IVF

IVF is beneficial because it gives men and women who have difficulty conceiving another option to have biological children.Unfortunately, it has very serious medical risks that can threaten the life of the mother and the baby. The Church disapproves of IVF because it is an unnatural form of procreation that does not involve sexual intercourse. I disagree with the Church. I think IVF allows devoted couples to start their own biological families, fulfilling the role of procreation in their marriage.IVF is extremely expensive but I don't think the cost affects the morality. Just because it is expensive does not make it wrong. Each couple considering IVF must decide if the financial burden is worth having biological children or if they would rather adopt.

Abortion

I was shocked when I found out about Gosnell's case for the first time in VHS. Performing late term abortions is cruel. Besides this, at least 7 babies were alive when delivered then killed by Gosnell. I think the story has not gotten much media attention because of abortion being a hot button topic. No media source wants to rock the boat. Also, Gosnell's practice was in a poorer section of Philadelphia, where the clinic may not have been evaluated as often as it should have been. Practices on the mainline are much more subject to lawsuits because its patients can afford the legal fees. Gosnell's patients probably could not afford to go against him. I also think there is a stigma about poorer parts of the country. Some people tend to look over the bad things that happen there in ways they would not if it happened in wealthier parts; however, because this case is so big, I doubt it will be overlooked much longer.

The Changing Face of Marriage

My mom has been the "domestic church" for me. I cannot even remember when she first taught me about God and she taught me to thank God through prayer every night. Because of her, I was able to develop my relationship with God. Families have been changing for years. Before a family was only a family if it included a husband and a wife and most likely children. Today we see same sex couples starting families as well as single parents. This new family structure acts very much like the old. The parental figures must still act as a domestic church. The Catholic Church often discourages these types of families because they are not traditional; however, I believe these families can be as good as or better than traditional families. I come from a single parent household and I do not feel that I am less close to God because of it. As long as the family is morally good than it can still act as a domestic church no matter what form it is. When I marry, I hope to marry forever. I want to find the person that I am supposed to be with. I think this statistic about college educated people staying married longer is partly because people are waiting longer to marry. For many, by the time they marry, each person is financially secure, has a job, and is ready for the commitment that marriage requires. I plan to be in this position myself before I marry. When I get married and have children, I want to set up a domestic church in my household. I want my children to experience God and religion as I have, as well as give them the opportunity to build their own unique relationship with God.