Family Archives

Cardinal Schönborn: Moral theology needs both principles and prudence

Commentary
July 15, 2017

Pope Francis has declared Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna to be the “authoritative interpreter” of ‘Amoris Laetitia,’ the papal document on marriage and family. Schönborn spent hours explaining it during a visit to Ireland this week.

Pope says work and family, not ‘speculation,’ are keys to growth

Vatican
June 10, 2017

During a visit to the Quirinale Palace on Saturday to meet Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, Pope Francis insisted that employment and pro-family policies are the real keys to a society’s growth, not “speculative” business models calculated to generate short-term profits but lacking a long-term vision for providing “stable and dignified work.”

Finally, a Vatican official close to the pope’s own heart

Vatican
June 1, 2017

The new number two at the all-important Dicastery for Family, Laity, and Life is a young Brazilian priest not only in sync with the ideas and outlook of Pope Francis, but who has a long history of friendship and collaboration with the pontiff.

Children by grace, not nature: Adoption and Christianity

Interviews
May 5, 2017

In our culture today we may too easily start to think that it’s imperative to have children who are biologically “our own” – as if children were ever simply ours. We all need to be reminded that our biological children are not simply our own. They are gifts, given into our care. The fact of adoption should teach those of us who are parents of biologically related children what being a parent actually means.

Why paid family leave serves justice for women, the family and life

Commentary
April 17, 2017

The United States is the only industrial country which does not have mandatory paid maternity leave. Doing so, in addition to fulfilling the requirements of justice for women, will also advance the Church’s concern for the family and for life by saving the lives of prenatal children. Paid family leave is solidly rooted in Catholic social teaching, including the 1981 social encyclical of St. John Paul II, ‘Laborem Exercens.”

Dolce & Gabbana aren’t backing down from pro-family stand

Global Church
April 8, 2017

Famed Italian fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana came out as a gay years ago, but that hasn’t stopped them from being strong defenders of the family and marriage, and they’ve been willing to brave some fairly sharp criticism from within and without the fashion world. To those critics, Gabbana has a simple message: “Go to Hell!”