Pope Francis visited the cathedral of Rome for a meeting of questions and answers. He devoted most of his time to talking about the important document on the family, 'Amoris Laetitia.'
Question
'How can we prevent our communities from living a double standard: one that's strict and permissive?'
Answer
'One cannot speak of 'stiffness' or 'security,' within morality. Morality cannot offer a mathematical security. This does not mean to forget morality, but it means to seek the truth. Morality is always an act of love: love of God and love of neighbor. It is an act that leaves room for the conversion of the other, it does not condemn them immediately, but leaves space.â?
Question
'How can we educate young people to love sacramental marriage, overcoming their resistance, skepticism, disillusionment, fear of the end?â?
Answer
'Itâ??s the culture of the provisional. This happens everywhere, also in priestly life, in religious life.
Everything is provisional, and because of
this the great majority of our sacramental marriages are null. Because they say, 'Yes, for the rest of my life!' but they donâ??t know what they are
saying, because they have a different culture. They say it, they have good will, but they aren't aware.â?
'In the pre-marriage
courses priests ask, 'How many live together?' Most raised their hands. They prefer to live together. This is a challenge that requires us to work, not to respond hastily: 'why don't you marry in the Church?' Stay near them, wait, and help fidelity mature among them.'
This relaxed meeting inaugurated the annual convention that the Catholic Church of Rome holds to reflect on its pastoral challenges. Of all the present challenges, certainly the family remains one of the most important.
JMB/MB
CTV
BN
VM
Up:YA
