My mother in law has been widowed for a few years. She is a Christian and has begun dating a similarly aged man (early 70's). He is divorced, but I don't know any particulars. Both her husbands died of cancer, she did a majority of the care-taking while they were sick. Her first husband died young, in his 40's. The second husband was 25 yrs later.

My husband and I are growing concerned about the relationship. She has stated that she doesn't want to be married again, she is enjoying being able to come and go as she pleases, travel on her own schedule, etc. She and I are very close and she casually mentioned that she and her new "friend" were planning a trip together to France for the Fall. I immediately told my husband and he asked her about it. Without any prompting or even a statement beyond, "I hear you are going to France with Tom." She told him that yes, they were going and she was an adult and it wasn't any of his business who she traveled with and their room arrangements. We talked to his sister and her husband about it and they both said that they should both be able to enjoy their "Golden Years" without any encumbrance from us.

When pressed about the moral issue of sleeping together without being married, they both felt like since she was past menopause, the usual restrictions don't apply, ie they could do it without impunity as long as they are discrete and not flaunting the relationship. This is coming from two people who claim to be Christians.