Letters

Sex before marriage

Dr Arnold Jago

Contents - May 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Challenges facing John Paul II's successor Benedict XVI - Michael Gilchrist 'Santo Subito': the impact of John Paul II - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World Year of Eucharist: Religious education: Catholic youth have their say - Shannon Donahoo Catholic beliefs and practices: the challenge ahead for Australia - Michael Gilchrist The Da Vinci Code and the itching ears syndrome - John Young UK survey: why church pews are emptying St Patrick's Church, Soho Square, a spiritual oasis in London - Tess Livingstone Bioethics: IVF and embryonic stem cell research: the social and ethical issues - Kerrie Allen Letters: Appeal to the young - Justin Lynch Letters: God's Champion - Robert Garrett Letters: Theology at ACU - Henk Verhoeven Letters: Overseas priests - Jenny Bruty Letters: Priest shortage - Jeff Harvie Letters: Heroic virtue - Bob Denahy Letters: Catholic education - Geoff Storey Letters: Private revelations - Anne Boyce Letters: Sex before marriage - Dr Arnold Jago Letters: Society of St Pius X - Stephen McInerney Letters: Ecclesial unity - Meg Fennell Letters: Correcting pastoral blunders - Kevin McManus Letters: Catholic hymns - Dolores Lightbody Letters: Latin Mass Times in Hobart - Kevin Tighe Letters: Corpus Christi Procession in Brisbane - Josie Mangano Books: Sacred and Secular Scriptures / The Catholic Revival in English Literature - David Birch (reviewer) Books: A GENTLE JESUIT: Philip Caraman SJ, by June Rockett - George Russo (reviewer) Books: Remembering Pope John Paul II Reflection: Pope John Paul II and the redemptive power of suffering - Fr Paul Stuart

Just living together seems not to guarantee that a couple is ready for marriage. In fact, aren't unmarried couples living together, by definition, un-ready for marriage?

Premarital cohabiters have over twice the risk of divorce compared with non-cohabiters. Researchers comment that living in a non-marital union "undermines the legitimacy of formal marriage" and so "reduces commitment" (D. Hall and J. Zhoa, Journal of Marriage and Family, 57, 1995).

Perhaps the Church should insist that cohabiting couples seeking a church wedding be required to undertake to separate and live celibately for a significant time - many months at least - before entering into the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony?

ARNOLD JAGO (DR)
Mildura, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 4 (May 2005), p. 14