Marriage Unhindered

What should you do if you discover your husband has same-sex attraction? Today, Doug tackles this question and more on Marriage Unhindered.   Listener questions and comments: John - I thought getting married gets you out of the issue of lust, but it can continue in marriage. (21:50) Julie - I have been married to my husband for 25 years and he always uses contraception, but I don’t know how to tell him to stop. (25:59) Susan - If you can’t get through to him you aren’t sinning but it’s on him. (32:58) Tim - We’ve always been too busy for sex, and my wife is too tired because of her shift. (37:34) Josephina - My spouse and I fought because I don’t know if he is still smoking. I found something the other day and I want to know how to approach him so that we don’t fight and we actually see progress. (42:14)   Resources:   Courage International https://couragerc.org/   Catholic Therapists https://catholictherapists.com/   Catholic Psychotherapy https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/

Doug dives into the frustrations many men face with modern dating and the challenges of building a lasting marriage. He breaks down what often goes wrong and why so many feel stuck or discouraged. Through honest insights and practical advice, Doug offers straightforward dating tips to help young men build confidence, and create meaningful relationships.   Listener questions and comments: Patrick - I need to emphasize the swearing! It’s gotten so bad. (20:39) Tony - I got married at 36 and I wanted to share some advice. It helped when I submitted to God's will. (31:38) Kathy - It’s important to continue the respect your wife even after the marriage. (38:11) Nicole - Where do the women hang out? (39:31) Bill - You can meet a good young woman at a Catholic college. (42:04) Karen - My husband and I were an example to a man who had a kid out of wedlock. He married the girl because of our example. We can help as married people by encouraging these kids. (43:58)

Doug explores how lying affects marriages, how to respond, and ways to foster honesty. Listeners share personal experiences, including insights from a recovered liar and the impact of dementia on a spouse’s truthfulness.   Listener questions and comments: Junior – I am a reformed liar and want to share my perspective. Confession helped me realize you don’t have to lie. (34:20) Paulette – My husband died from dementia and began lying years ago when he couldn’t explain events. I now see his lying as a symptom of the disease. (44:08)   Resources:   Marriage Unhindered https://www.marriageunhindered.com/   Rekindled Hearts Marriage Bundle https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle   Happy Marriage for Life https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/  

Fr. Robert Altier joins Doug to discuss the difference between a civil and sacramental marriage and what happens to the souls of a man and woman when they enter into a sacramental marriage.   Listener questions and comments:   Richard - Does a sacramental marriage require a civil marriage? (13:20) Lisette - Follow up: I closed my husband’s laptop and he pushed me out of the room so I called the cops. What do I do now? (15:44) Jo - My son's wife left him. is it better to seek divorce or to be standers? (32:30) Louanne - If one person thinks the marriage was valid but the other had no intention of keeping it, is the one who thought it was valid obligated to stay? (35:27) Tom - If a spouse dies and you remarry are you united to another soul? (41:49)   Resources: God's Plan For Your Marriage Book https://godsplanforyourmarriagebook.com/

Doug examines a case study about a marriage that had nearly fallen apart but was eventually revived. In this relationship, the couple got engaged after just four months. Although the wife had doubts about the marriage, she reassured herself that even if it didn’t work out, she would at least have children.   Listener questions and comments: Matt - Do you recommend a longer courtship for long distance couples? (36:51) Cecil - My wife left my marriage after her parents died. I am wondering if she was wrong for leaving. Should I look for a divorce after 15 years? (46:32)   Resources:   Impossible Marriages Redeemed https://www.leilamiller.net/impossiblemarriagesredeemedpdf   Happy Marriage for Life https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/

Sarah Bartel, co-founder of Cana Feast joins Doug to discuss how women can enjoy holy and healthy physical intimacy with their husbands.   Listener questions and comments: Mary - My husband would wake me up at middle of night. I would tell him no, but he'd keep insisting. I got to the point, that I told him, ‘It feels like you're raping me'. Was that wrong for me to say? (15:00) John - How would you prioritize your spouse in terms of intimacy when you have a special needs child? (39:00)   Resources: Cana Feast https://canafeast.com/   https://canafeast.com/mydelight-whatsallowed

