In a recent study of the Catholic family by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Catholic parents were polled (unlike most studies of all Catholic adults). In light of our discussion of the domestic Church – the Christian home – consider the following statistics on different aspects of family life:
On eating together:
How often do you eat dinner together as a family?
51% every night
35% few times a week
3% weekends only
4% once a week
7% rarely or never
On prayer:
In descending order, parents are most likely to “always” pray:
During times of crisis 42%
When feeling anxious or depressed 34%
When feeling blessed 31%
B efore bed 26%
During Lent/Advent 18%
On celebrating the sacraments:
66% of parents say that it is “very” important to them that their children celebrate their first Communion.
61%, indicate the same importance for their children being confirmed.
(CARA June 2015)
Catechism Quiz
Test your own knowledge of the Church’s teaching on the family by answering the following:
Which of the following does the political community have a duty to the family to ensure?
- the freedom to establish a family, have children and bring them up in keeping with the family’s own moral and religious convictions
- the protection of the stability of the marriage bond and the institution of the family
- the right to private property, to free enterprise, to obtain work and housing and the right to emigrate
- All of the above
Answer: (D) all of the above (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2211)