Is our living situation considered cohabitation?

[murrast]

I own a house and my girlfriend got laid off from her job last year. She struggled financially and I offered to allow her to live with me until she gets back on her feet. She pays me rent of $200 per month. I read the other FAQ about cohabitation, but it seems to me that the other couples were sleeping in the same bed. We have separate bedrooms and have avoided sleeping together. I do feel that we had the privilege of a marriage couple by being able to spend more time together. Is our living situation considered cohabitation even though we sleep in separate bedrooms and do nothing more than kisses and hugs? We appreciate your help!

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

It could be considered cohabitation in the broad, colloquial sense of two unmarried people of the opposite sex sharing living quarters. In the moral sense, cohabitation usually means two unmarried people living together as if they were married – meaning that they illicitly share marital relations. That said, your living arrangements constitute a near occasion of sin and can cause scandal for others. While your intent to help your girlfriend during a difficult time was good, it would be better for you to help her find alternative living arrangements as quickly as possible.