On the Family...

"The family finds in the plan of God the Creator and Redeemer not only its identity, what it is, but also its mission, what it can and should do. The role that God calls the family to perform in history derives from what the family is; its role represents the dynamic and existential development of what it is. Each family finds within itself a summons that cannot be ignored, and that specifies both its dignity and its responsibility: family, become what you are...

[T]he Church openly and strongly defends the rights of the family against the intolerable usurpations of society and the State. In particular, the Synod Fathers mentioned the following rights of the family:

• the right to exist and progress as a family, that is to say, the right of every human being, even if he or she is poor, to found a family and to have adequate means to support it;

• the right to exercise its responsibility regarding the transmission of life and to educate children; family life;

• the right to the intimacy of conjugal and family life;

• the right to the stability of the bond and of the institution of marriage;

• the right to believe in and profess one's faith and to propagate it;

• the right to bring up children in accordance with the family's own traditions and religious and cultural values, with the necessary instruments, means and institutions;

• the right, especially of the poor and the sick, to obtain physical, social, political and economic security;

• the right to housing suitable for living family life in a proper way;

• the right to expression and to representation, either directly or through associations, before the economic, social and cultural public authorities and lower authorities;

• the right to form associations with other families and institutions, in order to fulfil the family's role suitably and expeditiously;

• the right to protect minors by adequate institutions and legislation from harmful drugs, pornography, alcoholism, etc.;

• the right to wholesome recreation of a kind that also fosters family values;

• the right of the elderly to a worthy life and a worthy death;

• the right to emigrate as a family in search of a better life."

John Paul II Familiaris Consortio (22.11.81)

 

Gathered by Christ / Angelus Prayer in Nigeria

Back to Selected Quotations

Back to Pope John Paul the Great: Contents

Back to Holy See: Contents / Contents page