Cohabitation
The description of two people living together who are sexually active and share a household, though they are not married.
The Roman Way:
Roman Catholic teaching states that couples should not live together before marriage and also must not take part in any sexual contact. This is why cohabitation such a concern for the Roman and other like-minded Churches. The Roman Church also believes that cohabitation cannot be reconciled with God's plan for marriage and teaches that sex outside of marriage shows disrespect for the sacrament of marriage, the sacredness of sex, and human dignity. Couples are expected to work with their RC priest during this time of preparation for marriage and further more, expected to discuss every detail of their intimate life as well as many other issues. It must be born in mind that the priest discerning the beginning of the couples' lives together and how they must live them, has sworn a powerfully worded vow of celibacy and is forbidden to even think about any normal and loving relationship with another person. The ECC+C fails to see how a priest can assert any kind of Law or dictate in this area with this in mind.
The EEC Way:
The ECC+C holds the belief that unless the couple are devoutly set within the Roman faith and choose this as their preferred path before marriage, or if a specific faith based opinion has been sought by both partners - then no third party should judge or interfere as long as the relationship is believed to be built out of mutual love and respect.
The ECC+C believes that Jesus frees you to enjoy life long intimacy by appreciating your partner as a person through living in a stable, secure, permanent, and faithful relationship and expressing committed love rather than simply satisfying a physical urge. Married life is advocated as good by Jesus but He also stated it wasn't for everyone.
"Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it." (Matthew 19:10–12)
The ECC+C believes that any relationship built on the foundations of love, friendship, trust, respect and empathy can only be good in the eyes of God. Committing to a life long partnership blessed by God would always be our ideal for every human being, especially so if children have been born; and if specifically asked for our moral guidance and only if asked, that would be our answer. However we also live by God's rule not to make judgements. As long as rights and responsibilities of partners and their extended families are built on the foundations as stated at the start of this paragraph the ECC+C sees cohabitation as an acceptable and modern alternative to human isolation, misery and promiscuity.