GROUP 2

RESEARCH
WORK

TOPIC 2

ISSUES ON
RESPONSIBLE
PARENTHOOD,
ABSENTEE PARENTS,
SINGLE
PARENTHOOD,
DIVORCE AND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
 GROUP 2 RESEARCH WORK

Directives of Magisterium or the Teachings of the Church regarding Family Life which focuses
on issues such as responsible parenthood, absentee parents, single parenthood, divorce and
domestic violence.

The family is often called the principal cell or building block of human society. Since we are used to thinking about the family as
the place where our Catholic faith is handed on and lived, we sometimes pay too little attention to how the family itself is
related to the plan of God revealed in Scripture for the sake of our salvation in Jesus Christ.

The church has always taught the importance of the family as the basic unit of the social fabric of society itself: “Authority,
stability, and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security, and fraternity within
society” (2207). The family, therefore, as an “institution is prior to any recognition by public authority, which has an obligation
to recognize it” (2202). Since marriage and family have their basis in the created order, confirmed by the explicit Revelation of
God, the Church necessarily opposes the adoption of human laws that would abandon or overturn this order, such as is the case
with laws that would recognize same-sex or polygamous “marriage.” Human laws and judicial decisions that fail to respect this
fundamental and perennial teaching are contrary to God’s law, and are rightly considered unjust.

Responsible Parenthood

Parents should regard as their proper mission the task of transmitting human life and educating those to whom it has been
transmitted. They should realize that they are thereby cooperators with the love of God the Creator, and are, so to speak, the
interpreters of that love. Thus they will fulfill their task with human and Christian responsibility, and, with docile reverence
toward God, will make decisions by common counsel and effort. (GS, #50)

Let them [husband and wife] thoughtfully take into account both their own welfare and that of their children, those already
born and those which the future may bring. For this accounting they need to reckon with both the material and the spiritual
conditions of the times as well as of their state in life. Finally, they should consult the interests of the family group, of temporal
society, and of the Church herself. (GS, #50)

The parents themselves and no one else should ultimately make this judgment in the sight of God. But in their manner of
acting, spouses should be aware that they cannot proceed arbitrarily, but must always be governed according to a conscience
dutifully conformed to the divine law itself, and should be submissive toward the Church's teaching office, which authentically
interprets that law in the light of the Gospel. That divine law reveals and protects the integral meaning of conjugal love, and
impels it toward a truly human fulfillment. (GS, #50)

Trusting in divine Providence and refining the spirit of sacrifice, married Christians glorify the Creatoe and strive toward
fulfillment in Christ when with a generous human and Christian sense of responsibility they acquit themselves of the duty to
procreate. Among the couples who fulfill their God-given task in this way, those merit special mention who with a gallant heart
and with wise and common deliberation, undertake to bring up suitably even a relatively large family. (GS, #50)

The chuch teaches us that married love, therefore, requires of husband and wife the full awareness of their obligations in the
matter of responsible parenthood, which today, rightly enough, is much insisted upon, but which at the same time should be
rightly understood. Thus, we do well to consider responsible parenthood in the light of its varied legitimate and interrelated
aspects. (HV, #10)

With regard to the biological processes, responsible parenthood means an awareness of, and respect for, their proper
functions. In the procreative faculty the human mind discerns biological laws that apply to the human person. (HV, #10)
Single Parenthood and Absentee Parents

The church references several single parents who became such through a variety of circumstances. While some are thrust into
the role of single parent by the death of a spouse, many others become single parents due to sexual immorality or divorce.
While God’s intention was for children to be raised by both a mother and a father, He also has compassion on the parent who is
raising a child on his or her own. God’s instructions about parenting apply equally to the single and to the married (Ephesians
6:4; Colossians 3:21).

The first single parent identified as such in the Bible is Hagar. She was an Egyptian slave who became pregnant with Abraham’s
child as a result of Abraham and Sarah running ahead of the Lord’s instruction (Genesis 16:1–4). She was to be a surrogate, which
was never God’s intent. After the birth of Hagar’s child, God came to Hagar in her distress and let her know that He was with
her (Genesis 16:10–12). Single parents can learn what Hagar learned. When she cried out to God, He drew near. Hagar called the
Lord “the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:31). Despite how lonely single parenting may be at times, those who know the Lord can
take comfort in remembering that they are never alone. God promises to be a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows
and orphans (Psalm 68:5).

Many parents, especially those working to be both father and mother, feel overwhelmed in going it alone. Fortunately, there is
help available through the church and often through relatives and neighbors. In some cases, a single parent is truly incapable of
raising his or her child, at which point adoption may become the best option for the child. In all cases, the single parent must do
what is necessary to ensure his or her children are brought up “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

The most important thing for any parent to remember is that God created our children and has a plan for their lives. They were
entrusted to us, regardless of our family situation, and their Creator expects us to take the responsibility to raise them in a
godly manner. Single parents may find this more difficult than those with partners, but when they engage the help of their
brothers and sisters in Christ, their children can thrive. Jesus had a special tenderness for children (Matthew 19:14), and single
parents can rest assured that He cares for their children as much as He does for those raised in two-parent homes. When single
parents model purity, honor, and honesty before their children, they are earning the respect that will help those children
emulate that behavior. Single parents can rest in the promise that God’s grace will fill in the gaps as He helps them raise their
children (Psalm 27:10).

