Comments for The Marrying Animal at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 10 out of 10 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Fri, 24 May 2013 11:48:57 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-2048 What an excellent article by the good professor! As for people who are confused about women's liberation, I suggest the writings of Edith Stein, particularly, her Essays on Women. - Fr. Larry Gearhart Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:09:47 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-2020 If I may suggest a reason why Prof. McInerny used the word "parasitic" (and this is my opinion): It's wrong to think of a parasite as harmful. A parasite is morally no different than its host; it follows its nature, which is "dependence on something else for existence." The larger society grows up around marriage and needs marriage in order to thrive and survive. Therefore, society is parasitic on marriage, just as all men and women are parasitic on God. - Brad Miner Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:38:13 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-2019 I'm perplexed by Professor McInerny's use of the word "parasitic" in describing any larger society's relationship to its fundamental cell, the family. A parasitic relationship is a one way, harmful relationship. Some societies are indeed harmful to families, and thus suicidal. This is a pathological condition for sure - and one we must work to overcome in our own current situation, but not the norm. It seems to be an infelicitous use of the word in the context that he uses it. Clarification? - Rev. Mark Reilly Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:15:55 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-2006 Amen! God help the family. Everything in nature has a reason and a pattern. What were humans created for? Not for sexual misconduct and the demoralization of families, and selfishness! And those same people wonder why such things happen in the world. How can we change this? We should also be saying God help our kids! They are the ones who will be suffering from this sin! - Karen Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:32:45 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-1979 David suggests that the idea of a freely chosen spouse is a product of the Enlightenment, that is simply not so. It is more accurate to say that it is a product of Canon law and the ideal and practice of sacramental marriage in the middle ages. One need only read Aquinas' discussion of marriage in his Commentary on the Senetences to see this. There, sighting the law of the church, he argues that even a slave (servus) can marry without the consent of the master. - Paul Cornish Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:54:31 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-1973 Nathan: the so-called Women's Lib Movement did absolutely nothing for women except insure equal pay. Looking back over 40yrs, the Movement was supposed to "raise up" women. Instead, the "bad boy" syndrome can now apply to women - and there is no dignity. I'm appalled at what we have done, what we have allowed, and where this has all taken us. Men are no longer MEN and women, well, my grandmother (whom I admire to this day) would shudder in shame. - Liz Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:04:50 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-1970 Prof. McInerny grossly oversimplifies complicated issues and ignores the central fact that marriage in the West has and continues to evolve: the ideas of a freely chosen spouse (vs. an arranged marriage), romantic love (vs. an economic arrangement) and spousal rights (vs. women as property of the husband) are a result of the Enlightenment. Ironically, some of his arguments could also be used to support traditional polygamous societies that also humanize, direct and preserve family life. - David Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:16:04 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-1972 " A tree is known by its fruit ...". At the moment I can't provide chapter and verse, but I'd ask all defenders of "Progressivism", who think marriage needs to " evolve", what fruit has resulted from the Sexual Revolution and the breakdown of traditional marriage norms in Western societies? - Tony Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:15:44 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-1971 To say that marriage in the west has evolved may be true if you consider any change to be evolution. The important question is whether it has gotten better--a tough case to make. While the Enlightenment may have done some good in promoting the dignity of women, it seems to have degraded human society in other areas (e.g. religion!). - Nathan Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:15:13 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-marrying-animal.html#comment-1968 Such is the prophecy of Humanae Vitae written in 1968 by Paul VI. This much maligned document ridiculed by progressive theologians is in our faces. Instead of marrying animals we have become just animals. If sex is a recreational activity alone as it has become, what difference does it make if man enjoys the same sex or even sheep. Dating, courtships and romance have gone. Our youth just hookup no strings attached. Such irresponsibility does not bode well for the defense of Western Civilization - Willie Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:52:42 +0100