TCMP begins with a simple proposition:
Years Experience
Who we are
Marriage establishes a family structure in which spouses, parents, and children possess distinct interests, responsibilities, relationships, and rights. Civil law should therefore examine family dissolution with appropriate regard for the children whose lives, security, religious formation, and relationships may be permanently affected.
The developmental, psychological, relational, and social importance of stable family relationships
and meaningful bonds with both parents.
At the center of this work is the development of a child-centered jurisprudence—an approach to family law that recognizes children not merely as subjects of adult litigation, but as persons whose dignity, relationships, interests, and constitutional protections deserve serious consideration.
TCMP exists to encourage rigorous legal research, thoughtful public discussion, responsible family-law reform, and greater recognition of the interests of children when the State exercises its authority over marriage and family relationships.
Common Questions
TCMP — Texas Catholic Marriage Project is an educational and public-interest initiative examining how Texas marriage and family law affect marriage, parental rights and responsibilities, children’s well-being, religious liberty, and the continuing formation of children in the Catholic faith. TCMP brings civil law, constitutional principles, Catholic teaching, canon law, and relevant social-scientific research into a disciplined, child-centered inquiry. Its work is directed toward public education, legal analysis, and responsible reform—not the provision of individualized professional services.
No. TCMP does not represent clients, provide legal advice, conduct psychological or pastoral counseling, mediate disputes, or create individualized plans for particular families. Its materials are educational and analytical. Persons facing an active legal, canonical, medical, psychological, pastoral, or safety matter should consult an appropriately qualified professional.
Child-centered jurisprudence is an approach that treats children as persons with independent dignity, relationships, interests, and potential constitutional protections—not merely as subjects of adult litigation. It asks how legal procedures and judicial orders affect children’s family integrity, relationships with fit parents, education, security, moral development, and religious formation. It also requires courts to distinguish demonstrated harm from assumed benefit and to explain why governmental interference with established family relationships is legally justified.
TCMP materials may assist parents, attorneys, judges, legislators, clergy, canon lawyers, educators, researchers, mental-health professionals, policy organizations, and members of the public who are examining marriage, family law, parental authority, religious liberty, and children’s well-being. The materials should be used with attention to their stated sources, limits, and jurisdictional context.
TCMP does not collapse these fields into one another. It identifies what civil law requires, what constitutional principles protect, what the Catholic Church teaches, what research may show, and where TCMP advances a developing interpretation or reform proposal. It then examines how governmental action affects the integrated relationships among spouses, fit parents, and children—particularly where civil orders burden marital duties, parental authority, family integrity, or religious formation.
Our value
A legal and social order in which marriage is treated as a public institution of enduring significance; children are recognized as members of the family with interests worthy of independent protection; fit parents retain the rights and responsibilities that belong to their vocation; religious liberty is respected in family life; and governmental interference with established family relationships is supported by defined standards, sufficient evidence, and transparent reasoning.
TCMP advances research, education, and responsible reform concerning Texas marriage and family law. It examines the interaction of civil law, constitutional liberty, Catholic teaching, parental responsibility, and children’s well-being; develops child-centered legal principles; and promotes procedures that protect persons from genuine harm while respecting marriage, family integrity, fit-parent authority, and the religious formation of children.
Matrimonium, servare libros tueri. Marriage, preserve; children, protect.
Contact Us
TCMP — Texas Catholic Marriage Project welcomes inquiries about research, publications, educational opportunities, and collaboration. Connect with us to advance thoughtful public discussion concerning marriage, parental responsibility, religious liberty, and the security of children.
Marriage is a lifelong covenant, and the family is a child’s first community.
TCMP — Texas Catholic Marriage Project advances research, education, and responsible reform that uphold marital fidelity, parental responsibility, religious liberty, and children’s security.
