the civil authorities. Currently, all marriages are treated like "no fault" marriages by the civil authorities. Thus, those who enter marriage seeking permanency, those who have a moral view of fault, or those who lovingly welcome children intending to raise them with a religious upbringing, have been denied the right to have their expectations protected through the divorce process. TrueMarriage seeks to defend families in three ways. First, TrueMarriage helps defend holy matrimony. We do so by representing persons who entered a holy marriage and who now seek to have the civil courts recognize that marriage. Second, we have developed written agreements that should be used by married couples and those about to enter marriage. These agreements explicitly choose to use church tribunals and other dispute mechanisms to resolve marriage disputes. Couples can adjust these agreements to their state law and their particular situation with the help of a licensed lawyer of their state. Finally, TrueMarriage seeks to encourage reform of the legal structures that foster divorce. If you are interested in helping us, please visit our donation page and help us with your donation. Contact us if there is some way you want to help, but do not find that option on our page. We look forward to serving you and the millions of faithful men and women and others who have seen their marriages unravel through the no-fault system. Stephen J. Safranek Stephen Safranek (734) 827-8096 Executive Director and Founder of Truemarriage.net SSafranek@truemarriage.net Brian P. Johnson Brian Panahi Johnson (734) 769-2246 Web Designer and Technical Staff BPJohnson@truemarriage.net TrueMarriage.net © 2005, All Rights Reserved "The DIGNITY OF MARRIAGE, which between the baptised 'is the image of and the participation in the covenant of love between Christ and the Church,' demands that the Church with the greatest pastoral solicitude promote marriage and the family founded in marriage, and protect and defend them with all the means available." Dignitas Connubii at 7. This opening line in the Church's instruction reveals how important the institution of marriage is in the life of the Church. Indeed, just as this is an instruction on how the Church should treat marriage, it will also be the basis upon which the Church itself will be judged and created. The Church will be judged on this criteria because the millions and millions of Catholics who are in marriage and who have created a Catholic marriage will look to see whether or not the Church has supported them in their mission. To the degree that members of the Church refuse to be involved in marriage because it is a private matter or because the Church is seen as incapable of handling the marriage issues, so too to that same degree will the Church herself be judged by these lay men and women. Mutatis mutandis, the Church herself will be created. Not in vain has the Church called the family the domestic church. This ancient statement has resonated for so long because of its profound truth. Moreover, this truth reveals how the Church herself is created. Raised in domestic churches, men and women of faith go on to shape the Church herself in their various ministries. Thus, these domestic churches themselves become key factors in the way the Church herself will be seen in the future. Therefore, the battle over holy matrimony is in large measure a battle for the Church herself in the image of Christ's love for the Church. Would you like to help TrueMarriage by making a donation? Send a check to: The Great Lakes Center - TrueMarriage Project 3588 Plymouth Road #374 Ann Arbor MI 48105-2603. If you would like to pay by credit card, enter the desired amount and click the payment button below. Catholic Marriages, True Marriage, True Marriages, Pre-nuptials, prenuptials, post-nuptials, postnuptials, wedding, contract, marriage contract Make a donation for true marriage Find information on true marriage by state Catholic prenuptial Catholic postnuptial Catholic sample prenuptial Catholic sample postnuptial True Marriage.net site map for religious marriages and contractual marriages