Marital infidelity among young couples in Paidha Catholic Parish in light of Amoris Laetitia

Abstract

This research was carried out to encourage young couples in Paidha Catholic Parish to remain faithful in their marriage commitment. Specifically, it was undertaken to establish the causes of infidelity among young couples in Paidha Catholic Parish; to identify some effects of infidelity in marriage among young people; and to suggest some possible solutions to the factors that affect marital fidelity among young couples in the same Parish. To achieve this, the survey design was employed with a purposive sampling technique, all deemed to be useful for the research. The research Different data collection tools were used for this study such as oral interviews, questionnaire and observations. The researcher had acquired from the Dean of Studies a letter of introduction to collect data and the data collected were presented and analysed in line with the stated objectives. The study was carried out among one hundred thirty respondents and the researcher used questionnaire, interview guide and on occasions, observed the reactions, feelings and emotions of the respondents as well. The researcher also analysed the data collected both qualitatively in descriptive form and quantitatively in tabular form and using graphs and charts. The findings of the study showed that a number of respondents knew marriage as the permanent union in love between a mature man and a mature woman. The study also found out that there are a number of causes of marital infidelity in marriage among young couples such as looking for promotions at workplaces, inadequate preparations through catechesis and marriage at early age among others. These causes have their own effects not only on the spouses but also on the children and the society as a whole. Therefore, the study also found out that there are possible solutions to the causes and effects of marital infidelity among young couples in Paidha Catholic Parish. The study concluded that the different causes of marital infidelity among young couples with all their effects on a given marriage can be solved, though not all of them can be done easily. Prayer life, adoption of children, proper and adequate catechesis for young couples, guidance and counselling services, marriage seminars and conferences are some of the possible solutions to the causes and effects of marital infidelity in marriage among young couples. The study has also made some recommendations about the findings in line with the stated objectives. Religious leaders need to be involved more actively especially in preparing the couples for their marriage as certain doctrines are very hard to be explained by the catechists alone. The religious leaders, especially priests, should really be involved in the in-depth catechesis of the couples on doctrinal issues. The study further recommends that Nebbi Catholic Diocese should establish a serenity and counselling centre to help young people who go through effects of drug and substance abuse.