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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY ZENIT

 The newly published Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church dedicates

one of its rst chapters to the institution of the family, described as "the ital cell of

society!"

 The openin number of the section of the family beins with how Sacred Scripture

repeatedly underlines the importance and centrality of the family! The boo# of

$enesis narrates the creation of the rst man and woman, and the family is

portrayed as hain a central role in creation! %ther %ld Testament boo#s spea# of

the loe to be found in the family, which is also where children are tauht wisdom

and the irtues!

 The Compendium recalls &aul 'I(s words durin his isit to Na)areth in *+-, when

the &onti. spo#e of /esus bein born and liin within a family, "acceptin all its

characteristic features, and he conferred the hihest dinity on the institution of

marriae!" 0No! 1*23

 The Church, continues the te4t, sees in the family "the rst natural society, with

underied rihts that are proper to it, and places it at the center of social life!" 0No!

1**3 The family founded on marriae between a man and a woman is important

both for natural reasons, as the principal place of interpersonal relationships, and

also for supernatural reasons, as a diine institution!

 The Compendium then e4plains the importance of the family for society! 5or each

indiidual the family is the cradle of life and loe where they are born and row! 0No!

1*13 The climate of a.ection that unites the family is also where we learn about

truth and oodness!

6oreoer, the family unit is a community of persons where moral alues are tauht

and the spiritual and cultural heritae of society are passed on!

 The family is also essential in ensurin people are stron in their commitments, and

promote both social responsibility and solidarity!

$ien its ital importance the family has priority oer society and the state! "Eery

social model that intends to sere the ood of man must not oerloo# the centrality

and social responsibility of the family!" 0No! 1*-3

Ino#in the principle of subsidiarity the te4t a7rms that public authorities must not

ta#e away from the family tas#s that it can carry out by itself, or in association with

other families!

Marriage - foundation of the family

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therefore inconruous to demand that samet the same time the Compendium calls for homose4uals to be fully

respected in their human dinity, but also encouraed to e4ercise chastity! 0No!

113

 The Compendium is also critical of de facto unions as they are based on a falseconception of the freedom to choose! 6arriae is more than a simple areement to

lie toether but is a social instrument and the principal means for helpin each

person to row in an interal manner! 0No! 113

A !an"tuary of life

>nother section addresses themes related to life matters within the family!

"ConBual loe is by its nature open to the acceptance of life!" 0No! 123

 This is particularly the case for Christian families, that by irtue of the sacramentshould be witnesses of the ospel of life! The Compendium ac#nowledes the

weiht of this responsibility, but encouraes couples to ta#e decisions based on "a

enerous acceptance of life!" 0No! 113

E4cluded, as bein morally unacceptable, are anti desire for children at any cost leads to the use of reproductietechni=ues that are ethically unacceptable!

Nurturing "hildren

 The Compendium also e4plains the family(s function in brinin up children, "a

completely oriinal and irreplaceable role!" 0No! 1+3 The parents( loe is placed at

the serice of their children and animates all educational actiity! &arents hae both

a riht and a duty to educate their children, which the state should respect! The te4t

also insists that to carry out this function parents hae a riht to found educational

institutions and that the state should proide economic support to these non

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Children(s dinity must also be protected, rst of all by protectin their riht to be

born within a real family! >s well, the Compendium draws attention to problems

such as child labor, lac# of health care and se4ual e4ploitation!

 The concise and complete treatment of the family in the Compendium proides a

useful resource for pastors and lay people interested in #nowin more about theposition of the Church reardin many of the fundamental issues touchin marriae

and family!