Is cohabitation scandalous even if chaste? (Part II)

[Black_Jaque]

There’s a difference between just “a man” and “a woman” living under the same roof, and “a couple” living in the same house.

It is reasonable to consider that two people who have no romantic relationship with each other could share some living quarters without causing scandal. Considerations must be given to the amount of time they live together, and other things such as other roommates. I’ve known college living situations where some women would let out a basement bedroom to a guy or couple guys. No one was romantically involved with anyone in the house. It didn’t cause outsiders to think “hmm”. In fact it quickly became apparent that the men and women didn’t get along and sought a better living arrangement at the semester’s end.

However, if the two are romantically involved, of course this is going to cause scandal. No amount of explaining is going to convince everyone in the community that they are not sinning.

This topic confuses me to some extent. Any woman who figures she can be THAT close to me without fear of falling into sin instantly loses her candidacy to be MY wife! Can you spell f-r-i-g-i-d?

 

[Brendan]

asquared:

other people’s living arrangements are nobody’s danged business. a Christian is bound in charity to place the kindest possible interpretation on any thing observed about another’s behavior.

It becomes other people’s business when the knowledge becomes public (which the Church refers to as ‘mainfest’)

If a couple present themselves to me as living together, but not married, it then becomes a Spiritual Act of Charity to offer correction to sinners.

 

[The_Barrister]

Brendan:

It becomes other people’s business when the knowledge becomes public (which the Church refers to as ‘mainfest’)

If a couple present themselves to me as living together, but not married, it then becomes a Spiritual Act of Charity to offer correction to sinners.

Good answer!