11.5 Marriage and Cohabitation

Essential Information

• Value of Marriage: The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a valuable commitment that can strengthen over time.

• Cohabitation: The Church disagrees with cohabitation, although many people in society accept it as a norm.

The Nature of Marriage

Marriage is seen as:

• Providing a Loving Environment: It offers the loving relationship and atmosphere through which children can grow and flourish.

• Exclusive Union: It is an exclusive union between a man and a woman.

• Sacramental Relationship: Marriage is viewed as a sacrament through which God's love and blessing are given to a couple.

Mnemonic to Remember These Points: LESS

• Loving relationship

• Exclusive

• Sacrament

• Sign of Christ’s love for the Church

The Marriage Promises

• Public Declaration: Promises are made after the consent is given during the marriage ceremony, using full names to ensure clarity of identity.

• Witnesses: The public declaration ensures that the community witnesses the genuineness of the love and provides support.

Example of Marriage Promises:

“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, (full name), take you (full name) to be my lawful wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”

• Equal Commitment: Both husband and wife show equal commitment through these promises.

• Recognition of Challenges: The promises acknowledge that there may be difficulties, such as health or financial problems.

• End of Commitment: The commitment only ends when one partner dies, emphasizing the lasting nature of the vows.

Cohabitation

Cohabitation is when a couple lives together and has a sexual relationship without being married. It is common in Britain for various reasons:

• To test if the relationship works.

• For financial convenience.

• Some couples may live together in committed relationships throughout their lives, including same-sex couples who may choose to cohabit before marriage or civil partnership.

Catholic Church's View on Cohabitation:

The Catholic Church disagrees with cohabitation for several reasons:

• Potential to Diminish Family Unity: It may destroy the sense of family.

• Sanctity of the Union: Cohabitation breaks the sanctity of the sexual union and marriage.

• Impact on Children: If the couple splits, it can negatively affect children involved.

• Reduced Commitment: Cohabitation may lessen the effort to make a relationship last and create insecurity, as one partner may leave at any time.

• Faithfulness: It can destroy the need for faithfulness and commitment within the sexual union.