Media Releases
Marriage ceremonies may be the last time men attend
church
Released: 19 June 2002
Church attendance ends at "I do"
Marriage ceremonies may be the last time men attend church, a new Australian study has revealed.
Church attendance in Australia has fallen dramatically over the past forty years, particularly among divorced and separated males.
The study, conducted by Dr John Armstrong of St Christopher's Cathedral in Canberra, found that divorced and separated men are 75 per cent less likely to attend church than their previous generation.
The study also discovered significantly lower levels of church attendance in almost all relationship groups.
Dr Armstrong believes many churches have ignored the population's changing attitudes towards relationships.
Divorce rates have more than quadrupled over the past forty years, yet many church groups still discourage this behaviour.
Dr Armstrong believes it is time churches re-examine their teachings so as to 'not impose a moral code upon others but instead nurture relationships which are faithful, life-giving and open to the nurture of children', he said.
Dr Armstrong will be presenting his findings at the XV World Congress of Sociology to be held in Brisbane in July.
For further details on the Congress visit the website at www.sociology2002.com
Media Contacts
- Professor Jake Najman, Chair of the Local Organising Committee
Ph: +61 73365 5180
Email: J.Najman@sph.uq.edu.au - Barbara Adkins, Local Organising Committee
Ph: +61 73864 4664
Email: b.adkins@qut.edu.au - Paul Bird, Linksplus Consulting
Ph: +61 0419 724431
Email: qldbird@msn.com.au