European Churches" "
The family will represent the central theme of the 19th Assembly of Interdiocesan Coordination (IKO) due to be held in Morges, in the canton of Vaud, on 7-8 November. The main challenge of family pastoral care, according to the Swiss Institute of Pastoral Sociology (SIPS) that recently presented a report, is to integrate the various models of the family in the life of the Catholic Church, since “the theological and dogmatic teaching on marriage and the family is currently out of step with the social reality”. The SIPS report is not limited to demouncing the “monolithic and in some sense obsolete” teaching of the Church on marriage. It also proposes such solutions as “accompaniment, compassion, brotherhood and reconciliation”. After pointing out the diversification of family models traditional, single-parent, reunited the Institute emphasises the fact that “many people cannot understand why they cannot be ‘accompanied’ by the Church when they find themselves in difficulty, for example in the anguish of separation”. The report therefore points out that the family values considered “important” will only be “credible and convincing if the Church’s pastoral ministry unconditionally ‘accepts’ individuals, whatever their existential situation”. Hence the SIPS’ recommendation for “a certain imagination and innovativeness” with a view to “adapting the family pastoral to social reality”.
