Modern society losing sense of family life, Cardinal Scola warns
CWN - March 28, 2012
Modern European society is “facing the crucial challenge of whether or not to recognize the family as a social entity,” wrote Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan in an op-ed essay for the Italian publication Il Sole 24 Ore.
European surveys show that 84% of all respondents consider family life very important, and in Italy the figure is 91%, the Catholic noted. Yet the same society has trouble defining the family.
Quoting anthropolist Claude Lévi-Strauss, who saw the family as a “universal phenomenon that exists in all societies,” Cardinal Scola said that family life is “a common, not a private, good,” of value to all of society rather than only the family members. The family is also the “primary society,” in which the most fundamental human relationships are developed. The cardinal wrote:
For each human being, family is the place to understand and develop personal identity. Since family is a relationship among a man, a woman and future generations, it implies a pact between a man and a woman, a pact that is socially and publicly accepted. This pact, which is marriage, links different generations and allows younger people to be connected to their ancestors.
Additional sources for this story
Some links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
|
An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus: Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach five million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you! |
Easter Campaign: Progress toward our Spring 2013 goal ($20,923 to go):
$80,000.00
$59,077.50
26%
74%
|
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