Are you worried that your marriage is in danger? Do you feel like you are losing that loving feeling? Today, Doug shares how to resurrect a dead marriage.   Listener questions and comments: Joe - How do we find a way resolve issues without sounding angry and disrespectful in front of kids? (22:45)   Resources:   Happy Marriage for Life https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/   Catholic Therapists https://catholictherapists.com/   Catholic Psychotherapy https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/   The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/0553447718   Hold me Tight https://bit.ly/4bWvTVz   Marriage Insurance https://relevantradio.store/products/marriage-insurance-book   God’s plan for your marriage https://bit.ly/4mbkPam   Practical tips to resurrecting your marriage Believe that resurrection is possible and real Put Christ back in the center of your marriage Begin with a brutal but non-defensive honesty Get some help

Doug explores the importance of forgiveness in marriage sharing how to forgive like Jesus did from the cross.   Listener questions and comments: Kathy - I think your book should have been called 'suffering in marriage'. You are very good at talking about this topic. (21:15) Esther - Should I feel shame when I forgive my spouse but people are judging me for forgiving him? (35:46) Dianna - I want to say thank you. Your show is a ministry and it’s just the best. (40:28)   Resources: The Forgiveness Institute https://internationalforgiveness.com/   4 Lessons we can learn from Christ’s passion Our Lord’s Passion shows that love shows up especially when it’s the costliest. Jesus forgives in the middle of being wounded. Christ turned suffering into redemption. It’s the Passion that leads to the Resurrection   Forgiveness Prayers   I forgive you (NAME)___________________ for ____ (name the offense) _______. I ask God to bless you and keep you in His love and peace. (Repeat frequently)                                                                                               I forgive you (NAME)___________________ for ____ (name the offense) _______. I ask God to bless you and keep you in His love and peace. (Repeat frequently) Sweet Jesus, I ask you to also forgive (NAME) for (name the offense). Do not hold this offense against him/her. Look not upon this offense but look rather at his/her virtues and help me to also see those virtues. He/she was created in your image and likeness. See that reflection of yourself in him/her. I ask you to give him/her joy and peace. Keep him/her closely united to You. Sweet Jesus, I thank you for this injury I have suffered at the hands of (name)____________. Help me to unite this suffering with your suffering on the cross. Help me to use this suffering to grow more detached from myself and closer to you. Help me to use this suffering to grow in humility and all virtues. Help me to use this suffering to obtain the forgiveness of my sins and the conversion of all sinners.        

Katy Faust with Them Before Us joins Doug to share how children need to be a priority in our society.   Listener questions and comments: Patrick - Do you think there is a way to get rid of no-fault divorce? (20:41) Mike - It seems like women leave marriage at a higher rate than men. What do you think about this? (25:07) Stephen - Would you cover the verse that mentioned you commit adultery if you get remarried? (33:40) Trinidad - What do you do if you have a relative who cheated? What's my role in this? My cousin is struggling. (38:56)   Resources:   https://thembeforeus.substack.com/   Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children's Rights Movement https://www.amazon.com/Them-Before-Us-Childrens-Movement/dp/1642935964   Catholic Therapists https://catholictherapists.com/   Catholic Psychotherapy https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/

Doug shares how marriage can be a vessel for Christ’s redemptive work.     Resources:   How Christ Saves Souls—with Us: The Mystery of Co-Redemption https://stpaulcenter.com/store/how-christ-saves-souls-with-us-the-mystery-of-co-redemption   Catholic Therapists https://catholictherapists.com/   Catholic Psychotherapy https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/

Doug shares marriage lessons we can learn from Jesus’ suffering in Gethsemane. He unpacks martyrdom in marriage, white martyrdom and how God uses our sufferings to redeem souls.   Listener questions and comments: Katherine - My Husband will say sometimes 'I just wish I was dead' and I don’t know how to respond. (20:05)

