Love And Marriage

Love And Marriage

Eileen Renders

   There is nothing quite like falling in love and heading down the aisle. The future lies ahead, a home, a family, and a partner forever. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go that way.

Deciding to get a divorce in the United States signifies the start of a legal process to end one's marriage formally. Although divorce laws vary from state to state, only two types of divorce are recognized by the Court in the United States: absolute divorce and limited divorce. The former requires some evidentiary proof of wrongdoing or misconduct on one spouse’s part, and results in judicial termination of the marriage. The latter refers to the termination of cohabitation rights, but the court withholds from dissolving the matrimony. Until 1857, divorce was an option that was only open to men. The new law gave women the possibility to divorce, but only in the case of proven adultery together with additional faults, such as cruelty or rape. Although new changes to the law came decades afterward, the Divorce Reform Act of 1969 brought more significant changes as it allowed people to divorce with no proof of fault from any part.

   All things considered, Adultery and physical or mental abuse are legitimate reasons for divorce. Other than reasonable causes for divorcing, many couples marry because they are simply “in love with one another.” However, when these couples are facing financial problems, serious illness, or other ups and downs that occur in life, and the feeling of love is lost, they look for an escape door.

   The Divorce rate in the United States according to the National Divorce Rate in 2021 was 6.9% per 1,000. The divorce rate declined in 2022 to 2.4%

   Forbes Statistics remarks on the most common causes of divorce as being; Lack of commitment, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Basic incompatibility, and Substance abuse.

   Other Studies point to those couples who cohabitate before Engagement or marriage as having the highest divorce rates. This makes sense as they began an intimate relationship that prevents one from receiving the Sacraments. To confess a mortal sin without having any intentions of eliminating that sin is reason for not receiving absolution, and makes one not worthy to receive Holy Communion.

   Marriage is a Sacrament and requires deep thought before entering into this commitment. And know that it is not okay or timely simply to say about our children “This is what Millennials do today.” Millennials are those individuals defined as having been born between 1981 and 1996, making their ages today to be between 28 and 43 years of age.

   This is a very poor evaluation of why, or what causes this generation to feel that they are entitled to overlook the Church’s teachings instead of their personal feelings. Often, we as parents may have set those standards unknowingly in placing a greater degree of importance on getting a college degree, rather than on living by God’s Commandments.

   Contemplation before decision-making makes better sense than after-thought reflection.