Marriage for Life begins by listening to the lived experiences of
Catholic, married, HIV-positive women, in order to better understand
their struggles. The eight women interviewed in Chicago, Illinois,
USA, shared their stories of marriage, of family life, of church
involvement, and of living with HIV. Their candid reflections offer a
fresh and grounded perspective on the challenges of living with HIV in
a US context. After listening to and learning from these women’s
experiences, Reimer-Barry constructs a theology of Christian marriage
that is life-giving in a world with AIDS. While Catholic teachings
have developed and now affirm the equal dignity of women and men,
troubling legacies of women’s subordination remain embedded in
liturgical practices and theological texts. Arguing that self-care is
an indispensable component of a healthy marriage, Reimer-Barry
constructs a life-affirming theology of marriage that is sensitive to
the struggles of her collaborators. She argues that marriage for life
must promote the full flourishing of both partners, respect wives as
equal partners with their husbands, and offer a coherent and
empowering sexual ethic. Building on the wisdom of her
collaborators’ lived experiences, Reimer-Barry examines the need for
a more adequate Catholic response to HIV and AIDS, arguing that church
communities should promote comprehensive sexual education, affirm both
abstinence and condom use for HIV prevention, and actively work to
reduce stigmatizing behaviors within church communities. She also
unpacks the implications of marriage for life for Catholic liturgical
practice, marriage preparation programs, sexual education programs,
and family ministries. Modeling her method on what Pope Francis calls
the “art of accompaniment,” Reimer-Barry argues that Catholic
theology of marriage must be renewed and updated so that all can
plainly understand that marriage is for life.
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Marriage for Life
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9798216320784
Publisert
2025
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Bloomsbury USA
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter