Should Co-habitation be an impediment to marriage?

[Joab_Anias]

Co-habitation is a good reason to go ahead and get married. But it is a REALLY good reason to go to Confession.

Cohabitation in and of itself is NOT a sin.

On the other hand, the temptation to fornication is greater in such a situation and if indulged or from weakness a fall is evident then emotional dammage and scarring and offence to God IS something to confess and deal with. One must be truly sorry to recieve the healing.

The effects of lustful fornication are grave and must be recognized. Preferably at the moment of temptation. If not from the wisdom of the Fear of the Lord in obedience then at least from the natural dammage it does to ones own body/psych. Sex must always be kept in its proper context. Confusion of lust as being love or disregard for the true unative and procreative aspects of a sexual union has ruined countless marriages and is a modern epidemic. I recommend reading Humanae Vitae and abiding by it for ones own well-being.

That being said, a person who finds themselves in that situation would do better to seek spiritual direction as the confessional has time restraints.

Spiritual direction is geared toward overcoming the confusion and getting back on track. Confession is for repentance.

 

[Roslyn]

According to my priest the majority of the couples he marries are co-habiting. I think the priests are generally happy that these people are making things right. Which of us hasn’t sinned. People so easily do what the culture tells them is okay, especially when their hormones agree. But then they mature and want to get their lives in line with what the Church teaches. It would be a poor pastoral decision to put roadblocks in their way, plus I don’t think in line with what Jesus taught.