In Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae, paragraph 9 ‘Married Love’, he defines the love as this celestial and pure ‘thing’ that has absolutely no room for mistakes/errors. He describes this love as if everyone lived in an ideal world. He mentions that married love is a ‘very special form of personal friendship in which husband and wife generously share everything, allowing no unreasonable exceptions and not thinking solely of their own convenience.’ Yes, although sharing everything to your significant other is what everyone should do but in reality it isn’t always the case due to circumstances and whatnot.
Paul also mentions that married love will lead husband and wife to become one heart and one soul, and ‘together attain their human fulfillment’. By saying that, I believe he is hinting that in order to be ‘whole’, you need to be married and that is not the case. I know several people who are very happy by themselves and do not need someone else to fulfill them.
In paragraph 9, Paul also mentions how ‘marriage and conjugal love are by their nature ordained toward the procreation and education of children,’ and how children are the ‘supreme gift of marriage and contribute in the highest degree of their parents’ welfare’. In lame man’s terms, he is saying that it is inevitable (nature) that once you obtained marriage love, you will and must create children because they contribute to the parents’ welfare. I disagree with his idea of what ‘nature’ is because not everyone is ready or want to have children and children definitely do not make or break parent’s welfare. Not everyone plans to have children and some are not financially able or even mentally stable to have children. If everyone had children because they felt compelled to, imagine how much child neglect, abuse, and financial assistance will arise from those who are not financially able, mentally fit, and ready to have children.
My other issue with Paul’s paragraph 9 is that he speaks of marriage between only man and woman. I believe marriage should be between any two people who love one another and are willing to take the commitment of what marriage entails.
http://front.moveon.org/two-lesbians-raised-a-baby-and-this-is-what-they-got/
I’m sure many of you have seen this video but I wanted to share it since he speaks so eloquently and really gives me hope for the younger generation. He speaks how he was raised by two mothers and that it has not affected his upbringing and is an advocate of same-sex marriage. If this young man was my child, I would be very proud to call him my son. I know this may be a stretch on tying this in with Paul’s paragraph 9 but I see this tying into the paragraph by the whole idea of Paul believing marriage is just between man and woman. I believe marriage love should not just exist between man and woman but should include everyone.
I disagree with the part of the claim stating, "married life will lead husband and wife to become one heart and one soul, and together obtain their human fulfillment." The reason for disagreeing with the claim is the idea of two people becoming one. One aspect, in my opinion, that makes a relationship strong is the fact that each people have their own lives. Too much of the time we see individuals become so reliant and dependent on their significant other that they are led astray from their own wants, values, and personal well being. I do agree that marriage means one heart. Each person shares the same love for one another. But soul, not so much. It is important, even in a lifelong committed relationship to maintain who you are as a person.
ReplyDeleteI think the Pope, obviously, has good intentions, but I do disagree with his thinking a bit. I mean marriage isn't some magical bond that's going to make the lives of the couple perfect in every way. I think the errors you experience in a marriage is a way to make the marriage stronger. But what you do as a person and how you live your life depends on what you choose. You brought up gay marriage in your post, just because the Catholic church doesn't agree with it doesn't mean it's wrong. Both the Catholic church and each individual have the ability to choose, so both are entitled to their own opinions.
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