Use Catholic not cultural vocabulary

 

Personal reflection:

A Catholic priest used the phrase “significant other” in his homily.

He said something like the readings mentioned saying YES. 

The visiting seminarian said Yes to his vocation.

Couples say YES to their significant other.

“Significant other” is a gender-neutral term often used when two people are not married, but are in an exclusive, long-term relationship. 

Use Catholic vocabulary: Sacrament of Matrimony, sacramental marriage, husband, wife, spouse. 

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the term “spouse” refers to a husband and wife within the sacrament of Matrimony.

We all must be careful to use correct, precise, Catholic terminology that offers clarity, and not use cultural/societal problematic verbiage that causes confusion.