Letters

Healthy families vital

Brendan Keogh

Contents - Jul 2013 - Buy a copy now Homily: Saints John Fisher and Thomas More: from Pope Pius XI's canonisation homily Cardinal Pell's candid responses to Victorian Parliament grilling - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World Youth: Melbourne's young adult ministry continues its revival - Br Barry Coldrey Paul VI: Humanae Vitae: still prophetic after 45 years - Anne Lastman Cardinal Ouellet's Australian lecture: rediscover human nature - Owen Vyner Social media: Catholic activism and the AussieMite affair - Damian Wyld Formation: Future priests learn about the RCIA process - Rev Dr Elio Capra SDB Obituary: Vale Fr Paul Duffy SJ (1931-2013) - Anna Krohn Human dignity: Defence of marriage must be linked to defence of parenthood - Denise Hunnell Musicae Sacrae: The essential role of music in the Mass - Ronan Reilly Parody?: Anti-Catholic hate speech, Aussie Style (Move on, nothing to see here) - R.J. Stove Letters: Vision of Heaven? - Peter Harris Letters: Mr Hyde's lesson - John Ballantyne Letters: Healthy families vital - Brendan Keogh Letters: Finding true unity - Didymus Astle Letters: Matter of conscience - Arnold Jago Letters: Marriage simply is ... - Brian A. Coman Letters: Guilt-free sin - Paul Voskulen Letters: Offensive advert - Helen F. Daniel Letters: Contact your candidates - Gerard Calilhanna Letters: Christian civil rights - Name and Address Supplied Books: SAINTS WHO RAISED THE DEAD: True Stories of Four Hundred Resurrection Miracles - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: ST JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA AND THE ORIGINS OF OPUS DEI - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Benedict XVI: Sts Peter and Paul, two pillars of the Church

The disintegration of traditional family life and the rise in fatherless homes is having serious social implications in Western societies. The clamour for same-sex marriages further compounds this problem.

The civil purpose of marriage is not simply to reaffirm the love of a man and a woman for life, nor just to register a business arrangement. The main purpose of civil marriage is the legal protection of the one institution which ensures society's stable future.

Healthy societies in all times and places are unanimous that the orderly procreation and upbringing of children is best in a natural family – or as close as possible by relatives, or by others in extreme necessity. As family life breaks down, so does society. The decline in marriage and the rise in illegitimacy are prime factors in the rising crime rate, in poverty and in social decay generally.

The results of fatherlessness are even more alarming when recent US and UK studies are considered. Chaos results when communities permit a large number of young men to grow up in broken homes without a stable relationship with a male role-model. Crime, violence, and unrestrained rebellion from the whole social structure are almost inevitable, as we see increasingly today.

Many studies have shown that children raised in traditional mum-and-dad families are much more likely to finish school, get a decent job, socialise, marry and settle down.

The traditional family is the best department of health, education and welfare. We must nurture and protect it. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom within our society as well, lest we forget!

BRENDAN KEOGH
Eaglehawk, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 26 No 6 (July 2013), p. 15