Courtney Brown joins Doug to discuss talking to young children about human sexuality.   Listener questions and comments: Michelle - My mom always said that when a man and woman love each other, they make love. (20:53) Joyce - Love Ed is what we used at our church and it was very good. (23:49) Patrick - How do you explain when people reduce homosexuality to the Idea of 'they just love each other'? (36:48)   Resources: Ruah Woods Institute https://www.ruahwoodsinstitute.org/

Dr. Ed Sri and his wife Beth join Doug to discuss their book - The Good, the Messy, and the Beautiful: The Joys and Struggles of Real Married Life.   Listener questions and comments: John - I have a porn addiction that my wife found out about, and it led her to discover inappropriate messages and a past affair. I suffered domestic violence from her this past month, and I'm now in a domestic violence shelter. She's reaching out to me. What do I do? (20:13) Kate - I heard your talk about how significant marriage counseling is. We've tried to go to marriage counseling. How can we address our issues? (25:08) Allison - How do I set boundaries with my in-laws? My husband and I are both converts. (33:51)   Resources:   The Good, the Messy, and the Beautiful: The Joys and Struggles of Real Married Life https://bit.ly/4s2XDNa   Dr. Ed Sri https://www.edwardsri.com/   Beth Sri https://borntodothis.org/   Consecration to St. Joseph https://www.amazon.com/Consecration-St-Joseph-Wonders-Spiritual/dp/1596144319   Catholic Therapists https://catholictherapists.com/   Catholic Psychotherapy https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/   

What should you do when “The Formula” doesn’t work? What should you do when your wife doesn’t do what you ask? Doug goes to the mailbag answering these questions and more.   Listener questions and comments: Mike - What do you think about common law marriage? (16:11) Addison - I am struggling because my husband is stressed at work and our son has special needs. When we try to talk using the formula it starts a bad cycle. (21:35) Greg - Do you have a brief description of narcissistic behavior? (36:23)

Sociologist Dr. Brad Wilcox joins Doug to discuss the state of marriage in the U.S.       Resources: Brad Wilcox https://ifstudies.org/about-us/brad-wilcox

Do the problems in your marriage seem insurmountable? Today, Doug continues his discussion on discouragement and despair in marriage.   Listener questions and comments: Alexander - How do I convince my wife to become Catholic? (3:05) Colby - I want to recommend that Alexander looks into the Byzantine rite of the Catholic Church. (16:47) David - What do you do if you were raised in an all-male family and environment but you need to relate to your wife? (19:42)   Resources:   Catholic Therapists https://catholictherapists.com/   Catholic Psychotherapy https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/

Doug takes calls from listeners struggling with discouragement, resentment, and distance in long-term marriages. He offers guidance on staying faithful to your vows and finding hope when relationships feel strained. Plus, the Friday rant!    Listener questions and comments: Jennifer – My marriage is in despair after 31 years, and my husband is distant and sleeping separately. How do I stay faithful to my vows when things feel so broken? (07:18) Luara – After 31 years of marriage, I am starting to feel resentment. How do I remember and live out my vows? (19:32) Tom – I am divorced after 13 years of marriage and have tried therapy multiple times. How do I find healing and move forward? (34:25)   Resources: https://spiritualdirection.com/2026/02/01/avoiding-the-trap-of-discouragement https://www.forgivenessinstitutekc.com/ 

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? (19:10) Kathy - My husband and I paid our kids deposit and rent for a month to help them launch. (31:41)   Resources: Catholic Legacy https://catholiclegacy.com/

Doug examines the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the damage they do to a marriage: criticism, contempt stonewalling and defensiveness.   Listener questions and comments: Ray - Can you give the steps of what to do once you meet a girl? (16:37)

What should you do when your spouse won’t quit drinking? How do you pass on the faith to your children when your spouse is resistant?   Listener questions and comments: Stephanie - My husband wants to stop drinking and my son doesn't believe that he will. I've seen my son cry about this. My son has prayed for his father. What should I do? (9:59) Jane - I have two teenage boys. Their dad and my husband is not practicing and they look up to him. What should I do? I go to daily mass. We've been married for twenty years. (28:09) Gregory - My ex-wife is a narcissist. How do I go about living the rest of my life knowing that and remaining in the faith? How do I overcome that? (42:16)