Spanish Bishops Turn to Video Game to Reverse Church Wedding Decline
In a novel attempt to counter a dramatic fall in church weddings, Spanish bishops have launched a retro-style video game aimed at promoting the virtues of Christian marriage. The initiative, timed for Valentine's Day, seeks to engage couples through interactive gameplay that explores essential qualities for lasting unions.
Alarming Statistics Prompt Digital Intervention
Recent figures reveal a stark decline in religious ceremonies, with less than 18% of all weddings in Spain in 2024 taking place in church—a total of 31,462 out of 175,364. This marks a significant drop from 2007, when over 55% of weddings were held in Roman Catholic churches. The dwindling numbers, compounded by high divorce rates, have spurred the church to adopt innovative strategies to safeguard the sacrament of marriage.
Level Up! A Two-player Game: Teaching Marriage Virtues
The new video game, titled Level Up! A Two-player Game, features a young couple named Fran and Elena navigating daily tasks while learning about patience, generosity, modesty, integrity, and empathy. With the slogan "El amor, la aventura más épica" (Love is the most epic adventure), the game presents real-life scenarios such as workplace problems, stag parties, and interactions with ex-partners to encourage reflection on marital commitment.
The Spanish bishops' conference stated, "The campaign is proactive, aiming to showcase the beauty of Christian marriage. It targets not just those already committed but also encourages couples seeking stable commitments to consider a church wedding." The idea originated from students at the Pontifical University of Salamanca and was developed by a professional video game designer.
Bridging Tradition and Modernity
The conference emphasized that presenting marriage education as a game engages with today's gamified society while facilitating deep reflection on human love and happiness. This digital approach complements more traditional methods, such as a premarital guidance course launched six years ago, which spans two to three years and covers 12 areas including communication, fidelity, and conflict resolution.
Mario Iceta, former bishop of Bilbao and president of the conference's subcommittee for family and life, highlighted the inadequacy of brief preparation, noting, "You can't prepare for marriage in 20 hours. To be a priest, you need seven years in the seminary, so what about being a husband, wife, mother, or father?" The course also addresses modern challenges like pornography, warning against its addictive nature and distortion of conjugal beauty.
As the church adapts to contemporary trends, this video game initiative represents a bold step to revitalize interest in church weddings, blending retro gaming with timeless marital values just in time for Valentine's Day celebrations across Spain.
