News & commentary — marriage, family and faith
Ricardo Martins and Vanessa Lima comment on news from the US and Brazil about marriage, divorce, family and faith — and what each story teaches about your own marriage.
1 in 3 Brazilian Parents Caught Their Kids Making Secret App Purchases — The Real Question Is Who Is Raising Our Children
A Serasa survey conducted by Instituto Opinion Box, released October 6, 2026, found that 32% of Brazilian parents have caught their children making purchases in apps and games without permission, and 53% believe social media increases children's desire to consume. Ricardo Martins comments on presence, unity between spouses, and discipleship at home.
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Money Is Couples' Top Stressor — and 41% Made a Big Financial Decision Without Telling Their Partner
A new CFP Board survey with Morning Consult, released October 5, 2026, found that 65% of married or cohabiting Americans name money as a top relationship stressor and 41% made a major financial decision in the past year without telling their partner. Ricardo Martins comments on what this reveals about trust and covenant.
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Fewer Children, Later Motherhood, Fewer Weddings: What the Church Needs to Hear From Brazil
A Globo Repórter feature shows how Brazilian women now study longer, delay motherhood, and have fewer children, from more than six per woman in the 1960s to 1.55 in IBGE's 2022 Census. Ricardo Martins reflects on what this says about marriage, men, and faith.
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When the Bills Come Due, What Protects a Couple? New Study Points to Comfort Before Solutions
A University of Florida study published in Personal Relationships found that financial stress spills over into romantic relationships — and that a partner's emotional support reduces that spillover. Ricardo Martins comments on what it teaches Christian couples.
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Nearly 1.7 Million Brazilian Children Registered Without a Father's Name in Ten Years: A Message to Men Everywhere
Data from Brazil's civil registry association (Arpen-Brasil) shows 1,666,882 children were registered with only their mother's name between 2016 and 2026 — yet voluntary paternity acknowledgments are rising. Ricardo Martins comments on what this says about men, marriage and the heart of God.
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Faithful Christian Couples Have the Happiest Marriages in America: What the New Report Proves (and What It Doesn't)
A new Institute for Family Studies report, "The Devout Difference," finds churchgoing couples are happier, divorce less and have more active intimate lives. Ricardo Martins comments on what the data means for anyone fighting for their marriage.
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98% of Brazilian Women Change Their Routine Out of Fear: Is Your Home a Refuge or Another Risk?
A new survey by Brazil's Patrícia Galvão and Locomotiva institutes shows 98% of women adopt daily strategies to avoid violence, and six in ten fear domestic violence. Ricardo Martins comments on what that asks of every married man.
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In the U.S., Single Young Men Now Outnumber Married Ones Two to One
New Institute for Family Studies data shows 30.4 million unmarried men ages 20-39 in the United States in 2025, against 15.4 million married men. Ricardo Martins comments on what that number really says — and what it asks of those of us who are already married.
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