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The family is the basic building-block of society. The way the family goes is the way that the society will follow. Vatican II defines the family as “The Domestic Church.”
Down through the ages history has proven this sad but authentic fact on the importance of the family: when the family comes unraveled and falls apart, likewise the society comes unraveled and falls apart.
Faced with the reality of the family under attack, the family in crisis, the traditional family being questioned from all corners, we must lift up our voices and defend this primary and indispensable institution created by God Himself!
One of the primary reasons why the Holy Father has called a follow-up meeting on the family is for the simple reason that His Holiness is keenly aware of the family being under severe attack. Let us pray for the upcoming Synod on the family!
This essay will deal with one aspect of the family, with the purpose of defending traditional families. This aspect will be to articulate what are the major attacks against the family. We will give five
1. SAME-SEX UNIONS. Undoubtedly one of the major attacks on the family is the pervasive proliferation of the so called SAME-SEX UNIONS. Almost every week, on the news, the Gay-agenda rejoices over new victories. Countries, right and left, are approving of Same-sex unions. In USA already 36 of the 50 States in the union have legalized same-sex unions. Even though the explicit practice of homosexuality and lesbianism is being proliferated at staggering rates, this still does not justify what is intrinsically evil. Our ultimate source of truth was, is and always will be the Bible, the Word of God. In the very first Book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, we read that in the beginning God created them male and female. A man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. What God has united let no man rent asunder. God showed His total disgust with the practice of homosexuality especially in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah. The practice of homosexuality was so rampant then that those of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah wanted to rape the guests in the home of Lot—these guests were actually angels, who had assumed human bodies. God chastised Sodom and Gomorrah and all of its inhabitants by destroying it with fire and brimstone. (read Genesis 19) What further evidence do we need to substantiate the intrinsic evil of the practice of homosexual acts?
2. PREMARITAL SEX. Another frontal attack against marriage and the family is the rampant practice of fornication or premarital sex. Human
sexuality is one of the greatest gifts that God, the Creator and Author of all life, has given to the human race. However there is a time and place for everything. “There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to gather, a time to laugh and a time to weep, a time to embrace and a time to stay away from embraces. There is a time for everything underneath the sun.”(Eccl. 3) The proper use of human sexuality has its proper time and place only in the context of a couple—man and woman—married sacramentally in the church, with the purpose of unity in love and the openness to new life, procreation. Aside from this context, sexuality is not being used to praise God, but rather to satisfy one’s sensual and base desires.
sexuality is one of the greatest gifts that God, the Creator and Author of all life, has given to the human race. However there is a time and place for everything. “There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to gather, a time to laugh and a time to weep, a time to embrace and a time to stay away from embraces. There is a time for everything underneath the sun.”(Eccl. 3) The proper use of human sexuality has its proper time and place only in the context of a couple—man and woman—married sacramentally in the church, with the purpose of unity in love and the openness to new life, procreation. Aside from this context, sexuality is not being used to praise God, but rather to satisfy one’s sensual and base desires.
3. LIVING-TOGETHER. Another modern moral plague in society is the prevailing and prevalent phenomenon of couples starting to live together, without the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. There are various names and reasons for this pernicious attack against the family. Names for this phenomenon: “Free-union”, “Cohabitation”, “Trial-marriage”, “Shacking out together” and many more. Reasons for this are almost limitless. However, here are a few. Compatibility. They assert: “We have to see if we are compatible as a couple.” Next, “Chemistry”. They say, “If we do not have a unitive chemistry then the relationship will end up exploding.” Finally, many say: “We do not want to rush into something so sacred as Holy Matrimony; if done, it might end up in divorce.” In the meantime they chose to live in a permanent state of fornication—in the state of mortal sin—thereby giving bad example to many, as well as their children and worse yet, placing in jeopardy the eternal salvation of their immortal souls.
4. CONTRACEPTIVE MENTALITY. One of the most explosive times in the history of the Church and the world at large was July, 1968. This month and year the great Blessed Pope Paul VI issued and promulgated what might be considered a spiritual atomic bomb with the Encyclical “Humane Vita”. In this all important magisterial teaching, going against all odds and popular common opinion, the Holy Father condemned any form of use of contraceptives as intrinsically evil. The bomb fell and exploded and wreaked havoc throughout the world, especially within the ranks of the Catholic Church. One of the saddest facts of this teaching, given to the world by the Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ, and teaching inspired by the Holy Spirit, was the fact that many clerics, priests and even Bishops did not agree with the Holy Father. In other words, those who should have been the Holy Father’s most staunch followers and supporters jumped ship and capitulated to liberalism. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) gave this term a new name: “The Dictatorship of moral relativism.” In other words, many—even within the ranks of the Church itself—vociferated their own clarion call of rebellion like Lucifer: “I will not serve and obey this teaching.” Rather, I will follow my own conscience. Blessed Pope Paul VI uttered horrifying prophecies of what would result if the contraceptive mentality were to be embraced. These are a few: women will be denigrated; their dignity will be lost. There will be a growing spread of immorality in society. Abortions will follow. Governments will spread this moral poison throughout the world. Finally, sexuality will fall into perversion. Look at the world now with the rampant practice of homosexuality and even transgenderism!
5. PORNOGRAPHY. Finally, it would be incomplete in our pointing out the major attacks against marriage and the family if we did not mention the pervasive and wide-spread influence of pornography in the society, in marriage and the family, and even in the hearts and lives of our young people! This is true especially in realm of Internet porn. A very intelligent and insightful Catholic Psychologist from Philadelphia, Dr. Peter C. Kleponis, highlights the “5- A’s” of the reasons for the widespread pervasiveness of pornography. Read through these and see how true is the over-all analysis of the problem:
AFORDABILTY— Much of internet porn can be acquired either free of charge or for very little money.
ACCESSIBLITY—Years ago it was difficult to acquire pornography. Today it can be attained by a simple click of the Mouse!
ACCEPTABILITY—Especially among men, pornography is accepted far and wide. “Boys will be boys.” It is accepted as a sign of growing into man-hood!
ANONYMITY—It is a practice that is not done in public, but done behind closed doors. This practice can be hidden from loved ones for long periods of time, even years.
AGGRESVITY—by aggresivity, is meant that pornography can get a hold of you right away. It is highly addictive and the addiction can be almost immediate in many cases.
In conclusion, in our fight to defend traditional marriages, based on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, the union of man and woman in the marital bond for the procreation of children, the above are five of the key attacks, ravenous wolves. Let us be aware of them so as to form good families and form good children and form wholesome and holy societies!
