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.