Couples Who Live Together Before Marriage are More Likely to Divorce

Couples Who Live Together Before Marriage are More Likely to Divorce

MEDIA ADVISORY, March 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Attend a three-part teleconference briefing on the new book, "Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers" by Mike & Harriet McManus, co-founders of Marriage Savers.

Dial-in number: 641-715-3200; Enter Access Code: 640718#; Please identify yourself.

Briefing #1:
The Myths & Risks of Cohabitation
March 7th - 2 pm

Briefing #2:
Answers to Cohabitation #1-3: premarital inventory, couple mentoring, skill training
March 14th - 2 pm

Briefing #3:
Answers to Cohabitation: 4 & 5: Move Apart and Remain Chaste Until Wedding
March 20th - 2 pm

Briefing #1
Myths: Two-thirds of couples cohabit before they marry. Many are children of divorce or unwed parents and fear marriage. Many say they do so to save money - a myth. They could save the same amount living with same gender friends. They believe they can test the relationship in a "trial marriage." What four out of five will experience is really a "trial divorce." The only question is whether they will break up before the wedding or afterwards.

Risks: Nearly half will break up short of marriage, undergoing premarital divorce which can be as painful as the real thing. And those who cohabited before marriage are 50 percent more likely to divorce than those who live separately. As one marriage expert puts it, "You can't practice permanence."

Men and women cohabit for different reasons. Women see it as a step toward marriage. Men, as available sex, companionship and sharing costs - without commitment. When men don't pop the question, women get depressed, and are three times as likely to be depressed as married women. They are also three times more likely to be physically abused. Cohabiting men are four times as likely as husbands to be unfaithful, and cohabiting women are eight times more likely to cheat as married women. Another risk is they'll have children. Fully 41 percent of cohabiting couples have a child compared to only 45 percent of married couples.

Q&A following teleconference briefing will include answers to:

Why doesn't it make sense to live together to test the relationship?

What has the impact been of cohabitation on marriage rates? Divorce rates?

Why has the church been silent on this issue?

Preview the McManus' answers by watching "The 700 Club" on ABC Family Network at 10 am March 7.

To request a review copy of "Living Together" or additional information, contact Melissa Teutsch at melissa.teutsch@howardpublishing.com.

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Recovery Read Leads Addicts--'and Those Who Love Them'--Home

Recovery Read Leads Addicts--'and Those Who Love Them'--Home

ENUMCLAW, Wash., March 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a society drenched in drugs and alcohol, addiction takes its toll on families far and wide. Sadly, believers are not exempt from the ravages of a sin-soaked culture, and any one family member's decent into the abyss of abuse pulls at the fabric of the whole, spiraling it out of control.

Author Jean Cassidy strikes a clear path for the recovering--or would-be-free alcoholic and the well- meaning (but often ignorant) enablers in the family. When her husband slowly slipped into alcoholism, Cassidy slipped into "coverups" that kept bad patterns going.

"When he was angry with the children, I would tell them he was sick. When he could not go to work, I called his employer. My motive was to 'keep the peace' in our home. Not once did I blame his drinking," says Cassidy. "The plain truth was simple, nonetheless imprisoning," notes the author. "Scotty was addicted to alcohol--and I was addicted to him...." The desperate mother of four finally sought help to change her enabling approach to "helping" her husband.

Breaking the dance of co-dependency, Jean now offers readers an inside look at the painful road of alcohol and relationship addiction in the family. Her saga tells how God led her husband, and then Cassidy family members--to AA and Al Anon 12-Step recovery programs--and also to Himself. Still, implementing new behaviors and "fessing up" to mistakes was tough at times, says Jean.

"I learned to let people own their own personal issues and become responsible for them. I saw that 'letting go' is the most loving action I can take, in addition to praying. No, I was not giving up on others, but I was giving them to the Lord now," she explains.

Jean's roadmap for parenting changed during her and Scotty's recovery, as well. Her new rules are mirrored in the simple, wise conclusions she reached on her agonizing journey, shared here: "Love your spouse. Respect each other. Be a healthy, godly role model for your children. Love and serve God."

Husbands and wives in trouble--and every family that's struggled to regain balance and wellness when ravaged by a loved-one's addictive disease--will cherish the inspiring, practical message here: "If You Do the Difficult, God Will Do the Impossible for you!"

For a review copy or to schedule an interview please contact Adam Cothes at 360-802-9758 or adam@winepressgroup.com.

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