Pope defends Humanae Vitae, raps redefinition of family

January 16, 2015

Pope Francis made a strong defense of Catholic teachings on marriage in an address to families in the Philippines on January 16.

The Pope warned against “the new ideological colonization that tries to destroy the family,” and praised Pope Paul VI for resisting pressures to accept contraception, in the course of his remarks.

“Paul VI was courageous, a good pastor, and he warned his sheep about the wolves that were approaching,” the Holy Father told his audience. He described the encyclical Humane Vitae as a document that foresaw the negative consequences of birth control and “the problem it could cause families in the future.”

“The pressures on family life today are many,” Pope Francis said. He observed that many families are battling poverty, while others are “caught up in materialism and lifestyles which are destructive of family life and the most basic demands of Christian morality.”

“The family is also threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage,” in a remark clearly aimed at the growing drive for acceptance of same-sex unions.

“Our world needs good and strong families to overcome these threats!” the Pope exhorted the Catholics of the Philippines. He encouraged them to develop active lives of prayer, “resting in the Lord,” in order to build up strength to protect family life.

 

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Further information:

• To families: be aware of your calling as Jesus' missionary disciples (VIS)
• Pope Francis to families: be examples of holiness, prayer (Vatican Radio)
• Pope Francis criticizes gay marriage, backs ban on contraception (Crux)
• Pope Francis listens to three families in Manila (Vatican Radio)