Letters

'Familiaris Consortio' 20th anniversary

John Barich

Contents - Dec 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: A Christmas reflection - Peter Westmore Tenth Synod of Bishops' statement - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Church leaders say 'No human cloning' - AD2000 Report East Timor: how the Church is rebuilding a shattered nation - Peter Westmore Obituary: Thomas Kendell (1929-2001) R.I.P. - The passing of a great Catholic educator - Nicholas Kendell St Vitus Cathedral, Prague, and Europe's Christian heritage - Stephen W. Carson Books: 'Soul Survivor' - Philip Yancey book launch at Thomas More Centre - Bill Muehlenberg Books: De Lubac's writings in English translations - Tracey Rowland Letters: 'Familiaris Consortio' 20th anniversary - John Barich Letters: Huge response - Dolores Lightbody Letters: St Thérèse - Fr Jim Dunne CSsR Letters: Pipe-dream - Arnold Jago (Dr) Letters: Refugees - John McLean Books: 'Meaninglessness: The Solutions of Nietzsche, Freud and Rorty' by Michael Casey - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: 'Thomas More On Statesmanship' by Gerard B. Wegemer - Michael Casanova (reviewer) Books: AD Books 'Top Ten' Books: 'Desire Of The Everlasting Hills' by Thomas Cahill - Michael Daniel Books: The Prayer Of Jabez' by Bruce Wilkinson - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: Daily Gospel 2002, Bible Diary 2002 - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) New Titles from AD Books Reflection: St Thérèse's 'little way' - Kate Cleary

I feel sure your readers would not wish the year to pass without some mention of 2001 being the 20th anniversary of Familiaris Consortio - "The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World" - the post-synodal document of the 1980 Synod of Bishops.

One of the key messages of the document is simple: "The greatest gift a father can give his children is to love their mother."

The Pope reminds us that in many places around the world the family is under siege from a hostile society and State. In response to this situation, he outlined a charter of 14 basic family rights as called for by the Synod. An article in the Charter, which is vitally important for today's Australia, reads as follows:

"The institutional value of marriage should be upheld by the public authorities; the situation of non- married couples must not be placed on the same level as marriage duly contracted."

JOHN BARICH
Ardross, WA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 11 (December 2001 - January 2002), p. 14