The Way

I had never heard of El Camino before seeing the Way, but I was immediately inspired by it. Traveling the El Camino is even now on my bucket list. More than anything I think I am drawn by the rugged beauty of the region and the idea of solitude. I found it almost shocking that most of the pilgrims on the El Camino started their journey's alone. I come from a large family where the words solitude and silence are not in our vernacular. I have always done everything with at least a partner if not a squad of people beside me, family or friends. The idea of doing a 2 month pilgrimage alone is simultaneously fascinating and daunting to me. I would love to be alone with my thoughts that long, but I also think I might get bored of myself.
Reading Rebecca Gallo's article about the integral role of religion in her pilgrimage intrigues me as well. My Catholic religion has had varying influence on my life. There have been times when I was more devout than I am now. I suppose I am slightly skeptical of taking any religion all too seriously, if that makes sense. My best friend is Jewish, and so we often share our religious ideas. I, at times, feel that I belong to no particular religion, although my core beliefs remain Catholic. Perhaps personally doing the El Camino would help me feel less confused about religion, but then again, I do not really think that I would ever come to a distinct answer about where my faith is. Sometimes I feel bogged down by the dogmas of the Catholic Church with which I disagree. In the film, I think Jack from Ireland felt the same way. He refused even to go inside churches along the Camino. However, by the end, he does go inside the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. I think it is because the pilgrimage has given him the chance to see the Catholic faith out of its rigid context of churches and priests and nuns. Maybe the Camino would give me the same experience. Or maybe more aptly, the El Camino would show me a different facet or perspective of the mystery and beauty of faith.

Nigeria

My friend and I were recently discussing why it has taken so long for America and other powerful international countries to get involved or at the least become aware of this situation and we boiled it down to the fact that no one really cares about Africa. It sounds horrible, but Africa is treated like this far away place that is not populated by the same kind of humans as everywhere else. Crisis like the Rwandan genocide and the crisis in Darfur have shown a general lack of commitment or steady interest towards Africa in general. Of course it is much more complex than this, and another massive component of crisis like the one in Nigeria are the corrupt governments and general lack of infrastructure in African countries. As Johnnie Carson in the NPR article states, the Nigerian government may like military aid, but it does not especially enjoy the lessons and lectures from Americans on human rights. I imagine that it is incredibly frustrating to have a foreign entity barge into your way of life and tell you how everything needs to change. American and Western attention spans are short; we lack the patience (and adequate funds) to consistently offer support and help to impoverished African nations. That is the only way to ensure things like this from happening so often. Subsequently, it seems understandable (albeit irresponsible) that the Nigerian government would not want to admit that they had allowed 300 school girls to be kidnapped and ransomed because it would only bring the government more external scrutiny and criticism.
If it was the Mount, I do not think the kidnapping would have even been fully executed before authorities were notified. It would be national news within an hour. There would be no hesitation from the government to step in and help because an atrocity like that is unheard of in our country. Yet somehow, when we hear that it is happening in Africa it suddenly seems to be a normal occurrence for that war-torn continent.

IVF

IVF has become a controversial subject since its inception in the late 70s because of the vast amount of pros and cons of the subject. IVF can be a very positive course of action for a married couple that wants children but are physically unable to conceive alone. The Bible and the Catholic Church encourage procreation, and it is natural for adults to want to have children of their own any way possible. IVF is an innovative and safe measure to help people conceive children. However, there are major consequences. First, in order to higher the rate of conception through IVF, scientists make extra embryos which can be saved but are often eventually destroyed. The Catholic Church, supporting the sanctity of life at conception, does not condone this practice. In addition, Father Thomas Nairn makes a valid point in saying that the process of IVF becomes more centralized on the parents wanting children than on what the child needs. However, this ultimate desire for children is perpetuated by our culture. On TV shows and in media, adults are depicted comically "trying" for a baby in seeming desperation. I do not think this phenomenon is directly correlated to IVF alone, but a culture of people who expect to get exactly what they want when they want it. Brother Sulmasy says that when he councils young couples considering IVF he attempts to assure them that their self-worth and success in life is not solely dependent on procreation. I think this is a very valid point. Sometimes it seems that society expects the same out of every person, forcing people into identical cookie-cutter lives. I think parenthood is a great thing and very important but it is not necessary for enjoying or fully living life.
For the most part, I do not object to IVF. I was interested by the points that Father Nairn and Brother Sulmasy brought up concerning parent's needs and fulfillment versus a child's needs. However, I think that it is a beautiful thing for a couple to want children, and I think that should be encouraged. I do understand the objection to the destruction of embryos, but in the case of the Zimmerman family it seems that they opted not to discard embryos. Personally, I would prefer that most people participating in IVF also opt not to discard embryos, but I understand that today many people have many different definitions on the exact moment a life begins. I disagree with the Church on its stance against using third party eggs or sperm as dividing a family as well as the necessity of the sex component. The cost of IVF does seem excessive to me, but I do not believe that that in itself makes the practice immoral.

