Catholic Parenting and Sexual Identity

When Your Spouse Says No to Intimacy

What should you do if your spouse always says no to marital intimacy? What if there is conflict about abstaining from intimacy to avoid sin? Doug goes to the mailbag, answering these questions and more.     Listener questions and Comments: * Ray - I am seeing the biggest hindrance in marriage being unrealistic expectations. (21:57)

Marriage, Suffering, and Lasting Hope

Doug discusses suffering in marriage.   Listener questions and comments: * Jennifer - How much suffering is too much? (8:44) * Candy - I have been married for 40 years. My husband goes into funks and won’t talk to me for a day or up to 3 months. I start getting upset and I don’t know what to do. (19:37) * Elaine - I was divorced in 1991, and he was having an affair with his secretary since 1989. It was awful and I wanted to save the marriage, but I had lost to this woman. I wonder what would have happened if I had stuck around. (27:46) * Rocco - Mary at the Wedding of Cana might have said what she said to the servants because of her perspective as a married woman. She was invested in the wedding going well and starting the marriage off well. (34:51) * Mike - I suffer from depression myself and one thing I find is that medication helps. Prayer life will also help. (37:41) * Deedee - What is the difference between the 6th and 9th commandments? Which is worse? (41:45) * Anthony - My wife revealed trauma from her childhood (incest and rape) and she told me ten years after we got married. We divorced because of it. She kept this from me before marriage. (44:09)   Resources:   Marriage Unhindered https://www.marriageunhindered.com/ [https://www.marriageunhindered.com/]   Happy Marriage for Life https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/ [https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/]   Catholic Therapists https://catholictherapists.com/ [https://catholictherapists.com/]   Catholic Psychotherapy https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/ [https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/]

10 Keys to a Happy Marriage

Doug shares 10 practical habits that can help couples build a happy and successful marriage. The conversation also touches on infidelity, hoarding, forgiveness, and mental health struggles that can impact relationships. Resources:  https://internationalforgiveness.com/ [https://internationalforgiveness.com/]   https://www.internationalhoardingalliance.org/ [https://www.internationalhoardingalliance.org/]    https://www.nami.org/ [https://www.nami.org/]

Can Marriage Survive Infidelity?

Doug looks at the marriage of Al and Lisa Robertson from Duck Dynasty and their journey through infidelity and reconciliation. Listeners also share stories of addiction, emotional affairs, and fighting to save a sacramental marriage. Listener questions and comments: * Ron – How should I guide my son after his arrest for drug-related charges? * Al – My sister and brother-in-law survived infidelity, and I encouraged her to keep fighting for their sacramental marriage. Supporting her gave her hope to work through it. * Caller – My husband had an emotional relationship with a coworker, and even though we stayed married, the doubts still linger in the back of my mind. Resources:  St. Mark Ji Tianxiang: opium addict, martyr and saint--Aleteia [https://aleteia.org/2017/07/06/he-was-an-opium-addict-who-couldnt-receive-the-sacraments-but-hes-a-martyr-and-a-saint/] https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/how-duck-dynasty-star-al-robertson-s-wife-regained-his-trust-after-affair-i-changed-the-way-i-dressed-talked/ar-AA23iEfE [https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/how-duck-dynasty-star-al-robertson-s-wife-regained-his-trust-after-affair-i-changed-the-way-i-dressed-talked/ar-AA23iEfE]

Managing Family Finances Together

Is money causing stress in your marriage? Today, Doug is joined by Preston Allex to talk through practical ways to manage family finances. They cover why creating a family budget matters and how to support college-aged kids as they transition into independence. They also share the value of Catholic Legacy: Faithful planning for a peaceful tomorrow.   Listener questions and comments: * Tony - My wife and I have a big family, and we have no credit card or debt, but also no savings. We rely on divine providence, hoping everything works out month to month, but it’s getting old. What do we do? (18:26) * Kathy - My husband and I paid our kids’ deposit and a month's rent to help them launch. (29:49)   Resources: Catholic Legacy https://catholiclegacy.com/ [https://catholiclegacy.com/]