Together for the family

For four days 30 delegates of the Orthodox Churches, of Bishops’ Conferences and Vatican dicasteries convened in Levico Terme (Trent, Italy) to attend the First Catholic-Orthodox forum focused on the theme: “The Family: a good for humanity”. At the end of the meeting (that concluded December 14), participants jointly adopted the “Trent Document”, through which they intend to offer to Europe’s Catholic and Orthodox Churches a common voice and a contribution on the theme and the value of the family”. As stated in the CCEE communiqué “it is a message that clearly expresses the unity of thought and intent regarding the family institution, and concern over social phenomena present in contemporary European society, but it is also an expression of great hope in the capacity of the human person who, if he/she allows him/herself be enlightened by the Gospel will know how to take care of this gift which the ‘family’ institution is for society. The Churches before ethical and social challenges. “The idea of a Catholic-Orthodox Forum – declared Cardinal Péter Erdõ, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and CCEE President – is not about the establishment of a new international body, but rather the common desire to have periodic consultation on themes which are part of our mission”. With the Trent Forum, the Churches express their wish to promote a dialogue intending to address “themes more directly connected to the social life of our people and which have tremendous relevance for everyone. The aim above all is to start clear and effective communication between our churches so that we are aware that we face the same challenges (secularism, consumerism, atheism, etc.) These are themes which all of our churches face individually and instead it is important to tackle them together. Therefore, this Forum was set up to help us and draw up some common thoughts on social and moral questions. So we will concentrate not on theological questions but on anthropological concepts which are of crucial importance for the presence and the future of humanity”, declared Russian Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfejev. For this First Forum the delegates chose the theme of the Family which, Cardinal Erdõ said, “is often undermined”, thus the need for “the Gospel’s proclamation” that is the “source of our hope”. The “Document of Trent”. Endorsed at the end of the Forum by the Catholic and Orthodox participants, the document is a complex 7-page blueprint that also delves into the vision of marriage according to the Orthodox and Catholic traditions. “In the past – it states at the second paragraph – the family and childbirth were regarded as something sacred. In recent years however, these notions have been questioned”. What mostly worries Churches in Europe is “the attempt to change language and introduce ambiguity” with the “ideological introduction of the gender theory”. Recommendations and appeals. Paragraph 3 of the document encompasses a series of appeals and recommendations. “There is a most urgent need to rediscover the understanding of the family and marriage”. “Much effort needs to be invested in the promotion of family life. The family needs to be rediscovered for what it offers society”. “It is our belief that by promoting the family, based on the marriage of man and woman,” Europe will be furthering this fundamental unit of society that “carries out an enlightening role within society”. “Our appeal to political and social leaders is the following: the family is not an outdated notion!” Rightly rediscovered, it is the future. Without the mutual love of the family our society dies!” Another appeal concerns children’s education: “We call upon the political institutions to ensure the parents’ right to educate their children in conformity with their moral and religious convictions, taking into account the cultural traditions of the family. This includes the right to freely choose schools or other means necessary to educate their children in keeping with their convictions. In particular, sex education is a basic right of the parents and must always be carried out according to their choice and under their close supervision”. The document concludes requesting public institutions to ensure that “policies regarding remuneration for work are consistent with establishing and maintaining a family with dignity”. This could be obtained by tax laws which recognise the indispensable contribution of the family to society. It should be such that both parents need not necessarily be obliged to work full time outside the home, to the detriment of family life, and in particular, to the detriment of the education of children”.