Comments on: What is Marriage Part 2: The Nature of Things http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/?p=4800 Your Catholic Channel of Hope Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:40:14 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Pedro http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/?p=4800&cpage=1#comment-4268 Pedro Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:41:54 +0000 http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/?p=4800#comment-4268 Thanks for your comment Fearghus (and for coming back to read more). To tell you the truth, I am still struggling through this one - because the reality is that we don't live in the realm of ideas (or ideals). I try to tell myself that the practical application of this "definition" works and can help young couples steer away from complications that can easily be avoided. The perfection my definition requires is because all Church teaching is based on that perfection towards which we all must struggle. Every day I must strive to be that perfect husband, the perfect Father, the perfect man. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us. Thanks for your comment Fearghus (and for coming back to read more). To tell you the truth, I am still struggling through this one – because the reality is that we don’t live in the realm of ideas (or ideals). I try to tell myself that the practical application of this “definition” works and can help young couples steer away from complications that can easily be avoided.

The perfection my definition requires is because all Church teaching is based on that perfection towards which we all must struggle. Every day I must strive to be that perfect husband, the perfect Father, the perfect man.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us.

]]> By: Fearghus http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/?p=4800&cpage=1#comment-4266 Fearghus Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:31:38 +0000 http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/?p=4800#comment-4266 Dear Pedro, I finally realised that your efforts to define marriage are prescriptive and not descriptive. You define marriage to be what think it should be and there is no arguing with that: 'Because in a “true” marriage, sexual intercourse is guaranteed not to lead to any problems, because as soon as you encounter problems, it’s because the sex has been used against its true nature.' In short, a true marriage has no problems and if it does have problems, it's not a true marriage. Your proposition cannot be disproved. I am more interested in the experiences of human beings, fallible, hopeful but imperfect beings: "There are countless married couples that have struggled through lies, cheating, infidelity, STDs, abortion, sexual disorders, abuse, manipulation and who knows what else, and that are still fairly healthy marriages, because in the end love, forgiveness and repentance have triumphed' I find much more truth in your realisation that marriages can survive and perhaps triumph even when they're not the perfection your definition of marriage requires. I'm still with love, forgiveness and repentance as a more valuable and practical set of aspirations for long-term relationships. Dear Pedro, I finally realised that your efforts to define marriage are prescriptive and not descriptive. You define marriage to be what think it should be and there is no arguing with that:

‘Because in a “true” marriage, sexual intercourse is guaranteed not to lead to any problems, because as soon as you encounter problems, it’s because the sex has been used against its true nature.’

In short, a true marriage has no problems and if it does have problems, it’s not a true marriage. Your proposition cannot be disproved.

I am more interested in the experiences of human beings, fallible, hopeful but imperfect beings:

“There are countless married couples that have struggled through lies, cheating, infidelity, STDs, abortion, sexual disorders, abuse, manipulation and who knows what else, and that are still fairly healthy marriages, because in the end love, forgiveness and repentance have triumphed’

I find much more truth in your realisation that marriages can survive and perhaps triumph even when they’re not the perfection your definition of marriage requires. I’m still with love, forgiveness and repentance as a more valuable and practical set of aspirations for long-term relationships.

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