Comments for The Sacrament of Marriage vs. Cohabitation at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 23 out of 20 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:31:28 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3801 It's only when I came to know Jesus and the Catholic faith my views changed instantly on cohabitating! I refused to be judged by my past when I had no faith and didn't know Jesus. Repentent sinners are great and faithful, if only you could forgive them Jack Scott, because Jesus has! - Anna B. Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:51:41 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3780 hi joseph, look at the words of Jesus regarding HIs Spirit of the Law: hate ur brother=murder, lust=adultry,working on the Sabbath,etc. children had no value in society but He said harm one & a milstone necklace will suit you. in loving Love, each of us should long to respond to Him with the highest, best, most noble obedience & humility. we are not condeming anyone, just wanting Heaven for each one. Heaven forever is worth all the pain of dying to self & striving toward the goal. Pax Christi - debby Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:51:49 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3777 "THE CHURCH ONLY PROPOSES, SHE IMPOSES NOTHING" The Church authority never imposes because salvation is a free gift and this gift must be accepted freely. But each one is bound to search for the Truth of salvation, and once found, is obliged to embrace it. Truth itself obliges us, but this obligation is not subservience but a guarantee of true freedom. "The truth will set us free" so to say. One is free to enter the Church or not, but once he entered, he is obliged to live its truth. - Joenick Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:04:10 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3765 Is it really a barren wasteland out there? Do you really think that the Church should change the rules of marriage simply because there are so many Catholics living in sin? Did God change his mind about the crucifixion ? Well, just maybe we should trust in God just a little more when it comes to temptation. "To shirk the bonds of love for the irresponsible joys of lust is the Devil's choicest temptation".... - Jay Everett Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:02:43 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3764 Marriages between people who are "50 plus" can certainly be fruitful. While they seem to be beyond the years of child-bearing, the spousal union of person still remains open to God's will concerning children (see Genesis 17:17-19; Luke 1:36). They can be fruitful by being a faithful Christian witness of God\'s love meant for a spousal union. Spouses who cannot have children, "can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice" (Catechism, 1654). - ed Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:02:01 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3763 Your comment about the true Church teaching of the value of marriage being in it's "fruitfulness, means that the Church really has no positive view of those over 50 wishing to marry. Please correct me if this is erroneous. Thank you. David - David Fri, 01 Jan 2010 07:21:20 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3761 It is scandal that the Church every day marries those who are cohabiting until the morning of their wedding day. Meanwhile, faithful single Catholics who don't cohabit, don't engage in premarital sex, don't date non-Catholics, and won't use contraception within marriage can't get married, period. It's a barren wasteland out there for faithful single Catholics over 25. It's about time the Church paid attention to this problem too. - Jack Scott Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:29:44 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3758 People who live together without benefit of marriage know full well what they are doing. They only want to satisfy their lust without any form of commitment. They are extremely selfish and self centered. Their purpose today is to reap the benefits of marriage laws without a commitment of any kind. This is a result of a permissive society. Parents no longer teach their children because they are too busy enjoying their own lust and greed. May God forgive them for they KNOW WHAT THEY DO....... - jack smith Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:37:21 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3757 Marriage is a covenant imbibed with married personalism not simply a vow to exclude sex with another of the opposite sex. Careful analysis of "the brother and sister" option(heresy) shows that while sex MAY be excluded, one still shares the "personalism" PROMISED to THE SPOUSE ALONE. Consequently, this option crashes in the face of the very standards the Church uses to evaluate marital validity. THIS IS THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH, NOT GLOBAL WARMING. Brother and sister living is an EPIC FAIL! - Karl Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:36:48 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3756 Karl, Scripture tells us that when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, he had two tablets listing 10 Commandments. Maybe he dropped one on the way down that listed more (like in the Mel Brooks movie), but as far as I can read, there were only 10. The Israelites, who couldn't keep just 10, decided to add hundreds of more 'sins,' like cooking veal in a mother's milk, punishable by death. As for definitions, ah, there's the rub. As Voltaire said, if you want to argue with me, define your terms. - Joseph Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:44:30 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3754 Karl - your wife and her lover living together as brother and sister is with the intention of no intimate relations to be taking place. My husband and I lived this way after being married by a JP and realizing that we were not married in the eyes of the Church. We immediately filed for an annulment and 'lived as brother and sister' (i.e. with no sexual relations) for two years while the paperwork was processed. As such, we were able to receive Holy Communion during that time. - DB Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:40:50 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3755 Joseph: The classic meaning of "to cause scandal" is to engage in behavior that causes others to lose faith, or to reject the Gospel. I don't know where you got the idea that the Ten Commandments listed all possible sins. (Yet another argument against sola scriptura.) Uncle Joe's drunkenness might be merely embarrassing if he's Catholic; if he's Mormon or Moslem, however, it might be grounds for scandal. - Tony Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:03:35 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3753 How do you stay in love and appreciation of your mate through 54+ years, through illnesses, surgeries, children (some of whom disappoint your dreams and plans by their actions) and 12 grandchildren (we love them, but again, some disappoint) unless you pray, ask for and receive Sacramental graces to maintain your love? TeaPot562 - TeaPot562 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:01:40 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3752 I'd say your atheist friend is our kind of atheist. - Brad Miner Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:25:49 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3751 "The decision to cohabitate says that one has placed himself or herself and his or her sexual desires ahead of everyone and everything else, including the cohabiting partner." Or, as my atheist friend says more succinctly, "Sex without marriage is exploitation." - Lee Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:22:55 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3750 Debby, perhaps you would be willing to elaborate on the "sin of scandal" since I do not find this listed in the 10 commandments, although there is one on adultery and another on coveting. Scandalous activity is too broad a term to be labeled "sin". Fictionalized, consider Uncle Al's excessive exuberance from drinking too much booze at his favorite niece's wedding, causing a family "scandal." An embarrassing episode but hardly to be called a punishable offense. - Joseph Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:37:41 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3749 The author wrote "the Church can do little more than put forward her vision of marriage in the hope that it will be heard. Thoughtful reflection may well find the Church’s teaching refreshing – and compelling." It can practice "tough love" by simply giving the reason to a couple about to be married why cohabitation is wrong, why they would need to separate before the marriage, and to think deeply about their response to God. - Greg Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:37:00 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3747 Christian marriage is, in part, a witness to God's faithfulness. Whether married or not, we cannot see into people's bedrooms, but it is not unreasonable to suggest that the witness given to couple's sharing an address, married or not, is that sex is a part of the relationship. I know couples that have lived together and practiced abstinence, but the truth is it is still a poor witness, because that is certainly not what the rest of the world sees. - Deacon Sean Smith Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:58:33 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3748 to blue8064, it's wrong because it begs the sin of SCANDAL. i know, another teaching of the Church we never hear about. Scandal is serious sin because it can lead many uncatechized, unformed people away from Truth toward deeper sin. The payout for sin is DEATH so this is no small matter. We must avoid all near occasion of sin & we are "our brother's keeper." how we live can lead others to the Saving love & freedom that only Christ offers. Loving others requires holy living for everyones sake. - debby Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:57:21 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-sacrament-of-marriage-vs-cohabitation.html#comment-3746 The Catholic Church clearly prefers cohabitation to the valid Sacrment otherwise why does it encourage "living as brother and sister" with a "formerly adulterous partner" when THE REAL SPOUSE IS LIVING AND REMAINS FAITHFUL If you think this IS NOT the OFFICIAL practice of the Catholic Church, think again. My wife and her lover have done this for years with the complete approval of the Catholic Church, officially, the two annulment decisions from Rome in favor of the marriage be damned! - Karl Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:55:53 +0100