ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the relationship between a Catholic heritage and marriage. It focuses on interfaith marriages by Catholics. The book shows that although a Catholic upbringing resulted in higher fertility for women born before 1920, this is no longer the case. It also focuses on the issue of the effect of a Catholic background and a Catholic education on various measures of academic achievement. The book explores the relationship between a Catholic heritage and earnings and employment. It describes the effects of a Catholic background on selected health habits—smoking and abusing alcohol. The book outlines human capital issues and issues regarding marriage and fertility. Catholic women have tended to enter marriage at a later age relative to non-Catholic women. Differences in the Catholic population could be a result of other factors such as location or race.
