Possible and wonderful

“If we wish to defend the family, the debate must extend beyond the political and legislative realms. Our efforts should focus on a deeper level” since “family problems” are “the result of an anthropological crisis that is afflicting our era”. For this purpose “an authentic cultural revolution ought to take place”. It is the belief of Benigno Blanco, President of the Foro Español de la Familia, who on April 29 was presented with the Saint Benedict Prize conferred by the “Vita e Famiglia” Foundation of the Subiaco Congregation of the Order of St. Benedict. In the lectio magistralis held on the occasion of the ceremony for the presentation of the award, held at the Benedictine St. Scholastica’s Abbey in Subiaco (Rome) to the presence of the ordinary abbot Fr Mauro Meacci, the president of the Spanish Forum underlined, “Law and politics are important but what undermines the family is an anthropological crisis that goes beyond politics and legislation”. It consists in “a wrong understanding of the essence of the human person”.Speaking about the family “in positive terms”. Blanco underlined “the disastrous legislation providing for equal juridical value to marriage and same-sex unions”. “ Express divorces further jeopardized the marriage contract” while the fact that “the life of the unborn in the first 24 weeks of life has not been granted protection are the consequence of this lack of understanding” of the concept of marriage and the family, testifying to “the blindness” of the “outlook towards life”. There is an “incognizance of the subject matter that leads to the enforcement of such absurd regulations”. For this reason, claims the president of the Spanish Forum, we must urgently transform “the perception of reality starting with the very perception of human reality on the part of those determined to create a family unity”. To this regard, the contribution of “the man on the street” is crucial. “We are all called to assume the responsibility of recreating across society the intellectual and moral environment that will promote the conditions for the creation of a family whilst enhancing the essence of the human person”, Blanco said illustrating the proposal advanced by the Foro Español de la Familia. First of all, he said, “we have a most powerful tool that must be placed to the service of the family: I refer to the power of speech, that entails valuing the family, maternity and related commitments” along with the “precious contribution of the family as a whole”.A real cultural revolution. This undertaking requires “formation” and the ability “to communicate our convictions in a reasoned way with positive and motivational speech”. According to the president of the Forum it is necessary “to personally testify to the fact that a family is a wonderful experience, the fountainhead of true happiness”. The speaker thus underlined the importance of showing, with spontaneity, that a family “is beautiful and that it is also possible”. For Blanco it’s also important to “associate with those who share our family ideals in order to effectively make the family visible and attractive to everyone”. Three areas of “personal responsibility” for each one of us “are critical to the development of a change of heart and conscience, namely, transforming society by means of a cultural revolution, which is what our epoch is in dire need of”.Operative presence. The Foro Español de la Familia was set up in 2002. It currently counts over 5.000 associations representing over four million families, actively committed through a network of approximately 20 thousand volunteers. The “organization” is recognized in Spain “as the interlocutor in the area of families, education and life”, its President explained. The Foro has shown its “social force with public demonstrations that brought millions to rally on the streets in the defense of marriage on July 18 2005, for the freedom of education on November 12 of the same year, and for life on October 17 2009”. The Forum presented to the Spanish Parliament a draft-law for the protection of marriage, supported by a million and a half signatures, it promoted popular legislative initiatives in the defense of maternity in independent Regional Parliaments. As a result, today seven autonomous Regions have approved laws regulating the protection of maternity with the establishment of the volunteering-based “Red Madre” Network, providing counseling to pregnant women in difficult situations so as to help them find solutions ensuring the continuation of their pregnancy. Blanco adds on to the list of Prize recipients that include, in the 2005 edition, the then card. Joseph Ratzinger, who upon the withdrawal of the Award the day before the death of John Paul II had delivered a lectio magistralis titled “Europe in the midst of a cultural crisis”.