The Family in God's Plan
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Goals of the Family (2201-2203)
The family, created by the consent of the spouses, is meant for their personal good, and for the procreation and education of children. By the spouses' love and begetting of children, family relationships and responsibilities are created.
The institution of the family (a man, woman, and their children) is prior to any recognition by public authority, which has an obligation to recognize it. The husband, wife, and their children are the normal reference point to evaluate different forms of family relationships.
God instituted the family when he created man and woman. All the family members are persons equal in dignity. The family has manifold rights and responsibilities.
The Family of Singular Importance (2204-2206)
The Christian family is "the domestic church." The New Testament shows that it has singular importance in the Church (Eph 5:21-6:4).
The Christian family is a sign of the communion of the Trinity. In procreating and educating children the family reflects the Father's work of creation. The family must pray together, read God's Word, and evangelize.
Within the family, an affinity of feelings and interests arise from the mutual respect of each other. The family is a "privileged community" in which the spouses share their thoughts and cooperate in their children's upbringing.
The Basic Cell of Society (2207-2208)
The family is the original cell of social life. The stability of family relationships constitute the foundations of a society. The family is the community where children learn moral values and a correct use of their freedom. This initiates them into society.
Family members should take care of the young, old, sick, and poor. If the family cannot do this, then other families or society must help. "To visit orphans and widows in their affliction is religion pure and undefiled" (Jas 1:27).
Obligations Towards Families (2209-2210)
Appropriate social measures must help those families which cannot fulfill their responsibilities. However, larger communities must not usurp the family's prerogatives or interfere in its life.
Because of the family's overwhelming importance, society must strengthen marriage and family. Civil authorities have a grave duty "to acknowledge the true nature of marriage and the family and to promote domestic prosperity" (Second Vatican Council).
Duties of the Political Community (2211)
The political community must ensure especially:
- The freedom to establish a family, have children, and bring them up with moral and religious convictions
- The protection of the marriage bond
- The freedom to profess one's faith and hand it on to the children
- The right to private property, work, housing, and to emigration
- The right to medical care, family benefits, and old age assistance
- Protection from the dangers of drugs, pornography, alcoholism, etc.
- The freedom to form associations with other families
Touching All Relationships (2212-2213)
This commandment illuminates all human relationships between brothers, sisters, cousins, fellow citizens, and the baptized. Every person is seen as a son or daughter of the heavenly Father. The neighbor is a "person" not a "unit." He is a "someone" who deserves respect.
Because human communities are made up of persons, a government must do more than merely guarantee rights. Society must foster a good will based upon the dignity of the person so that right relationships (employer/employee; government/citizens) flourish.
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