According to Card. Ricard, who’s also CCEE’ vice president, "the first goal of a marriage and family pastoral is helping couples and families to open up to the gift of God, and to welcome the evangelical vision of family and couple life. Marital and family love is based on the experience of being loved by God himself, of being forgiven and being upheld by His very faithfulness". In this respect, the president of the bishops of France recalled "what is done by Churches in European countries, in the fields of preparation to marriage, support to couples, and psychological help for women before the abortion choice, support for widows and the divorced. The accounts of the couples themselves in this field appear indefeasible". "For lots of couples of fiancés with few contacts with the parish, preparation to marriage may change into a basis of early evangelization. This requires a biggest investment than the one of preparing a simple celebration". (to be continued)” ” ” “
