'What is being proposed is not marriage' – Pope calls for defense of family

[PJD1987]

**By Elise Harris

Vatican City, Oct 26, 2014 / 12:52 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In an audience with members of an international Marian movement, Pope Francis warned that the sacrament of marriage has been reduced to a mere association, and urged participants to be witnesses in a secular world.

“The family is being hit, the family is being struck and the family is being bastardized,” the Pope told those in attendance at the Oct. 25 audience.

He warned against the common view in society that “you can call everything family, right?”

“What is being proposed is not marriage, it’s an association. But it’s not marriage! It’s necessary to say these things very clearly and we have to say it!” Pope Francis stressed.

He lamented that there are so many “new forms” of unions which are “totally destructive and limiting the greatness of the love of marriage.”**

More here: catholicnewsagency.com/news/what-is-being-proposed-is-not-marriage-pope-calls-for-defense-of-family-12766/

 

[opus101]

This should reassure many people.

 

[commenter]

This should reassure many people.

But it won’t reach the right people.
The problem is that almost all of Francis’ strong defenses of orthodox Christian doctrine are given to groups like a Marian Association, and printed only in Catholic media sources read by relatively few Catholics. In other words, he is preaching to the choir. None of this will get into my daily newspaper, which gives enormous space to portraying him as breaking down the walls of Catholic prejudice and rigidity, in opposing conservatives and minimizing doctrine. Instead of preaching to the choir, why doesn’t he send this message to Huffpost or National Catholic Reporter? Instead of telling this to a Marian association (who already believe it), why doesn’t he publicly proclaim this to the Jesuits or LCWR, who really need to hear it? I’m not criticizing the Pope, but rather his communications and press departments, and his aides who advise him on priorities and venues for public statements. I accept his authority and agree with everything he says, but his statements are very easily manipulated by the media to undermine the good of the Church, and misrepresent his own priorities.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

I agree with the Holy Father, the greatest relationship is one man, one woman for life and before God.

I truthfully believe we should be promoting this in a far stronger way, rather than protest against the things we do not agree on, like gay marriage, abortions, or remarriage.

 

[McCall1981]

**By Elise Harris

Vatican City, Oct 26, 2014 / 12:52 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In an audience with members of an international Marian movement, Pope Francis warned that the sacrament of marriage has been reduced to a mere association, and urged participants to be witnesses in a secular world.

“The family is being hit, the family is being struck and the family is being bastardized,” the Pope told those in attendance at the Oct. 25 audience.

He warned against the common view in society that “you can call everything family, right?”

“What is being proposed is not marriage, it’s an association. But it’s not marriage! It’s necessary to say these things very clearly and we have to say it!” Pope Francis stressed.

He lamented that there are so many “new forms” of unions which are “totally destructive and limiting the greatness of the love of marriage.”**

More here: catholicnewsagency.com/news/what-is-being-proposed-is-not-marriage-pope-calls-for-defense-of-family-12766/

Who and what is it that is bastardizing the family?

What is it that’s being proposed that is not marriage?

What is it that we have to say “very clearly”?

 

[LongingSoul]

Who and what is it that is bastardizing the family?

What is it that’s being proposed that is not marriage?

The rest of the article answers those questions…

"He lamented that there are so many “new forms” of unions which are “totally destructive and limiting the greatness of the love of marriage.”

Noting that there are many who cohabitate, or are separated or divorced, he explained that the “key” to helping is a pastoral care of “close combat” that assists and patiently accompanies the couple."

"In his answers to questions regarding marriage, Pope Francis explained that contemporary society has “devalued” the sacrament by turning it into a social rite, removing the most essential element, which is union with God.

“So many families are divided, so many marriages broken, (there is) such relativism in the concept of the Sacrament of Marriage,” he said, noting that from a sociological and Christian point of view “there is a crisis in the family because it’s beat up from all sides and left very wounded!”"

What is it that we have to say “very clearly”?

"Witness is key to spreading the Gospel, he said, explaining that true witness means living “in such a way that the will to live as we live is born in the heart of others…Living in a way (so that) others are interested and ask: ‘why?’”