Mixed Messages

As Reimer-Barry said in her interview, the Catholic church and education tradition encourages a constant deepening of faith and questioning. There are also a myriad of great past Catholic leaders for young people to look up to, specifically women. However, women leaders in Catholicism, particularly saints, are viewed in limited terms. They are venerated for their holiness and especially their virginity. Even women saints are sexualized, making it difficult for today's young girls to identify with these respectable women. The literature and lexicon of the Church surrounding women can be similarly as limiting. Women are mainly portrayed as homemakers and forced to accept their menial roles in society and the Church. Motherhood is an important and powerful part of womanhood, but it is not the only part. As citizens of the 21st century, the Church should try to embrace the changing (improving) roles of women in society with more empowering language and overall inclusion for young women.
Going to an all-girls Catholic high school gave me the opportunity to embrace my own womanhood. The Mount has empowered me to be confident in my gender. However, I think my own growth in religion and spirituality as a woman has been largely based on the fact that I was educated at an all-girls school, not necessarily a Catholic school. Sometimes when I go to Church, I find the sermons or the psalms alienating. Like in TV and current media, it seems that women are only portrayed by the Church in two ways: evil and deceitful like Eve or pure and holy like Mary. There is no middle ground. I think that can be discouraging for young girls. When I was younger, my favorite saint was Joan of Arc because she was courageous and strong. At 17 years old, she led an entire army to victory with only her own conviction and belief in God. I found her to be a more relatable saint than Mary because she was a normal kid who was scared. She had faith, compassion, integrity, courage and fortitude. Those are female qualities that the Catholic church should espouse.

Dating

Is dating practice for divorce? I understand how it can be seen that way. Dating implies impermanence; a state that will inevitably end, perhaps in marriage or in a breakup. Data shows that divorce rates have risen, and maybe dating is to blame because we are now accustomed to impermanence. In a way, this makes sense to me. TV and movies often portray dating as cold and calculated excursions in which both parties only want something physical. While I do not want to pass judgment, this hardly seems healthy to me. On the other hand, the concept of dating is relatively new. Only in the past century have people experimented with dating as opposed to courtship or arranged marriage. Similarly, divorce is a relatively new concept. Although King Henry VIII was divorced, most people did not consider divorce respectable or viable until as late as the 1970s. Even now, I think of my grandparents' generation and can name only one couple I  know that got a divorce. Maybe divorce rates are rising because it is no longer as shameful or ill-perceived as it was only 50 years ago. Maybe dating is not that harmful because it gives us the tools to gain greater self-knowledge of ourselves and others. I think that properly and healthily established dating can lead to us finding stronger, more loving and more committed relationships that will last a lifetime.
The hook-up culture is a slightly different story. The hook-up culture glorifies physical aspects of relationships without giving any thought to the emotional and psychological ramifications and that can be destructive. I think this detached attitude can lead to personal problems far worse than divorce or future fleeting relationships. It creates an aura of depression and loneliness that can only be filled temporarily. That is scary.

The Changing Face of Marriage

My parents have never really stressed the importance of the Church in our lives, but now having talked about this redefinition of the Church, or the domestic church, I think my parents have embodied that. My parents taught my brother and I that love and trying to live in Jesus' footsteps were the most important things in life; everything else would follow after. Therefore, for the most part, I have no problem with the evolving types of families and marriage. My great-aunt recently told me how upset she was that her granddaughter was pregnant and unmarried, even though she and her boyfriend were in a committed and long-term relationship. I feel that as long as that child is loved and both my cousin and her boyfriend are happy than little else matters. I think there are consequences and difficulties no matter if you're married or long-term partners; there will always be a possibility of a break-up or a divorce. Personally, I am very afraid of getting a divorce (even with a college degree), probably because I watch too much Reba and I really would like to establish some version of the domestic church in my house. I am not sure that I want to raise my kids Catholic (I am not even sure that I want to get married or have kids), but I want to raise them with an idea of God and absolutely with the tradition of love that the Church encourages. I want my marriage to be an example for my children.