Thinking about moving in?

 

I woke up with the thought "People need to marry." An odd early-morning thought I know, but here I am writing about it now.

My thoughts actually turned to the importance of marriage. 

Marriage is important for us as a society, and it is important for children. If you doubt that, just look around you at the state of families today.

Naturally, strong, healthy marriages is the ideal, where the spouses are both "in" when it comes to their values and lifting each other up, creating a family forged in love.

Unfortunately, not all marriages look like that. Sometimes people marry the wrong person, I get that.

Because of this danger, and for many other reasons, we have become a nation of live-ins. It seems that we have given up on marriage. That, quite honestly, is not a good thing.

Marriage contributes to the fabric of our culture in ways that may not be obvious to some. In marriage, a man and a woman give of themselves completely to one another. Their covenant, their vow, reflects the love God has for us, in a union that cannot be broken.  

Live-ins do not share the same bond that marriage offers, no matter how strong their feelings of love are for one another, nor how great the commitment their words may express.

It's just not the same.

And, before you say marriage is just a piece of paper, you couldn't be further from the truth.

Married couples stand as a model of permanence, commitment and unfailing love, and we need this. And, men and women deserve this. 

If you are in a live-in relationship that is less-than what you personally desire, listen to your inner promptings. You probably need to re-evaluate your relationship.

When it comes to their sexual union, which is the seal of a married couple's love and commitment, "The Church teaches that the sexual union of husband and wife is meant to express the full meaning of love, its power to bind a couple together and its openness to new life."

"Our culture often presents sex as merely recreational, not as a deeply personal or even important encounter between spouses. In this view, being responsible about sex simply means limiting its consequences—avoiding disease and using contraceptives to prevent pregnancy." (*Married Love and the Gift of Life)

Let's never give up on marrying. Pray before you take that step so that you can be confident that it is God's plan for your life. Take your time and don't rush. Too many people ignore the flags that tell them "this person is not for you" and move forward anyway.

Think long and hard before you move in--and before you marry, as well. Never settle for less than what God wants for you.

If someone is not suitable for marriage, then they are likely not suitable to move in with either.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy

*Married Love and the Gift of Life:  https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/catholic-teaching/upload/Married-Love-and-the-Gift-of-Life-New-USCCB-Website.pdf

A time of hysteria

I remember learning something in history about how people of Japanese descent were held in internment camps in the United States during World War II, just because being Japanese made people suspicious of them.

It didn't matter if they had any association with criminal activity; what mattered was how they LOOKED. This was made possible because of an Act the former President wants to invoke.

Recently he visited Aurora, Colorado and dropped quite a bomb during his event.

I received this link (see *below) as to what he said.

Apparently, if elected, he is going to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which is a "widely condemned immigration law that gives the president sweeping powers to bypass equal protection and due process while targeting foreign citizens. When it has been invoked, it has led to human rights crises that history looks down upon — but the law has not formally been repealed by Congress."

Yes, that's right, the same law that "In 1988, when Congress apologized and provided reparations for Japanese internment, it acknowledged that the policy was rooted in 'racial prejudice' and 'wartime hysteria,' not valid security concerns." 

Indeed, today, we are in a time of hysteria, where fear-mongering and racial prejudice is rearing its ugly head, thanks in large part to words coming directly from the former President.

In fact, he is stirring up so many people, we are in danger of actually electing someone who lacks sound judgment. No question that racism, anger and hate will be on the ballot this year.

The article continues:

"Though the Alien Enemies Act is intended to be used only in wartime, and apply only when official governments have threatened military action, Trump could conceivably weaponize the law to apply to people hailing from any country he deems to be "invading" the U.S. — which is how he has described several nations whose residents have sought refuge in the States."

The advancing of an extremely dangerous transnational Venezuelan gang is the reason the former President wants to invoke the Act. Certainly the criminal activity of this gang must be dealt with, but do we really want to go backwards? 

The idea that we are going to "purify our country" by throwing out all of the bad apples (assuming they could even be identified), is a ridiculous goal. 

Has history taught us nothing?

Last August, **"the pope sternly criticized those who obstruct migrants from finding peace and security in a new country. 'It needs to be said clearly: There are those who systematically work by all means to drive away migrants, and this, when done knowingly and deliberately, is a grave sin.'" 

Peace needs to be our goal. Love needs to rule the day. Let's work on those.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy

 EXTERNAL LINKS:

 *https://people.com/donald-trump-compared-hitler-vowing-invoke-alien-enemies-act-8727625

 **https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/migrant-morality-pope-doubles-down-message-acceptance

 

 

 

 

Choosing a leader

 

I couldn't believe it was true.  I had heard that there was another run on toilet paper due to the short-lived dock workers strike, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but sure enough, when I went to pick up toilet paper that I actually needed, the shelves were nearly empty.

It would almost be funny, except when I consider how it reflects the mindset of people today.

And speaking of strange mindsets, I am so confused by anyone who supports the former President. Now don't go and get all mad at me, but I am very concerned, especially, about Christians who think they MUST vote for him out of an erroneous sense of morality (as for others who just like him, I have no comment.)

If you are Catholic and you have heard a homily that either directly, or indirectly, insinuates that you must vote for a particular candidate, do not be guilted into voting a certain way.

The Catholic Church never tells anyone how they should vote, except to say we must vote by a "well-formed conscience." 

Consider what has been widely reported as Pope Francis' comments on the subject. 

The following comes from the BBC:

"Pope Francis has called both major US presidential candidates 'against life' and advised Catholic voters to choose the 'lesser evil' when casting their ballots in the November election.

The pontiff said not welcoming migrants - seemingly referring to Trump - is a 'grave' sin, and compared Kamala Harris's stance on abortion to an 'assassination'.

'Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants, or be it the one who kills babies,' the Pope said in rare political comments at a Friday news conference as he wrapped up a 12-day tour through southeast Asia."

And there you have it. Neither candidate for President is pro-life.  This is not an election where we can be a one-issue voter. 

The key is to remember that "intention" is important when we make moral decisions.

It is entirely, morally acceptable, to vote Democrat, when your intention is to NOT support or promote abortion, but to simply vote against the other candidate, if your well-formed conscience leads you that way.

As you prepare to vote, perhaps this guide will help you. You can click on the link, or go directly to:

https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf  

to read "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship."

Rest in prayer and ask God for guidance in the days to come, that we will elect a leader that is right for today.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com
janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy