I should hope they changed the wording. Cohabitation is not an intrinsic evil. Even if by “cohabitation” you mean a “man-woman relationship of a sexual nature in which the members reside together” you still only have an incomplete good.

Franklin…
Amen.
To equate a man and woman living together with other intrinsic evils — abortion leaps to mind — seems, frankly, outrageous.
And good luck trying to sell THAT to the people in the pews.
Dcn. G.

How long after the conference before the documents are available to the public?

What is the purpose of these documents? I mean, I know most priests don’t read them let alone the laity. Does this document really add anything new to the teaching of marriage that has been presented in different ways since who knows when? Or does it at least present it in language that makes it more meaningful and insightful to a group who has previously lacked understanding in the area…. or is it just a complete waste of time?

The only thing I’ve read about the marriage document is a scathing review in America magazine…that is is the same stuff, different day.
And I have to agree with Franklin…since I do the marriage preparation in my parish, I would have no one to prepare if it were only offered to those who DON’T cohabitate…including convalidation…oh, wait we don’t call it that anymore. It’s all marriage
I can’t think of one couple I’ve worked with in the past three years who are not living together. The Church must come up with a relevant way to get the point across instead of condemning it or simply calling it evil.
I really liked the new pamphlets that have come out from Ascension Press about the Theology of the Body…”Living together” is actually worded pretty well and gives a very logical and respectful view on cohabitating.

I read the document and see that mostly sticks to the usual talking points. Of course, anyone who casually reads the Gospels will find this document’s description of marriage to be at odds with what Jesus described, our true family is a spiritual one that we are a part of with other believers.
One thing I do find interesting is that the Church is not only opposed to gay marriage, but also to same-sex unions, and to any legal or social benefits that such people ought to be entitled. On the good side, it encourages those in abusive relationships and allows them to leave their spouse.
Perhaps even more frightening is that the document encourages the state to deny gay couples to raise their children and that children can only be properly raised by heterosexual parents. It also encourages the state to use the family as the core basis for the formation of civil law and appears to disregard the rights of the individual as the guiding principle for our nation’s laws.

Michele
I’m sorry to hear that you think you have no strong faithful young adults in your parish. I am 23, currently engaged, a virgin, and am not going to live with my fiancee until we are married. We also attend NFP sessions with the intention of actually using it. There are people out there who are doing this the right way, so please resist the urge to despair.
Just because so many are choosing to live in sin these days doesn’t mean it is no longer a sin. “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” How can living in sexual sin, or even living under the public appearance of sexual sin not be an evil? Indeed, even if people are cohabitating and not having sex, they portray the public appearance of sin, thus leading others to despair or to condone this sin. The real travesty is that parents aren’t holding their children to a standard of holiness. Nor do our priests urge us enough to be counter-cultural. In fact, to be faithfully Catholic in the West is to be counter-cultural. If parents weren’t so conceding to their young adult childrens’ cohabitation, perhaps we would see less of it.

I find it interesting that what is stated in this document is easily found in the Cathecism as well. It is the non negotiable teaching of the Catholic Church. Why would cohabitation not be an intrinsic evil since it is a grave sin? Yes, no one is being murdered as with abortion, but it is as evil as the gay lifestyle. That is what many do not seem willing to understand who think the Church is bashing gay people. They are not. It is only when they enter a lifestyle that is intrinsically evil is the act condemned.
I also work in the parish with those who are coming for marriage. The priest first step is to interview each seperately to determine a number of things, one of which is if they are now living in the state of sin. If they are, they cannot receive the sacrament in this parish. they would first have to go to confession and to stop living in sin. their choice. To knowingly precide over a sacrament of marriage when the priest or deacon knows they are in the state of grave sin makes the sacrament invalid. In fact, it would be grounds for later disolving of the marriage through the annulment process. Not sure why Deacon would think this was OK in any way. He should be advising those who come to him in this state rather than finding it outrageous.

Greta…
You wrote: “To knowingly precide over a sacrament of marriage when the priest or deacon knows they are in the state of grave sin makes the sacrament invalid.”
Help me out here. I can’t find that anywhere in the Code of Canon Law.
The closest is this:
Canon 1065.2 So that the sacrament of marriage may be fruitfully received, spouses are earnestly recommended that they approach the sacraments of penance and the blessed Eucharist.
That’s a recommendation, not a rule of law. And I’ve never heard of simply living together before marriage as being a valid grounds for annulment (unless there are other accompanying grounds, such as psychological or emotional immaturity.)
Dcn. G.

Maybe thew bishops should concentrate on basic catechesis and maybe a real grounding in philosophy should be offered in those schools we are closing.
Not every sin is intrinsically evil. Most aren’t. Intrinsic has a meaning, and that meaning modifies evil. If cohabitation among sexual partners is intrinsically evil, then married men and women who live together are engaging in an intrinsic evil.
Fornication between a man and a woman, open to the formation of life, without benefit of marriage, is fornication. It is only fornication because they lack the benefit of marriage. The act IS NOT intrinsically evil. Just an incomplete good.
Basic theology, people. An dyou call yourselves educated catholics!

To equate a man and woman living together with other intrinsic evils — abortion leaps to mind — seems, frankly, outrageous.
And good luck trying to sell THAT to the people in the pews.
Some of us who are Pro-life DO think that unjust divorce is far worse than abortion.
One of the many reasons I am no longer a Catholic.