Why is cohabitation bad?

[Odell]

I know its not good. But someone asked me this yesterday and I really did not have a good response.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

I know its not good. But someone asked me this yesterday and I really did not have a good response.

For young people romantically involved it is a huge near occasion and temptation for sin. For just about anyone else who could be perceived by others as having sexual interests, it is an occasion for scandal, even if nothing is actually going on. This leads others to sin.

 

[Bluegoat]

Do you mean room-mates, or a romantic relationship?

In the latter case, which is what I think you mean, marriage is understood to be an exclusive, monogamous, permanent commitment by a couple in a sexual relationship.

if that is what the people co-habitation intend, then it actually isn’t really a problem except from a practical POV - they have no legal protection for example.

But historically, that is really all a marriage was - most of the modern trappings are from the medieval period.

 

[Myqyl]

If you mean having roommates, there is nothing wrong with it in any way. It is when two people enter into a “marriage like” relationship without the benefit (and commitment) of marriage that it’s wrong. I’ve had many roommates in my life of the same and opposite gender and it has never been a problem.

God bless

 

[beeliner]

If you mean having roommates, there is nothing wrong with it in any way. It is when two people enter into a “marriage like” relationship without the benefit (and commitment) of marriage that it’s wrong. I’ve had many roommates in my life of the same and opposite gender and it has never been a problem.

God bless

I agree completely. I rented a room from a very sweet lady, considerably older than myself, for many years in Germany. She has now moved to a seniors’ home so I will have to find new accomodations there. We went our own ways but found the arrangement far superior to each of us living alone.

Regarding ‘trial’ co-habitation among younger couples, non-Catholics are, of course, not bound by Catholic prohibitions, but the lack of commitment is a serious impediment to the success of such unions, though some do succeed nonetheless.

 

[Alicia05]

The Catholic Chastity website, www.chastity.com, is an excellent resource for this topic, and it even includes some non-Catholic arguments (such as divorce rates among couples that cohabitate are extremely high).

Here are the links:
“Shacking Up”
“Cohabitation” – this one has an article called “Five Non-Religious Arguments for Marriage Over Living Together”, in case the person you’re talking to is a non-Catholic

Hope this helps!