My StoryI come from a large, interracial, Catholic family. As the youngest of six girls I grew up copying my sisters by dreaming of every detail of my wedding. Thirty-three years ago my parents tied the knot, seven years ago the first of my sisters got married, and two other sisters got married after. I remember the couples going to marriage-prep classes with our church and my parents reminiscing about when they used to teach young, excited couples in such classes.
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I knew the Catholic Church had many teachings about the sanctity of marriage from a young age even if I wasn't the one who was engaged.
Besides spending time, money, and thoughts on weddings, the Crist's are a family-oriented bunch. I remember going to my Mamang's house every year for Christmas, the entire place packed with Asian Aunties tossing presents to me and my sugar-filled cousins, and a spread of food that could feed the entire state of Maryland. Presently, with all my older siblings living nearby, we get together as often as possible for any occasion we can come up with. There are no people I'd rather be with than my family.
This extensive background gives good premise as to why I chose this topic. Initially though it was not easy for me to think up a research topic until I came across an article about Pope Francis "coming out" on his progressive views on family and non-traditional marriage, something I have a unique personal view on. Immediately a new excitement about this project sprouted. The question: how does Pope Francis' opinion affect the number of non-traditional marriages in the predominately Catholic Italy?
Researching this topic was a struggle. Italy is a small country and big news sites fail to focus on religious topics. Like my peers I wanted to change my topic on the first day. But soon enough I found the right words to type in the search bar and my knowledge expanded. Quickly I learned Pope Francis had little direct impact and I was discouraged. It wasn't until I studied enough charts to see a parallel in dates with Pope Francis' election. I had found my evidence!
The world is becoming more progressive and welcoming to those different than us everyday. Non-traditional is becoming normal. Marriage and family will always be a big part of life. However Pope Francis will not always be pope. In fact, many Catholics don't even like him. They fear he is a heretic and will destroy the church (Brown). If there becomes a pattern of progressive popes, the effect on non-traditional families might continue, but if Pope Francis is the first and last of them, Italy may stay steadily conservative in its family statistics.
Works Cited
Brown, Andrew. “The War against Pope Francis.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 Oct. 2017,
www.theguardian.com/news/2017/oct/27/the-war-against-pope-francis.
Besides spending time, money, and thoughts on weddings, the Crist's are a family-oriented bunch. I remember going to my Mamang's house every year for Christmas, the entire place packed with Asian Aunties tossing presents to me and my sugar-filled cousins, and a spread of food that could feed the entire state of Maryland. Presently, with all my older siblings living nearby, we get together as often as possible for any occasion we can come up with. There are no people I'd rather be with than my family.
This extensive background gives good premise as to why I chose this topic. Initially though it was not easy for me to think up a research topic until I came across an article about Pope Francis "coming out" on his progressive views on family and non-traditional marriage, something I have a unique personal view on. Immediately a new excitement about this project sprouted. The question: how does Pope Francis' opinion affect the number of non-traditional marriages in the predominately Catholic Italy?
Researching this topic was a struggle. Italy is a small country and big news sites fail to focus on religious topics. Like my peers I wanted to change my topic on the first day. But soon enough I found the right words to type in the search bar and my knowledge expanded. Quickly I learned Pope Francis had little direct impact and I was discouraged. It wasn't until I studied enough charts to see a parallel in dates with Pope Francis' election. I had found my evidence!
The world is becoming more progressive and welcoming to those different than us everyday. Non-traditional is becoming normal. Marriage and family will always be a big part of life. However Pope Francis will not always be pope. In fact, many Catholics don't even like him. They fear he is a heretic and will destroy the church (Brown). If there becomes a pattern of progressive popes, the effect on non-traditional families might continue, but if Pope Francis is the first and last of them, Italy may stay steadily conservative in its family statistics.
Works Cited
Brown, Andrew. “The War against Pope Francis.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 Oct. 2017,
www.theguardian.com/news/2017/oct/27/the-war-against-pope-francis.
Header taken by Linsley Schneider Photography; personal photo