Regarding family life before marriage

The Church addresses cohabitation directly, even apart from the question of sexual intimacy.

The Catechism teaches that marriage is not merely a private arrangement but a public commitment that establishes a new family unit within society and the Church (CCC §1603, §2390). Cohabitation, even without sexual relations, presents what the Church calls a "near occasion of sin" and obscures the distinct nature of marriage as a sacramental covenant.

Familiaris Consortio §81 (St. John Paul II) speaks to couples in "irregular situations," urging pastors to help them understand that the marital commitment is not simply cohabitation with good intentions, but a definitive, public, and sacramental bond. The document acknowledges modern economic pressures but does not treat them as sufficient reason to defer or simulate marriage.

The Church's concern isn't merely rule-keeping—it's that cohabitation can undermine the clarity and totality of the gift spouses are called to make. If a couple is truly ready to share a home and life, the Church would ask: what prevents the sacramental commitment itself? Economic hardship may delay a large wedding, but the sacrament can be celebrated simply. Pastoral guidance from a priest can help discern the path forward.