Pilgrims on the Journey

I have learned a lot over the past 8 weeks in this class. One thing that we learned recently that stood out to me was perception. The Love is All you Need Video that we watched was truly moving. It was almost mind blowing. It is so sad that things like the bullying of that girl who was "different" actually happen in our world today. I think that perception and the way we view things is very important. Through this class, I have learned to not make judgements because you never know what is going through someone else's mind. I have learned to respect and care for everyone and everything because we are all God's creation.

Another thing that we learned that really stood out to me was IVF. I never really knew about what it was before this class, so learning about it was very interesting. The video that we watched about Carolyn and Sean Savage was incredible. Carolyn had so much strength, courage, and faith. I think she is an amazing role model for thousands today. When there are people in the world who are as disturbing as Doctor Kermit Gosnell, I think it is a relief to know that there are also people in the world like Carolyn and Sean. People who care about the well being of others. 

IVF

After seeing the dateline special on IVF and reading the US Catholic article, I have learned a lot about IVF. The woman in the show had an incredible amount of strength, and although probably every bad thing that could have happened to her did happen, she fought through it. Some people in the world physically cannot have children. I definitely think that IVF is a good option for those couples who want to create a family but cannot. I think that the Church may have some valuable points about why IVF is bad, but I think that the pros definitely outweigh the cons, and the Church does not see that. I understand why the Church is against it because sometimes the left over eggs are wasted, and the Church considers that destroying human life. So, it makes sense, but without IVF, families would not be created. I do not think that the financial cost of IVF has an impact on my opinion. If a couple is willing to spend that much money for a child, they will definitely love it and be the best parents they can possible be. 

Abortion: Why isn't this a national outrage?

When I read the disturbing article on Kermit Gosnell, I was absolutely shocked. It is hard to believe that there are some people in this world who do not care about the well being of others. I have not heard anything about Gosnell prior to this article. I think there are a few reasons why this has not been a large, national story. The first is that abortion is a very sensitive subject. People have very strong opinions about abortion and the media may not want lots of arguments over the topic. Another reason why the story may not get much attention is because what Gosnell did was really wrong. The details of the story and the conditions of the clinic were gruesome. Finally, I think that the major reason that Gosnell’s actions have not reached more of the media is because it would make some people look badly. People knew how bad things were at his clinic; hundreds of abortions were performed, and two women died. People who knew what was going on should have stepped up and said something before more people could get hurt. Maybe if the clinic was in a nicer part of Philadelphia, it would draw more attention, but I think since it was located in a poorer part of the city, it has unfortunately not drawn a lot of attention. 

The Changing Face of Marriage

My parents have raised me and my siblings as good Catholics. We go to Church every Sunday and practice the Word of God. I feel unified with my family and Catholics throughout the world because we all share similar beliefs.

I think one thing that has definitely changed in marriage and family life in television and films is the role of woman. I remember watching older movies where the women never had jobs and only cared for the children and the house. Now, in movies and shows, women have jobs and are equal to their husbands. One con of the media and Hollywood would be all the marriages and divorces between celebrities. I feel like celebrities don’t treat marriage as seriously as others.

I never really thought about how people with a college degree are less likely to experience divorce and multiple marriages than those without a college degree, but after reading the Happily Never After article on Busted Halo, I think that it makes sense. People who have a college degree may be more cautious and smart about how to approach certain things than those without a college degree. One thing that especially stood out to me in the article was, “With increasing numbers of less educated Americans cohabiting instead of marrying, more children are born into these fragile unions, at risk of being raised in poverty and with fewer educational resources of their own.” I think that before having children, a couple needs to discuss how they plan to raise the children in a good environment. I think that I would want to establish the domestic church in my home because that is how I was raised, and everything has worked out well.  

Dating: What's the Point?

I think that the phrase, “dating is essentially practice for divorce,” is a little extreme. I understand that some people may be against dating, but in my opinion, I think that dating is a very important part in relationships. After watching the three videos by Kerry Cronin, I think that she makes a good point and agree with a lot of what she was saying. I think for people to have a successful relationship, they should follow the three levels of dating.

I have always thought that the term “hooking up” has not been very clear, but after reading Christine B. Whelan’s article, it is apparent that hooking up means different things to different people. I thought that the stats were all really interesting, and the one thing that really stood out to me was that so many people did not expect anything from a guy after they “hooked up,” no phone call, no text. I also think that it is definitely true that people think that everyone around them is hooking up more often then they really are. It is hard to see how often hooking up occurs because people all have different interpretations of what it really is.

Papal Election

The new Pope has many challenges that he must face. One topic that is especially important for the next Pope to address in the Church and in the world is the sex abuse scandals. There have been many issues with sex abuse scandals recently, and because of them, many Catholics have or have thoughts about leaving the Catholic Church. Another issue that the Pope must discuss is same-sex marriage. This has been in the news a lot recently throughout the world, and especially in the United States.

I think the future of the Church needs a Pope who will come in and settle everything down. There is a lot of controversy in our world and in the Catholic Church today, and I think we need a new leader who will peacefully work everything out. I think one major challenge that the Pope may have is unifying the Catholic Church. I feel like some people may be against the Church because of the Church’s strict views on certain issues and the recent sex abuse scandals, so if the Pope can have people fighting for the Church, and not against it, that will be a good sign.

It is very difficult to be a woman in the Church today. Women are given smaller jobs in the Church. Our world is evolving and although women did not hold powerful positions in the past, they do now. The Church needs to evolve with our modern times and offer more jobs and opportunities in the Church for women. In other religions, women have higher positions, so why don’t women in the Catholic Church? Women in the Church need female role models to look up to. The Pope needs to give women a larger voice in our Catholic community.

If I could change one thing in the Church, it would be that the Church needs to be up to date with our modern world. I don’t think that the Church needs a huge drastic change, but small simple changes to help people today stay and feel connected to the Catholic Church will help. Sometimes, it seems like it is hard to relate to some things going on in the Church because the Church is not that up to date.

I do think there is some room for democracy in the Church in its current condition. With everything in our chaotic world going on, and with the sudden resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, I think that the Catholic Church needs a strong leader who will not be afraid to make some changes, as long as the changes help all Catholics. I think that the Holy Spirit works through the hierarchy by guiding the Pope and other leaders in the right direction.