"The [natural] family is the foundation of co-existence and a remedy against social fragmentation. Children have a right to grow up in a family with a father and a mother capable of creating a suitable environment for the child’s development and emotional maturity. . . . [Therefore, we place] emphasis on the benefits that marriage can provide to children, the spouses themselves, and to society."For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
-- Pope Francis 11/17/14
Pope Blasts Liberal 'christians' as Pagans
Pope Cracks Down on American Liberal Nuns, Priests
Pope Disappoints Liberals by Opposing 'Gay Adoption'
Pope Said the Gay Agenda is the Work of the Devil
-- From "Pope Reinforces Traditional Family Values" by Nicole Winfield, Associated Press 11/17/14
The three-day conference opened just weeks after Francis presided over a divisive meeting of the world's bishops who split on issues such as gay unions and divorced and remarried Catholics.
During the two-week meeting, progressive bishops sought a much broader, welcoming tone of acceptance and welcome to gays and remarried Catholics, whereas conservatives like [Cardinal Gerhard] Mueller sought to reinforce church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage between man and woman.
Conference organizers and Vatican officials have stressed that the three-day conference was in no way a response to the [above referenced two-week] synod. But the timing couldn't have been better to reinforce the conservative backlash against proposals for the Catholic Church to be more welcoming to gays.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Vatican opens conference on traditional marriage" by Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post 11/17/14
The three-day “Complementarity of Man and Woman” conference includes global faith leaders including prominent U.S. evangelical pastors Rick Warren and Russell Moore, former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom Jonathan Sacks and Anglican, Muslim, Pentecostal and Hindu leaders. For the first time, a top Mormon leader – Henry Eyring – is in official attendance at a Vatican conference.
Also attending are Dr. Eugene Rivers, a prominent Pentecostal minister from Boston and his wife, Dr. Jacqueline C. Rivers, who leads a research center on the black church.
In the next few days participants will hear various concepts of male-female “complementarianism” from leaders coming from places including Scotland, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Nigeria, France and the United States. To some that term that translates into explicit roles for men and women—in society, in the family, in religious institutional life. Francis in his opening remarks used – as has become typical – less specific language.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Francis urges de-politicization of family, confirms US visit" by Joshua J. McElwee, National Catholic Reporter 11/17/14
While speakers at the event have shied away from directly addressing or criticizing same-sex unions, most left little doubt about their view of such relationships.
German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke after the pontiff and focused his remarks on the male and female imagery found in the creation stories of Genesis.
Tying the imagery of the Adam and Eve in the Genesis story to mankind's relationship with God, Muller stated: "When we forget sexual difference, then it becomes difficult to understand the marriage bond between God and his people."
". . . our compassion for those who choose to live differently should not prohibit us from being advocates," said [Rabbi Jonathan] Sacks, referring to traditional marriage as "the best means for which we have discovered for nurturing future generations."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Full text: Pope Francis’s opening address to Humanum conference" posted at Catholic Herald 11/17/14
Dear sisters and brothers,
I warmly greet you. I thank Cardinal Muller for his words with which he introduced our meeting. . . .
It is fitting that you have gathered here in this international colloquium to explore the complementarity of man and woman. This complementarity is a root of marriage and family. . . . Complementarity will take many forms as each man and woman brings his or her distinctive contributions to their marriage and to the formation of their children . . .
We know that today marriage and the family are in crisis. We now live in a culture of the temporary, in which more and more people are simply giving up on [natural] marriage as a public commitment. . . .
[I urge you,] Do not fall into the trap of being swayed by political notion. [Natural] Family is an anthropological fact – a socially and culturally related fact. We cannot qualify it based on ideological notions or concepts important only at one time in history. We can’t think of conservative or progressive notions. Family is a family. It can’t be qualified by ideological notions. Family is per se. It is a strength per se.
I pray that your colloquium will be an inspiration to all who seek to support and strengthen the union of man and woman in marriage as a unique, natural, fundamental and beautiful good for persons, communities, and whole societies.
To read the full statement above by Pope Francis, CLICK HERE.
Also read Pope Francis Decries Abortion; Vatican Says Media Distort Him
