The Way

I really enjoyed The Way and I appreciated the opportunity to view it in class. Travel fascinates me on so many levels and, although I had heard of the Camino, I did not have a very extensive knowledge about it. In my opinion, it is such an incredible tradition that blends both physical travel with spiritual exploration. Throughout the centuries, thousands of people have embarked on the journey across Spain to deepen their faith and/or pursue a goal. The symbolism behind the walk and the accounts of the pilgrims are so intriguing. The film does such an excellent job of painting rich and complex characters that everyone can relate to. As the film progresses, the audience can see that the stock reasons for each character's walk are really only excuses obscuring the true motivations behind the journey.  Sarah, for example, claims that she was walking to quit smoking while, in reality, she is embarking on a personal odyssey of self-forgiveness. Spending weeks together away from the comforts of routine and consistency, the characters develop such a unique bond, and I felt myself become increasingly invested in their stories.

For me, the film was inspiring because it provided such an intimate look at the journey of a group of people who became unlikely friends under unusual circumstances. I plan to travel across the world and movies like The Way always serve to strengthen this ambition.

Mixed Messages

I agree that the Church does send mixed messages about the role of women within the Church. For example, it honors notable females with sainthood and reveres Mary the Mother of God as on of the greatest religious figures of the Church. However, it also constantly emphasizes Mary's virginity and praises virginal innocence while encouraging women to marry, have children, and support the domestic household. I personally have always been frustrated by the title "Blessed Virgin Mary" because it implies that a woman's sexuality is inherently dirty or sinful. Although the Church has progressed significantly, it still upholds many of the teachings of the old Church fathers. St. Jerome, for example, is frequently quoted even though he was a blatant misogynist and is even suspected to have removed women from scripture passages when he provided translations.. In addition, the Churches places restrictions on the ways in which women can participate in the liturgy, namely by barring them from ordination. While our roles in the liturgy have expanded to include altar servers, lectors, and cantors, we still are forbidden from inhabiting the pinnacle position of celebrant. Consequently, all of the Church authority is solely in the hands of males. The leading Church delegations are comprised entirely of priests, meaning that only men can decide matters of faith.

Abortion

As someone who is pro-life, it is disheartening to see how many abortions occur, especially the number of ones that are unsafe. Women in third-world countries often forced to have sex, not only with their husbands, but with other relatives and strangers. They, the victims of the abuse, are then unjustly left to deal with the consequences, namely STDs and unplanned pregnancies. If they do in fact become pregnant, their family, society, or economic necessity often pressures them into getting an abortion, usually performed through questionable practices by questionable people. Consequently, thousands of women dies each year. Although I believe that amending current pro-choice legislation, I recognize that the Church must do more to help disadvantaged women prevent pregnancy. I know that the Church opposes contraceptives, however, I think that it should take a more lenient view when considering the circumstances. Destitute women and girls abused and sexually compromised are very different from a financially stable couple wanting to freely make love every night. Through providing information about contraceptives and natural family planning, the Church can avoid the deaths of millions of innocent babies. I believe, in this situation, it truly is the lesser of two evils.

IVF

In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF, is a very controversial issue that has many facets. The Catholic Church opposes IVF on the grounds that the involvement of a third party in the conception process is immoral and contrary to God's will. However, as the article acknowledges, many infertile couples have a great desire to biologically parent a child. In this regard, IVF can bring great joy and happiness. Nevertheless, I believe that there are several cons to IVF. Although I strongly support hormonal treatments and GIFT, I think that a person ultimately must accept their limitations. God has crafted a unique plan for everyone and we must recognize that. In addition, IVF is not guaranteed to work, even when donors and surrogates are used. Furthermore, right now in the United States there are thousands of children waiting in foster care to be adopted by loving, permanent parents. Although adoption can involve psychological and emotional trauma for both the child(ren) and the parents, most people receive tremendous joy from the process. Another point of contention is the financial cost of IVF treatment. While IVF has become more widely available, it is still incredibly expensive, meaning that such treatments are restricted to only the financially privileged.

