Mixed Messages

The church sends positive messages to young women by women being able to participate as altar servers, lectors, lead service trips, participate in youth groups, or become pastoral associates or teachers of religious education. However, women cannot become priests, which often brings along differing opinions on this issue. The article also points out that official church teaching honors women as equal in dignity to men. In terms of sexual relationships, official church teaching affirms the need for intimacy, mutuality, consent, and respect for the dignity of one’s partner. I have learned especially at the Mount, the importance of empowering women and how women are capable of anything that men are. There are less negative messages today about women because women are not supposed to be as quiet and reserved as we once were supposed to be. The Catholic church is moving in a positive direction regarding the role of women (not just taking care of the home), but women still are not able to do all of the same jobs (such as become a priest.)

Abortion

The rates of unhealthy abortion was 97 percent in Africa and 95 percent in Latin America. In these countries, the abortions are often being done illegally. These unsafe abortions are causing problems to not only the unborn baby, but also the mother. One difference between the developed and developing worlds seems to be access to modern methods of contraception. The pro-life movement in the United States, and the U.S. bishops, have largely focused on changing laws governing abortion. Many people should be more informed when making these decisions which can end up ending two lives. However, like the article points out, preventing unplanned pregnancies in these countries may be more beneficial. 

IVF

The pros of IVF are that it gives couples who would not be able to have a child naturally have the opportunity to have children. Some people who would be great parents, but struggle with infertility problems are given the opportunity to raise a family. The cons of IVF are that it is using artificial means to create life, and often extra fertilized eggs are unused. IVF, because it is a medical procedure, can also have unforeseen consequences, mostly unusual, like we saw in the video. The article also pointed out that the church also believes that IVF can endanger family life when “third parties” become involved through donor sperm or eggs or as surrogate mothers . The Church's teaching on IVF causes me to weigh the pros and cons if I were to have to make this decision. I would be more cautious and not be so willing to immediately rely on IVF. It also helps couples look at their reasoning behind the teaching. I don't think the cost makes IVF more or less morally acceptable, but it could be the reason why more couples do not use IVF because they cannot afford it. Although it does not change the morality of IVF, the cost may be another deterrent from people wanting to use IVF. 

She's Just not that in to you

In the movie, Gigi and Alex Have an interesting relationship because in her beginning they both had different ways to hide their insecurities about love. Gigi went on countless dates looking for the one and often went by what she heard from others and what she felt was the norm. Alex, however, often hooked up with many different women and blocked himself off from love. Gigi also became obsessed with having a boyfriend so she made herself crazy always waiting by the phone.

Beth and Neal have a good relationship but they at first had long term relationship without being married. Although they did not have the usual relationship because they did not get married after a few years, they still had great trust and respect for each other. Some people define their relationships in different ways, while others do not want to get married because of what they have experienced. For example a parents' divorce may have afford someone's view on marriage.

The Changing Face of Marriage

My experience with the domestic church has been that my parents are both Catholic and I have been raised to believe in the Catholic traditions and taught to try to live with the qualities of honesty, kindness, and many other things that the church teaches. I have also gone to Catholic school for my entire life, I have learned more about the church because I have been able to practice and learn its teachings throughout my entire life These Christian principles are important to help me live my life and are a good basis when making decisions. To me, domestic church can help give a child the means to understood spirituality and give them the tools to help choose right and wrong and help you build a relationship that they can choose to begin to develop themselves. I think the pros of the changing structure of marriage would be that people can feel freedom to be with the person they love, without feeling the pressure to marry someone just because they are getting older, or feeling pressured to stay in a relationship that is unhealthy. However, the cons of not defining a relationship can make this commitment less formal, which causes people perhaps not seriously look at their relationship and the future they have with this person. I think there can be many statistics about marriage and divorce, but I do not think that these should change someone’s view or belief on marriage because each relationship is different. I do not think that I feel compelled to create a domestic church of my own, but I think that I will be able to choose that when the opportunity arises. However, thinking about it right now, I think that I would want to create this domestic church in my home because I enjoyed and appreciated having these Christian values to help lead my life and help me make decisions.

Dating and Hooking up

The idea of anti-daters is presented as the belief that dating is just preparing for divorce. Although people can more easily break up with their partner when they are only dating, I think it is more important to find the right partner than worrying about breaking up with someone you don't like. People need to have the opportunity to meet different people and not feel pressured to marry the person with whom they first have a romantic relationship. I don't think dating does as much harm as these anti-daters say that it does. Dating can help people use what they have learned works and doesn't work in their relationships. However, something that I agree with is that people need to find their own happiness and know themselves before entering a relationship. I think, especially today, many people date for social reasons than to find a long term relationship, but I don't think there is a problem with this as long as both people understand the circumstances. In addition, the idea of hooking up contributes to the idea that people only have these relationships for the short term. This gives people a reason not to make a committed relationship peeved, booking up can cause many more emotional problems if people regret there decison or decide that they want more from the other person.

Love Story

This love story, of my parents,  has affected my perception of relationships because I have witnessed their relationship throughout my whole life. I have noticed that love is not how it is described in movies or in songs, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t good. I learned from their story that it is best not to expect yourself to fall in love because you may meet the person you will marry when you least expect it. They were set up to meet by their mutual friends, and I learned that everyone’s love moves at their own pace. They only had known each other for a little over a year when they got married, but other couples are engaged for much longer, but it is better to do what is best for your own relationship.

Their story is not as dramatic as the stories on television and in movies, but they did meet on a “blind date” and they did fall in love rather quickly. I also think it is harder to make up in real life from a fight or a misunderstanding than is usually portrayed in movies. Often, couples have to deal with many unexpected and sudden issues hat test their relationships that are often sugarcoated in movies. A song that connects with their story is “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper as she sings, “If you fall I will catch you - I'll be waiting, Time after time,” because I think it shows how they can both rely on each other in times of need, regardless of the number of times they may need the support. I think this is an important part of having a lasting relationship.