FAMILY 2012
Malta: the role of the family in society Stepping up the role of the family in society. This is the appeal of Msgr. Mario Grech, bishop of Gozo, conveyed in the pastoral Letter dedicated to the family and to the World Meeting of Families, scheduled to take place at the end of May in Milan. In the letter titled "Strengthening the family", the bishop addresses a wide range of topical issues that include the introduction of divorce in the legislation of Malta (implemented a year ago with a referendum). To this regard the prelate writes: "In Malta, over the past years, doubts regarding the family, its mission, and its role in society were slowly – albeit relentlessly – spread. The truth on the nature and the identity of the family has become superfluous". "A lot has been said and done efficiently to weaken the family as a fundamental unit of society. The introduction of divorce in marriage legislation in Malta is the most evident case. But it’s not the only one". What worries the prelate is the diffusion of an "individualistic mentality" whereby the "rights" of individuals have overshadowed the ‘rights’ of the family. In such a context, it is indispensable for the family to recover its status as an institution". Hence the bishops’ appeal to the families to come together as an association. The letter equally highlights questions requiring an intervention: "First of all writes Msgr. Grech it is crucial to a have a clear, non-ambiguous definition of the family. With family we mean a natural society of persons built on the relationship between man and woman, based on the unbreakable marriage bond". "This means continues the bishop that the ‘family’ can never be used to identify a mere juridical recognition of persons living in the same home or for similar agreements". "Since the family is the primary unit, indispensable for society, there derives that the family should be given a privileged status by the State. No other kind of relationship between individuals the bishop points out should be identified with the family". In his letter the prelate also speaks of the family as "the shrine where human and mature life is conceived". There ensues "total respect for human life from the beginning until its natural termination", and a determined "no" to abortion and euthanasia.France: a time for work, a time for the family The problem of the precariousness of work as well as and notably the question of jobs that take away time from family care and children upbringing. These are the ‘emergencies’ underlined by Msgr. Jean-Luc Brunin, bishop of Havre, president of the "Conseil Famille et Société" of the French Bishops’ Conference, in a reflection dedicated to the 7th World Meeting of the Families in Milan on the theme "The family: work and leisure". "We are aware writes msgr. Brunin that the time for work today is ever more problematic. It prevents and hinders parents’ responsibility in ensuring the means of sustenance to their family and their children’s education". But there is another aspect of work that worries the French prelates, namely, those situations whereby work is "totalizing and it absorbs most of the time to the detriment of the balance of family life, with excessive and frequent absences of one or both parents". "Unless regularised, work leads the family to precariousness, thus causing a feeling of uncertainty in the future that undermines family and education. Christians concludes Msgr. Brunin must therefore appeal to dignified living conditions that are respectful of true family life. This is an important challenge for the balance and the harmonious future of society as a whole".England: the family and the parishAn in-depth project across all parishes in support of the families will be launched in the English diocese of Wrexham, in North-East Wales, on May 27, Pentecost Day, less than a week before the opening of the World Family Meeting in Milan. Parishes will host monthly meetings of "family groups", that will meet once a month, along with the promotion of the "Catholic grandparents association" of Ireland, and groups of mothers with small children. The project was presented with a pastoral letter from the bishop Edwin Regan, from the diocese of Wrexham, the past weekend in all parishes from his diocese. "Since we are unable to attend the conference in Milan it seems a good idea to promote this project in our diocese", writes the bishop. In his letter Msgr. Regan reiterated that the conference in Milan is being celebrated in the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan that proclaimed the freedom of practising religion in the Roman Empire. "Modern times", continues the bishop, "are marked by a more subtle form of persecution. Isn’t it obvious, for example, that Christian virtues that support marriage and the family are under attack?" According to the responsible of the diocese of Wrexham, the diocesan project is a good occasion to reaffirm those values in support of the family.
