Bachelorette Opts Out Of Overnight Dates

CatholicMatch blogger confession time: I love ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” Every Monday night I settle in for two hours of dream dates, tears and, of course, a dramatic rose ceremony. Even though the show’s success rate is less than perfect, I marvel at the exotic filming locations, the flowing gowns and the prospect of love.

I try to place my focus on the extravagance of the show and not the misguided moral compass of many of the 25 bachelors or bachelorettes. From tipsy cocktail hours to barrages of expletives to steamy hot tub scenes, many of the contestants regularly cross moral and physical boundaries in front of a national audience.

ABC’s current bachelorette, Emily Maynard, recently restored my hope in the show when she chose to disregard the show’s fantasy suite overnight date invitation that contestants are entitled to when three contestants remain.

Maynard blogged about her experience on People.com, writing:

“I know what 'fantasy' is implying, and I'm not totally comfortable with that. I also feel like my relationships have been so honest and real that there was really nothing they could have told me overnight that would've changed my mind."

During the episode, Maynard stated that she wanted to be a role model for her 6-year-old daughter, Ricki, and one of the final bachelors, Jef, echoed her sentiments.

“I completely understand your daughter's going to be watching this and my family's going to be watching this and your family's going to be watching this. I think there's a time and a place. I plan on spending every night with you in our own fantasy suite," he said to the cameras, implying that a marriage is in the near future.

Other “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” contestants have kept their values a priority during taping, including Molly Mesnick, who met her husband, Jason, on the show in 2008 and blogged about her experience for “Faith, Hope and Love.”

“Though I took an unconventional approach to find love, it is proof that God works in fascinating ways,” Molly told CatholicMatch.

Whether Emily does find love, as Molly did, on the July 22 “Bachelorette” finale, I know I’ll be rejoicing in that fact that finally, one contestant hasn’t left his or her faith behind on the temptation-filled path known as reality TV.