Cardinal Okpalaeke attributes increasing number of marriage failure to parental failure

The Bishop of Ekwulobia Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke, has identified parental failure, community failure, and the failure of the Church as reasons for the increasing number of marriage breakdowns in the world today.

He said training children in the ways of God from infancy through to the preparation for marriage is the only effective solution to address what he described as the “marriage menace.”

Cardinal Okpalaeke who was speaking at the 45th wedding anniversary ceremony of Chief Paulinus Nwafor and his wife, Lolo Nwafor, in Oko, Orumba North, maintained that marriage should be a source of joy, adding that based on his understanding, many marriages are failing today because couples have lost the sense of family.

He pointed out that crisis seen in marriages today is a reflection of failure of the parents, the community, the Church and other Institutions that are supposed to be a nurturing place or ground for those that would eventually get married.

The Bishop admonished Christians to be followers of Christ, showing love of Christ and living a Christ-like life.

He further stressed the importance of having good intentions which he noted, matter a lot to God, reminding the people to always put God first in their daily activities.

The celebrants, Chief Paulinus Nwafor (aged 85 and his wife, Lolo Nwafor (aged 65), in their unanimous speeches, appreciated God for the gift of being alive to witness the day and expressed satisfaction with what God has bestowed on him and his wife, forty-five years

One of their sons and a serving Priest at the Ekwulobia Catholic Diocese, Rev. Emmanuel Nwafor, said the celebration had become an annual routine in their family to celebrate God’s abundant Grace and Mercies, and urged Christians to imbibe the spirit of celebrating their parents while they are still alive