“Married love is also faithful and exclusive of all other,
and this until death. This is how husband and wife understood it on the day on
which, fully aware of what they were doing, they freely vowed themselves to one
another in marriage. Though this fidelity of husband and wife sometimes
presents difficulties, no one has the right to assert that it is impossible; it
is, on the contrary, always honorable and meritorious. The example of countless
married couples proves not only that fidelity is in accord with the nature of
marriage, but also that it is the source of profound and enduring happiness.” -Pope,
Paragraph 9
It is
very apparent to all of us the opinion the Pope has on marriage and who the
bond it should be shared with. This opinion is not only held by the Pope but by
many other people in the United States, and this is something we have discussed
in class. The Pope views marriage as something only a man and a woman can
share, and a lot of it is driven from his religious beliefs. This goes for
other individuals also who believe marriage should only be shared between a
woman and a man. Religious beliefs is a subject many people are very firm
about, and many stick to their beliefs from day one. This is understandable
because we like to believe one thing, find many reasons to have that belief,
and then keep it because that is the easiest way to go.
I on
the other hand, have a different opinion on this subject than the Pope. I do
not believe that the man and woman are the important aspects of marriage, but
the love that is shared between the two individuals who are going to wed. I
have based some of these opinions off of my family. My parents got married at
the ages of 16 and 17 because my mom became pregnant, and due to my
grandparents religious views they were pushed to marry immediately. Their
marriage did not become out of love, but out of religious views and a
pregnancy. Their marriage ended when I was three years old, and the vows they
made on their marriage day were not followed. Two people should marry because
they love each other unconditionally and want to spend the rest of their lives
together, “’till death do we part.” I believe the vows that are made at
marriage are the important aspect, not the people making them.
While reading
how the cultural aspects of marriage have emerged in the past 30 years or so, we
read many points that go completely against what the Pope states in his
explanation of the order and structure of human life, especially on marriage. The
Pope states that it was understood since day one that husband and wife are
fully aware of what they are doing when they vow to one another, and that it is
until death. But now, due to the actions of the people around us the aspect of
culture in marriage has turned to 40-50% of marriages resulting in divorce. Our
population has caused culture to turn this way.
This is a very good section of the Popes article and this one really hits home with me too. I, also believe that a man and a woman should get married when they are in love with each other to tighten their bond, not for money, children, etc. Other cultures see it differently though and many marry for reproduction or for status or royalty. This relates to what our culture considers normal and what has been constructed as a good marriage over time. For instance, 70 years ago divorce was very uncommon although many women became pregnant when they were young. The two would marry and would be stuck with each other for a lifetime even if they weren't in love with each other, they just learned to settle over time.
ReplyDeleteSociety's feelings about marriage is what makes the biggest difference in the divorce issue of marriage. It used to be socially unacceptable to get a divorce and that is exactly why it was so uncommon. In today's world everyone is free to get married and divorced as many times and they wish and this is why 50% of marriages end in divorce. I feel it is better for everybody involved for people to be free and it leads to less resentment and less settling for being miserable. Everybody is entitled to the pursuit of happiness and being with the right person would fall under that category.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I wrote about the issue of gay marriage for my blog post, and my main point was also that marriage should be a result of unconditional love. If two people love each other and genuinely want to spend the rest of their lives together, they should be allowed to get married. I don't believe the Pope has the right to tell us who can and cannot get married. I feel that as long as two people are really, truly in love, they should be allowed that privilege.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, most because marriage represents a lot more than a bond of love currently. Married couples are able to receive tax breaks and other services single people can't get, so that alone should allow anyone to get married.
ReplyDelete