Changing Face of Marriage

I have had a really good experience in terms of domestic church. My parents have been taking us to Church each week for my entire life. My parents always taught us values like honesty, selflessness, and acceptance. Overall, my family presented a strong example of the domestic church. Clearly, the changing structure of marriage and family in today's world has several pros and cons. Like we talked about in class, real-life couples and most on tv shows and in movies these days participate in cohabitation. This can have cons, as many people decide to break up and move out when their is conflict instead of working through problems like a married couple living together for the first time would do. However, a pro of the evolution of marriage and family is that more people are being accepted in society. For example, gay people are being allowed to get married in many states, and this brings a whole new version of a family if the couple chooses to have children. I think that these different families can only help future generations to be more accepting of differences. The news about divorce rates and people with college degrees is great! I'm very happy to know that I'll be less likely to experience divorce/multiple marriages should I ever get married. If I end up having a family in the future, I don't think I will feel compelled to establish the domestic church in my home. I don't think compelled is the right word. I probably will establish it because I grew up with it and it helped shape me into a good person. So I don't think I'd be compelled; it would be a choice.

Papal Conclave

I think that the next pope will definitely have to address many big and possibly hot-button issues since our world is changing so much. For example, I think the new Pope will have to discuss gay marriage, the sex abuse scandal, contraception, women in the Church, involving the youth in the Church more, and many more. Though the Church already has established views on some of these topics, I think the new Pope will have to further explain these views or adapt them. I think the future of the Church needs general open-mindedness and acceptance of the fact that it may have to adjust to an ever-changing world and congregation. I think the new pope may face some challenges when it comes to working with young people. One of the Church's weaknesses right now is that it is not very inviting to young people who are a product of our modern world. I would like to think that being a woman in the Church is the same as being a man in the Church, but I don't think it is. I still feel like the Church holds on to this idea that women are the cause of a lot of sin; for example, I don't think the Church has ever really evolved from its view of women as temptresses. I think women in the Church need more of a voice. Let's face it: the Church is run by men in every way. Priests are always in control of parishes, a woman really can't become anything higher than a sister while priests can climb the ranks, and the only people allowed to vote for the pope are men! I think the Church would be much more relatable if women were able to give their perspective. If I could change one thing in the Church, I would have them change the words of the mass back to what they were before! It sounds dumb and petty, but it bothers me that now we say the blood of Christ was shed for "many" and not "all." This line and the changes in general do not reflect a Jesus that I have come to know in my life, and they make me feel isolated from the loving, accepting Church I thought I was a part of. I do think that there is room for democracy, even in the Church's current form. I believe that if the hierarchy of the Church could be adjusted to be more democratic and include women, the Church would already be progressing. Even in its current form, I think the Holy Spirit works in the hierarchy to help those in power make decisions that truly benefit the Church, its people, and its mission.