However, the Bishop of Rome emphasized that although we are called to give this witness, “we are not the saviors of anyone,” but rather are the transmitters of Jesus, who is the one that already saved us all.

True witness propels us out of ourselves and into the streets of the world, the Pope continued, repeating his common declaration that a Church, movement or community that doesn’t go out of itself “becomes sick.”

“A movement, a Church or a community that doesn’t go out, is mistaken,” he said. “Don’t be afraid! Go out in mission, go out on the road. We are walkers.”"

 

[McCall1981]

The rest of the article answers those questions…

"He lamented that there are so many “new forms” of unions which are “totally destructive and limiting the greatness of the love of marriage.”

Noting that there are many who cohabitate, or are separated or divorced, he explained that the “key” to helping is a pastoral care of “close combat” that assists and patiently accompanies the couple."

"In his answers to questions regarding marriage, Pope Francis explained that contemporary society has “devalued” the sacrament by turning it into a social rite, removing the most essential element, which is union with God.

“So many families are divided, so many marriages broken, (there is) such relativism in the concept of the Sacrament of Marriage,” he said, noting that from a sociological and Christian point of view “there is a crisis in the family because it’s beat up from all sides and left very wounded!”"

"Witness is key to spreading the Gospel, he said, explaining that true witness means living “in such a way that the will to live as we live is born in the heart of others…Living in a way (so that) others are interested and ask: ‘why?’”

However, the Bishop of Rome emphasized that although we are called to give this witness, “we are not the saviors of anyone,” but rather are the transmitters of Jesus, who is the one that already saved us all.

True witness propels us out of ourselves and into the streets of the world, the Pope continued, repeating his common declaration that a Church, movement or community that doesn’t go out of itself “becomes sick.”

“A movement, a Church or a community that doesn’t go out, is mistaken,” he said. “Don’t be afraid! Go out in mission, go out on the road. We are walkers.”"

I read the whole article. IMO, the questions I asked are not answered.

 

[livingwordunity]

But it won’t reach the right people.
The problem is that almost all of Francis’ strong defenses of orthodox Christian doctrine are given to groups like a Marian Association, and printed only in Catholic media sources read by relatively few Catholics. In other words, he is preaching to the choir. None of this will get into my daily newspaper, which gives enormous space to portraying him as breaking down the walls of Catholic prejudice and rigidity, in opposing conservatives and minimizing doctrine. Instead of preaching to the choir, why doesn’t he send this message to Huffpost or National Catholic Reporter? Instead of telling this to a Marian association (who already believe it), why doesn’t he publicly proclaim this to the Jesuits or LCWR, who really need to hear it? I’m not criticizing the Pope, but rather his communications and press departments, and his aides who advise him on priorities and venues for public statements. I accept his authority and agree with everything he says, but his statements are very easily manipulated by the media to undermine the good of the Church, and misrepresent his own priorities.

Good point.

 

[PTL]

Who and what is it that is bastardizing the family?

What is it that’s being proposed that is not marriage?

What is it that we have to say “very clearly”?

I agree it will be better if the words are not general but more specific.

 

[commenter]

I agree with the Holy Father, the greatest relationship is one man, one woman for life and before God.

I truthfully believe we should be promoting this in a far stronger way, rather than protest against the things we do not agree on, like gay marriage, abortions, or remarriage.

If a child is aborted, he or she doesn’t have a chance to form any kind of good relationship. Love is cancelled. For that child, there isn’t any “in the long run”. There is only now, to die or be spared. The problem with abortion is not that “we do not agree on” it. The problem is that a child is killed. Protest is one way we bring that reality to the minds of people who have the power to prevent it. Sometimes that is the only avenue we have to get that point across. Isn’t this child worth it?

 

[YoungTradCath]

The saga continues.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

If a child is aborted, he or she doesn’t have a chance to form any kind of good relationship. Love is cancelled. For that child, there isn’t any “in the long run”. There is only now, to die or be spared. The problem with abortion is not that “we do not agree on” it. The problem is that a child is killed. Protest is one way we bring that reality to the minds of people who have the power to prevent it. Sometimes that is the only avenue we have to get that point across. Isn’t this child worth it?

