Marriage campaign launched by Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has launched a marketing campaign in the US state of Denver in a bid to promote marriage.

Comprising television and radio spots, the campaign seeks to teach people the Catholic understanding of marriage, and encourage couples to do things that will increase the longevity of their union. While there is no obviously religious message to the spots so they will appeal to a wider audience, the people who feature in them are identified as Catholics, the Associated Press reports.

The public service announcements are available to TV, radio and cable outlets, and the $600,000 (£300,000) marketing campaign has been introduced to the state in conjunction with the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers conference being held there.

Each spot features people in everyday settings such as the park being asked the question "what have you done for your marriage today?" The people provide answers such as "waking up early with the baby". The idea is that their answers will highlight how small acts of kindness can help sustain the long-term commitment of married life.

Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, a member of the bishops' committee on marriage and family life, said: "Both marriage and family are necessary for the common good of society," he said. "When either institution weakens, all of us suffer the consequences. When both marriage and family grow stronger, all of us benefit."