He's Just Not That Into You

Although it is considered a "chick flick," the movie He's Just Not That Into You contains many real examples of dating, marriage, and relationships. For example, the long-term relationship between Neil and Beth, played by Ben Affleck and Jennifer Aniston respectively, highlights the issue of cohabitation and marriage. Although Beth strongly desires to tie the knot, Neil resists, citing his opposition to the institution of matrimony. Expressing his commitment to her, he tries to explain that marriage is unnecessary for them since they are content and dedicated to each other. As we discussed in class, many cohabitating couples can enjoy developed and fulfilling relationships. The ultimate marriage of the Beth and Neil, however, does suggest that matrimonial union holds a specialness and an intimacy lacking in cohabitation. Interestingly, the relationship between Janine (Jennifer Connelly) and Ben (Bradley Cooper) reveals that the act of marriage does not always offer martial bliss.

Ultimately, both couples demonstrate that a successful relationship depends on the values, beliefs, and emotional characters of those involved. As I have witnessed in my own life, love works in mysterious ways and no blanket statement or statistic can determine a relationship. The most critical factors in a the outcome of a dating, cohabitating, or marital relationship involve the individual features of the couple, such as their age, education, and life story. Nevertheless, I do believe that marriage is the consummate manifestation of love and an ultimate goal.

The Changing Face of Marriage

My life, especially my younger childhood, has essentially been the "domestic church." My parents, particularly my mother, are very strict in regards to both behavior and religion. Since my toddler years, I have not once missed a single Sabbath Mass--regardless of where we go on vacation, my mother will find a church. One summer, my mother even took my brother and I to 8 a.m. Mass every weekday. As a child I used to collect holy cards and saint statues, and I cannot even count how many obscure shrines I have visited. Advent and Lent mean evening rosary sessions, and I have prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on almost Good Friday. My family fasts before Mass, genuflects with both knees before the Blessed Sacrament, and even recites the Fatima Prayer following the "Glory Be." Although I appreciate my parents' efforts to spread the Gospel and instill in me the Catholic faith, I know that I will parent very differently. I will establish a domestic church in my home, however I believe that faith should have spiritual meaning, not just empty institutional practices. 

In regards to the changing face and structure of marriage, I think that, although marriage is the ultimate goal, there can be extremely happy and stable couples who simply cohabitate. While official married status certainly does serve as a deterrent to divorce, the rate of separation and divorce is still relatively high. What really matters is the level of commitment between the two people involved. Communication is critical to a successful relationship and I do believe that many couples can enjoy a very gratifying relationship if there is a healthy degree of vulnerability and communication between them. Interestingly, college educated individuals are also proven to experience fewer divorces, suggesting that emotional maturity, critical thinking, and developed communication skills have more bearing on the success of a relationship than the actual act of marriage. 

Dating and Hooking Up

Although John Harris and his fellow anti-daters make a strong argument that dating is practice for divorce, I believe that, while serial dating may pose such problems, the general system of informal dating is not necessarily faulted. Proposing a return to a more formal system of dating aimed a determining suitability for marriage, the anti-daters ultimately argue that matrimony should be the sole focus of dating. However, like authors Donna Freitas and Jason King, I understand dating to encompass a great deal more than simply a suitor test. Through dating, we can learn about ourselves, our identity, our virtues, and our vices. In dating, we see the values we find in all human relationships. As we open ourselves up to another person, we can grow and change as individuals. In addition, I share Freitas and King's sentiments in denouncing the anti-daters' assumption that dating is all about sex. While I do believe that sex is more meaningful if saved for marriage, I do not think that dating and premarital sex must always be intertwined. Dating is more about self-discovery, compassion, and mutual growth than it is physical gratification.

However, while dating explores more complex themes, the hook-up culture encourages just that--instant sexual and physical gratification. Unlike dating relationships, hook-ups promote one-time tete-a-tetes that are physically intimate but emotionally shallow. In addition, the definition of a hook-up varies by age and by person. Among high school students, hooking up generally involves little more than deep kissing and physical affection. However, in colleges and universities, hooking up can mean everything from deep kissing to sexual intercourse to oral sex. Among my generation, hook ups also almost always involve alcohol. While such behavior can be exciting for some people, drunken, empty, one-night-stands fail to provide any emotional fulfillment. Although the dating system is not necessarily focused on marriage, the hook-up culture is not even focused on relationships.