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August 3, 2009

Florida's Other Marriage Amendment

Christian groups propose $100 fee for Florida couples who do not get premarital counseling.

Alicia Cohn

The key to a lower divorce rate and healthier marriages starts before the vows are taken, according to advocates for mandatory premarital counseling.

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Many states, including Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Arizona, have laws in place that provide economic incentives for couples who attend a specified number of hours of marriage education. Citing research proving the success of premarital counseling in reducing long-term divorce rates, some organizations are pushing for legislation that provides even more reasons for couples to attend premarital education.

In Florida, the Marriage Preparation Act proposes to raise the price of a marriage license by a $100 fee that can be waived if the couple attends eight hours of premarital counseling. It also raises the number of required hours from four to eight and promotes a premarital inventory test as part of the education. The act, which increases the statute already in place, is supported by the Christian Coalition of Palm Beach County and the Florida Family Policy Council, both Christian organizations that promote pro-life and traditional marriage legislation in the state.

However, couples seeking premarital education can choose a "secular" version, as well, potentially raising questions about just what defines premarital counseling. Some popular marriage inventory services, such as FOCCUS, provide "general" and "Christian" versions. The marriage handbook provided by Florida State steers clear of religious overtones, instead emphasizing the magnitude of marriage through lessons on divorce's economic and legal impact.

Opponents complain that the act is equal to cash in the pockets of the church, because while the required premarital counseling does not necessarily have to be Christian, much premarital counseling comes from that perspective. In Texas, for instance, where the license fee is similarly reduced after eight hours of premarital education, a list of approved classes indicates that many - though not all - counselors are based out of a variety of denominational churches (categorized as "faith-based organizations"). It's hardly a monopoly, though it makes sense that since Christians respect the institution of marriage, they would be actively seeking the tools to make it to work.

Other faith-based organizations, such as Marriage Savers, are avoiding the legal system by creating partnerships between local churches. Its Community Marriage Policy (CMP) requires local clergy to "sign a covenant agreeing not to marry any couple who has not had a specified, substantial amount of pre-marital counseling." More than 200 communities have active CMPs, according to its website, and the organization was featured on ABC News in 2007.

What do you think? Is state-based legislation the most effective way for Christians to promote healthy marriages and counteract the staggering rate of divorce in the U.S.?

Alicia Cohn is an intern at Christianity Today magazine. She has written previous blog posts for Her.meneutics on the Breast Cancer Bible and The Stoning of Soraya M.

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Posted by Katelyn Beaty on August 3, 2009 9:23 AM

Comments

While I am an advocate of pre-marital counseling I don't think these types of initiatives do much. In GA, where I am, the difference between rates charges is set by the county. In most counties the financial difference is around $5. I have seen some counties charge as much as $20 but I haven't seen any higher than that. So the financial incentive is just not there. And at least some pre-marital counseling costs money, so you may actually pay less to pay the non-premarital rate and skip the pre-marital counseling fees.

I also think that this affects low income people more. If the charges are high enough to make a difference (not sure even $100 would be enough when many weddings cost well over $5000), then it will really affect low income people. We want to encourage marriage among low income couples (which are the ones that have higher non-married rates and higher divorce rates).

Posted By: Adam S | August 3, 2009 12:47 PM

Pre-marital counseling can be important and good. The government requiring, however, is not.

Posted By: Robyn | August 3, 2009 1:19 PM

I disagree with this method. It is just another sign that Christianity and the church are of no affect on our culture today. When we advocate the government regulating marriage to the point of actually providing counseling, we have completely lost the battle for hearts and minds. As the church, we have to stop applying political methodology in combating spiritual problems.

Our culture has replaced what was once common sense practices with government or politically mandated laws, ordinances, and regulations, hoping to achieve the same results. Ain't gonna happen.

Posted By: Jerry | August 3, 2009 3:30 PM

Jerry, what do you suggest the church and community does instead?

Posted By: stephanie | August 3, 2009 4:00 PM

Pre-marital counseling is not just a religous concern. The state has a vested interest in successful marriages since it is so often the state that has to provide clean-up (financial and otherwise) for the mess that divorce creates. This does not necessarily mix religion and the state.

Posted By: Truthmeister | August 3, 2009 4:39 PM

It may be that there isn't an intentional mix of religion and government but the church is the primary marriage location for most people whether they regularly attend church or not. I have no idea where you would look for marriage counseling if you didn't go to a church. I am not even sure where I would find marriage counseling at my own church. I am all for marriage counseling, but as with many things when it is forced it is much less effective than when people are doing it because they think it is a good thing.

Posted By: truthmeister | August 3, 2009 6:00 PM

I am sorry the above post was intended to be directed at Truthmeister, not by Truthemeister. It was written by Adam S. Sorry.

Posted By: Adam S | August 3, 2009 6:01 PM

Of course premarital counseling is a good idea, but I'm not really sure this is a good use of government coercive power. I guess the Christian Coalition isn't quite so opposed to Big Brother government as they would have us believe. Also, I agree with Adam S that low income folks are the most likely to be unable to either find choices for such counseling or to bear the increased fee.

Posted By: Christian Lawyer | August 3, 2009 9:03 PM

As the current president of the CMP that was featured in the ABC News 2007 story, I have seen first-hand the results of encouraging higher pre-marital standards. In the six years since the signing of the original Community Marriage Policy here in Clackamas County, we have seen our divorce rate drop 21%, while surrounding counties without policies have had divorce rates drop around 6%. It has had a substantial impact here and saved over 1,000 children the heartache of their parents' divorce, not to mention what it has saved taxpayers. Thousands of studies have shown that the best way to raise kids is in a two parent home and one of the best ways to have a healthy marriage is to get if off to a good start with pre-marital inventories and counseling. This fall we are re-signing our policy and this time we will include not just clergy, but also educators, mental health professionals and business people. We can all contribute to honoring marriage.

Posted By: Aly Salz | August 3, 2009 9:11 PM

I've long thought -- thanks to the professor who taught the Courtship and Marriage class in college -- that it is too easy to get married in the US. Professionally, I meet regularly with people who are divorcing and see the toll that it takes. Many of the people that I see were married only a short time before deciding to divorce, which always makes me wonder why they got married in the first place.

I think that anything that causes people to ask rational questions of each other regarding their expectations and goals about married life (i.e., faith, children, finances, sex, worklife, etc.) is a good thing. I really can't see the downside of this. If communities or churches are concerned about the implication of state encouragement for their services, then those localities should encourage non-religious agencies to provide the service. (Shouldn't be too hard, since the state is creating a market for that service.)

Posted By: LawGirl | August 3, 2009 9:46 PM

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