The first order of business for any discussion of the family, the basic cell of society, is to acknowledge that the family is an institution made by God upon the unique pillars of husband and wife.
Marriage, true marriage, is the foundation of the family, the only solid foundation thereof.
I remember when I was in first theology in seminary we had a seminar on the family at the end of which I and my confreres noticed an obvious void of orientation and substance in the content of the day's discussions when finally we realized that there was absolutely no discussion of Marriage!
To speak about family without marriage is like speaking about the Church without Christ! And we have great resources at our disposal from the Magisterium of Pope Saint John Paul II whom we could name the Apostle of Marriage and Family! When he is named a Doctor of the Church he should be given the title: The Doctor of Marriage!
Pope Francis is a true to form modern Jesuit in his push for charity without clarity. How quickly he forgets the masterful lessons of Pope Emeritus Benedict that clarity is charity!
One lesson His Holiness is sure to take from this Synod is that there can be no peace without clarity!
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