IVF?

The practice of in vitro fertilization is becoming more common in today's society.  Along with the increase of this practice comes with many pros and cons.  The Catholic church believes that IVF is morally wrong; many couples who use IVF do not consult their church for the fear of being told "no."  However, IVF is a great way for couples to increase their chances of having their own children.  Although the Savage family in the dateline special ultimately gave birth to a child who belonged to someone else, they are a good example of people creating a healthy family through IVF, despite the many obstacles faced during pregnancy.  IVF is a also good alternative to adoption for the couples who desire a child that is biologically theirs.  IVF is a very expensive practice, but I do not believe that it greatly affects my opinion on the morality of it.  It is a very difficult process that can not be done cheaply, and I think that if a couple is willing to pay this much money for IVF, it shows how serious they are about creating a family.

Abortion: Why isn't this a national outrage?

After learning about the acts of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, I was completely disgusted by his outrageous acts. Ultimately, he is illegally taking away the lives of innocent babies who have no way of protecting themselves.  I am shocked that our government did not do anything to stop his dangerous and  unsanitary practices, even with the complaints put forward about his "clinic."  It is unjustifiable that the lives of many women were put into danger, some who had even died, were dismissed.  However, I believe that this has not been a headlining story for many reasons.  Due to the fact that this clinic was in a poor area, with many girls and women coming because of desperation, the situation was probably overlooked.  If this had taken place in the an area such as the Main Line, I believe that it people would have paid more attention to it and his practices would have been stopped immediately.  Another possibility of why this story has not been a large, national story may be because of the issue it focuses on.  In today's society, abortion is an extremely controversial topic that polarizes many groups.  It is possible that the media did not want to take a stand on either side.  Regardless, Dr. Gosnell's practices were extremely horrifying and deserved attention so that it could have been stopped immediately.

The Changing Face of Marriage

In my family, I believe that I have been given a a typical experience of the "domestic church."  I was raised Catholic, and the Catholic values and morals have been instilled in me by my parents and other family members.  My parents were unified through the sacrament of matrimony and together they have been my first and foremost example of faith.  They have taught me how to love, forgive, and trust others.  They have shown and guided me how to follow the Catholic teachings.
Based off of real life and TV shows/movies, I have witnessed many pros and cons of the changing structure and composition of marriage and family.  I believe that it is great that the media today is portraying many same sex couples, considering that is the reality of modern society.  TV shows such as Modern Family are showing same sex couples starting families.  I think that this changing structure and composition of marriage is a great thing; everyone should be treated equally regardless of his or her sexual orientation.  However, I believe that media today is emphasizing too much on teen pregnancies in shows such as Teen Mom.  I think that this factor in society shows the irresponsibility of teenagers in today's society and the children are rarely raised in stable marriages with parents giving the child the proper experience of the "domestic church."
Finally, I think that the study suggesting those with a college degree are less likely to experience divorce and multiple marriages gives hope.  For me, it means that I believe I will have a happy and successful marriage, considering I fully intend to obtain my college degree.  I also believe that people who value good relationships and marriage will feel the need to complete their college education.  In the future, I intend to someday establish the domestic church in my home.  I think that it is important to raise a well-rounded child with a strong faith and morals.