Church must do more to support family
Pope Francis delivers his speech during the Synod of the Families, to cardinals and bishops gathering in the Synod Aula at the Vatican on October 6, 2014. PHOTO | ANDREAS SOLARO |
What you need to know:
- Pope Francis is slow to condemn and knows marriage is not just for the good and saintly but for the ordinary, average human being.
- Beyond the controversial issues, the real hope is that the church will do more to support family life.
A few weeks ago, Pope Francis officiated at the weddings of 20 couples in Rome.
What was unusual about the ceremony was that some of the couples had been cohabiting and attended with their children while others had been married before.
The Pope said that they were a realistic representation of modern life.
Pope Francis has touched the world’s heart by his mercy, humanity and authenticity. Now he has called the cardinals, bishops and lay leaders to Rome to discuss Family Life.
Some prominent women have expressed disappointment at being underrepresented — asking what a bunch of celibate men who have never changed a baby’s nappy know about family life.
However, the mood of the meeting genuinely appears to be conciliatory as the Pontiff is slow to condemn and knows marriage is not just for the good and saintly but for the ordinary, average human being.
The days of harsh condemnatory language like “living in sin”, “intrinsically disordered” are no longer in vogue and you suspect that Francis theology begins with an analysis of the lived experience of the people, rather than doctrine imposed from the top.
Yet, the issue of contraceptives will certainly feature in the discussions, as most Catholics have by now chosen to ignore the 1970 teaching prohibiting their use.
Yet since the church has not reversed its teaching, many couples are left feeling guilty about their use and many church-run medical facilities the world over are unable to assist couples with family planning options in an open, compassionate and mature manner.
There is nothing unnatural about contraceptives and nothing sinful about couples’ consciences determining how many children they can afford or manage.
NOT EASY
But beyond the controversial issues, the real hope is that the church will do more to support family life.
Ordained ministers spend up to 10 years in preparation and just about every profession requires years of study, examinations and licences before being allowed to practise.
Marriage and parenthood is arguably the most difficult and challenging undertaking in life, but what preparation and induction do couples get from state or faith?
Most learn on the hoof and being parents is not as natural or easy as many imagine. But what support do couples get from churches that seem to put most energy in fund-raising and development projects?
The state’s only recent intervention in family life was to raise licence fees for ministers officiating at marriages and to increase marriage certificates by 150 percent.
There is no government monetary contribution to family life, to affordable housing, to a living wage or to low-cost quality education. Families are left pretty much on their own to survive, mature and grow.
Regretfully, many of them have little capacity to cope with infidelity, poverty, immaturity, anger and the challenges of parenthood.
The state forgets that everything from traffic jams to inflation; from grand corruption to pollution all effect family life first and foremost.
Families are the greatest blessing and support when they are happy but the tragedy of broken families and unhappy homes is all too common.
Faiths have the capacity to heal and help needy families but the state too must take measures to make families more comfortable.
