Family - Digging Deeper>

Devotion of Next Bishops' Synod
To Family 'Providential'
VATICAN, October 16, 2013 -- The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, told CNA it was “providential” that Pope Francis has decided to devote the next synod of bishops to the family.

Another Lesson from Francis
On Evangelization of Culture
Avoid Reducing the Faith
To 'Moralistic' Ideology
VATICAN, October 17, 2013 -- During his daily Mass homily Pope Francis reflected on the dangers of following one's own personal, “moralistic” ideology, stressing the importance of prayer in staying open to God.

Pope Francis Entreats Youth
Not to Fear Commitment
ASSISI, ITALY, October 4, 2013 -- Pope Francis concluded his one-day pilgrimage to Assisi with a visit to young people, encouraging them to reject a “provisional culture” that fears making definitive commitments.

Why Faith Matters:
Belief as a Cornerstone of
What It Means to Be Human
LOS ANGELES, August 23, 2013 -- In a stunning talk at the National conference of CALL, the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders, Archbishop Charles Chaput said, "[If] there is no Creator, and nothing fundamental and distinct about human nature, and if 'nature’s God' is kicked out of the conversation, then our rights become the product of social convention.  And social conventions can change.  So can the definition of who is and who isn’t 'human.'"

The Cardinal Who Opposes
The Supreme Court
Defending the Authentic Human Being
ROME, July 1, 2013--For Camillo Ruini, the American decision against marriage only between man and woman is illusion that presumes to negate reality. The future belongs to those who are able to defend the authentic human being. Civil unions between homosexuals: a "useless and harmful" compromise. 

The Deeper Meaning of Romantic Love
Dr. Ryan Messmore, President of Campion College in New South Wales, Australia, provides an engaging video lecture about true romantic love. Everyone can learn something from this lecture.

Theologian: Same-Sex Civil Unions
Discriminate Against Married Couples
ROME, ITALY, April 24, 2013--After a Vatican official stated that the Church could support same-sex civil unions, a Swiss theologian is saying that if they are equated with marriage these unions discriminate against married heterosexual couples.

Vatican Prelate Emphacizes the Need for
States to Promote Marriage and the Family
NEW YORK, February 18, 2013 -- The President of the Pontifical Council for the Family is calling the Family a “resource for society” which must be supported in policy development. Speaking Friday at an event organized by the Holy See’s Permanent Observer mission to the United Nations, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia addressed some of the challenges and trends affecting families around the world today.

Pope Examines Society's
Acceptance of Unstable Relationships
VATICAN CITY, January 28, 2013 -- As he spoke to the Church’s highest court, which often deals with issues related to marriage, Pope Benedict highlighted the growing acceptance of instability in relationships. Contemporary culture “poses serious challenges to the person and the family,” he began, underscoring that it calls into question “the very capacity of human beings to bond themselves to another and whether a union that lasts an entire life is truly possible.”

A Second Look at Porn: Part one
This series grew out of conversations with friends and our common frustration with the way pornography is treated by good, faithful Catholics. We realized that rage and hellfire and damnation against porn simply end up evading the deeper issues and speak only to the already convinced. This is attempt to understand it in a deeper way.

Bishops Urge Catholics To Pray For
Life, Marriage, Religious Liberty
"Part of a Movement"
WASHINGTON, DC, December 6, 2012 —The U.S. Catholic bishops have launched a pastoral strategy addressing critical life, marriage and religious liberty concerns. The five-part strategy or call to prayer was approved by the bishops in November and is set to begin after Christmas. The overall focus is to invite Catholics to pray for rebuilding a culture favorable to life and marriage and for increased protections of religious liberty.

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Pornography Destroys Relationships
Undermines Love, Destroys Marriages
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, December 5, 2012--Theology of the Body writer, Christopher West claims that up to 80% of adult Catholic men have used pornography and that up to 40% use it compulsively. Jeff Cavins, author of the Bible study program "The Great Adventure", claims a similar number; worse, he also claims that the wives always know something is wrong in such a marriage.  Even without any 'real' pornography, we are typically exposed to 15-20 sexually suggestive (or worse) situations during every hour of primetime television.

Father John Hollowell, a priest of the diocese of Indianapolis, provides a very succinct catechesis on the Church's teaching on homosexuality - attractions and acts. There are some very important points made about responses to attractions. Everyone has a sexual urge, the question is what to do about it. People without homosexual attractions have the same challenge, unless they are married.