Around forty percent of marriages end in divorce in the UK, an even greater number of cohabiting couples split up. This lack of love for each other, and the thought of keep moving onto greener pastures when the going gets tough, is not an ideal way to bring children into this world.

If the couples are not that bothered about their partner, they are not going to be that bothered about bringing up children together, so abortion in their eyes might be the easy option.

Promoting strong healthy marriages before God, might be a more healthy way to promote the sanctity of life and possibly reduce abortions at the same time, just a thought.

 

[commenter]

Around forty percent of marriages end in divorce in the UK, an even greater number of cohabiting couples split up. This lack of love for each other, and the thought of keep moving onto greener pastures when the going gets tough, is not an ideal way to bring children into this world.

If the couples are not that bothered about their partner, they are not going to be that bothered about bringing up children together, so abortion in their eyes might be the easy option.

Promoting strong healthy marriages before God, might be a more healthy way to promote the sanctity of life and possibly reduce abortions at the same time, just a thought.

“Promoting strong healthy marriages before God” is something we should be doing, right now. Protesting outside abortion clinics, and in the public square, is also something we should be doing, right now. We don’t have to choose one or the other.

What about the child conceived in an unhealthy marriage, or outside of marriage? What about their right to life? One can argue that taking the car keys away from a drunk driver isn’t a complete response to alcoholism. I agree. But it’s a necessary step, right now, even if it’s not a substitute for long term strategies.

 

[Sarcelle]

“Promoting strong healthy marriages before God” is something we should be doing, right now. Protesting outside abortion clinics, and in the public square, is also something we should be doing, right now. We don’t have to choose one or the other.

What about the child conceived in an unhealthy marriage, or outside of marriage? What about their right to life? One can argue that taking the car keys away from a drunk driver isn’t a complete response to alcoholism. I agree. But it’s a necessary step, right now, even if it’s not a substitute for long term strategies.

Promoting strong healthy marriages centered around God will go a long way towards drastically reducing abortion.

For unhealthy marriages, resources should be made available to help couples save their marriage. Above all, sex should go back to being seen not as a recreational activity but only within the context of a marriage.

 

[Trader]

Who knew? The Pope is Catholic!

You can’t expect the Pope to answer all questions about marriage in a single address. We have to better communicate what marriage is rather than just what it is not. It took Saint John Paul II a large part of a series of sermons that became known as the theology of the body. All the way back to Saint Augustine’s explanation of what the Church believed, the Church has insisted that marriage requires all of the three goods of marriage: permanence, fidelity, and openness to new life. Today too few faithful Catholics could name the three goods of marriage in a culture that has rejected all three. We have a lot of basic teaching to do and it has to start with the good example of both clergy and laity who are faithful to the Church.

I am old enough to remember the instant reaction to Blessed Pope Paul VI and Humanae Vitae. It was prophetic and very much in line with teaching all the way back to Jesus, yet it was rejected out of hand by many clergy and laity alike. It will take many years to repair the damage done by the widespread rejection of the Church’s teaching on the nature of marriage and sexuality, which is a rejection of Christ Himself.

 

[commenter]

Who knew? The Pope is Catholic!

This should confirm the rumors. He is indeed.

 

[Origen52]

I’ve begun to ignore everything coming out of Rome. I’m working my way through the encyclicals of John Paul the great, then move on to pope benedict, and if I’m still around will finally get to pope Francis.

 

[commenter]

I’ve begun to ignore everything coming out of Rome. I’m working my way through the encyclicals of John Paul the great, then move on to pope benedict, and if I’m still around will finally get to pope Francis.

Post some of the ideas you get from reading JP and Benedict on the Forum. Be open to unfamiliar or unexpected truths. You are looking at 2 gold mines there.

 

[Origen52]

Post some of the ideas you get from reading JP and Benedict on the Forum. Be open to unfamiliar or unexpected truths. You are looking at 2 gold mines there.

John Paul’s encyclicals are so rich in meaning I’m using Richard Spinello’s book as a guide. In the introduction I’ve alread learned several things about this great pope I did not know, including the fact he held two postgraduate degrees, one in philosophy. I certainly did not appreciate at the time, the great intellect and deep faith which was leading us.