There is no quorum but the family remains

“Our hope is that the family is placed at the centre of all national policies”: Anton Chromik is one of the most renowned members of the Alliance for the Family (AFF), which for several months battled to hold the Referendum of February 7. Citizens were asked to express their stand on the protection of the family as a union between a man and a woman, on the ban of adoptions by same-sex couples and the “freedom of education” – namely for parents to be free to choose the participation of their children in school lessons on “sexual behaviour “or euthanasia. But the referendum did not reach the quorum of 50% of participants, required by Slovakian legislation. Only 21.4% of eligible voters went to the polls: namely 944thousand voters on over 4 million. Of these, more than 90% expressed a “yes-vote” to three questions proposed by AFF.Failure to reach the quorum had been taken into account by the promoters of the referendum, who considered the holding of the vote a success: “Thanks to the campaign – according to Chromik – we have been able to raise public interest on this topic and start a serious public debate” on the value of the traditional family. Now, he added, we must pursue efforts on the cultural and political planes. Upon the outcome of the polls, the bishops issued a statement thanking citizens for having expressed their vote. They said: “The fact that participation in the referendum did not reach the quorum of 50% is undoubtedly an element of analysis and deep reflection.” They voiced an encouragement to the country: “We believe that taking care of families is an important issue for public life and for the future of society.” On the opposite side critics of the referendum exulted, highlighting the failure of the “homophobe referendum”, which they had branded as “useless” and harbinger of political polarization.The abrupt awakening in the aftermath of the failed quorum, marked by low  participation, prompted several lines of reflection that the large, deeply-rooted Slovakian Catholic community intends to relaunch with the same courageous optimism characterizing its pastoral, catechetical and charitable activity. Pope Francis’ encouragement, to “continue efforts in the defence of the family, vital cell of society” was equally treasured. The prominent response is to continue along the way: there is indeed need for additional educational efforts within the ecclesial reality and for stronger witness at civil level on the positive value and beauty of family life, of emotional ties and of parenthood. It’s an overarching, motivated and competent task that is not possible without a renewed involvement of lay Catholics. The experience of Slovakia equally prompts reflections at European level. The purpose of the vote of February 7 was above all to place the family at the centre of societal life, at a time of growing individualism, of confusion in values and of non-existent cultural and legal measures in defence of the family. The concerns of Slovakia are shared throughout Europe, although they are perceived in different ways, prompting various forms of mobilization. The movement “Manif pour tous” in France often hits front-page news. Slovenia and Croatia have addressed legislative processes and referendums such as the one in Bratislava; in Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Malta, Belgium, Poland – just to mention a few – the protection and promotion of life and of the family is on their daily agenda. The European action “One of us” for the protection of the embryo is trying to re-organize after the “no” of the EU Commission to a legislative initiative to this regard. There are national situations in which the voice of the Churches – overcoming shyness and sterile defensive positions – resonates with great vigour; cases in which organized laity is the protagonist of a strong and credible testimony on the positive values enshrined in the Gospel, universally shared if lived in first person and transmitted with consistence and conviction.   After the Slovakian vote we start anew from here. Also these are the challenges of the “outgoing Church.”