Why so many rules on getting married?

Bishop Murphy explains the diocese’s philosophy and guidelines on preparation for the sacrament of marriage in his weekly Montana Catholic Register “Reflections” column. He asserts that these are not arbitrary bureaucratic rules meant only to gum up the process. In his view, “There is a need to assess the freedom required for marriage as well as to reflect on the stability of the relationship, the psychological and spiritual readiness, and the basic understanding of the demands and obligations of married life in the Church.”