Divorce

The church teaches that divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This disorder
brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between
them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society.

The Roman Catholic Church does not recognise divorce. A marriage can only end when one partner dies or if there are grounds
for an annulment. A couple may be granted a civil divorce and be divorced in the eyes of the state, but their marriage will
continue 'in the eyes of God'.

It can happen that one of the spouses is the innocent victim of a divorce decreed by civil law; this spouse therefore has not
contravened the moral law. There is a considerable difference between a spouse who has sincerely tried to be faithful to the
sacrament of marriage and is unjustly abandoned, and one who through his own grave fault destroys a canonically valid
marriage.

A special discernment is indispensable for pastorally guiding persons who are separated, divorced or abandoned. Respect needs
to be primarily given to the suffering of those who have unjustly endured separation, divorce or abandonment, or those who
have been forced by maltreatment from a husband or a wife to interrupt their life together. To forgive such an injustice that has
been suffered is not easy, but grace makes this journey possible. Pastoral activity, then, needs to be geared towards
reconciliation and mediation of differences, which might even take place in specialized “listening centres” established in
dioceses. At the same time, the synod fathers emphasized the necessity of addressing, in a faithful and constructive fashion, the
consequences of separation or divorce on children, in every case the innocent victims of the situation. Children must not
become an “object” of contention. Instead, every suitable means ought to be sought to ensure that they can overcome the
trauma of a family break-up and grow as serenely as possible. In each case, the Church is always to point out the injustice that
very often is associated with divorce. Special attention is to be given in the guidance of single-parent families, so that women
who have to bear alone the responsibility of providing a home and raising their children can receive assistance.
Domestic Violence

The church does not justify domestic violence. Men who harm women and misuse the Bible can sometimes be influenced by the
ancient Greco-Roman ‘Household Codes’ which include the line: “Wives submit to your husbands” (eg. Colossians 3:18,
Ephesians 5:22, or 1 Timothy 2:11). To use this today to harm or assert power over another is unjustifiable.

The Household Codes point to the context of ancient Greco-Roman society, where under Roman Law, the eldest man was the
head of the household. He had power over all people living in the household – to an extent that he could kill them, without
asking permission from Roman authorities. Civil Law back then allowed men to have power over women, children, and slaves.
Under Civil Law today, it is a crime to kill or physically and/or sexually abuse another person, whether you are a father, mother,
or other member of your household.

St. Paul, the author of the biblical texts containing the Household Codes, was asking the followers of Jesus to follow Civil Law
and maintain harmony in the household. At the same time, St Paul also challenged them to go beyond the requirements of the
law, asking those in power to not abuse that power but instead equally love and care for everyone in the household. Today in
families, adult parents, both men and women, are equally heads of their household.

The Bible says men and women are equally made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 says: “So God created humankind in God’s
own image, in the image of God, God created them; male and female God created them.” Men who harm women can use
Genesis 2 to assert that men were created first in the image of God who is male. But in fact, Genesis 2 affirms God who is
neither male nor female created humanity, a unity or ‘one flesh’ in Adam and Eve (Gen 2:25). They are equal and stand side by
side each other. Further, in Christ who is the new Adam, all people are equal. The Bible cannot be used to justify the inequality
of men and women or to justify violence against women.
 Discussions

About the Cathechism

The Catechism tells us that “In the creation of the world and of man, God gave the first and universal witness to his almighty
love and his wisdom”. Thus the family as a created reality finds its full meaning as a Christian family, as a community for whom
Jesus Christ himself is Savior. Jesus makes of this community, this family, an instrument of his own saving, redeeming work on
behalf of humanity. Family, literally, is the basic unit in society consisting of two parents and their children. We consider family
as a building foundation of our children in the future because a child is born helpless and needs the assistance of his parents
both material and spiritual in order to survive. Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and
likeness of God and concludes with a vision of “the wedding-feast of the Lamb” as a symbol of God’s reign about to begin. Apart
from raising a child, there are common challenges that causes family problems. In my opinion, in todays generation, we are
aware that the kind of perfect family we think barely exist since there are a lot of problems exists that will be hard for other
people to manage. Some experiencing domestic violence, divorce, single parenthood, bad parenting style and practice that
influence children’s behavior in shaping their personality and socializing towards other people. It does not only affect the whole
family but especially their own mental, physical, and emotional health. At the end of the day, they choose to get divorse in order
to be happy and get a new life. Although the Roman Catholic Church does not recognise divorce. A marriage can only end when
one partner dies or if there are grounds for an annulment . A couple may be granted a civil divorce and be divorced in the eyes
of the state, but their marriage will continue 'in the eyes of God'. To build a strong and healthy family, one must encourage all
family members to share their thoughts and feelings in able to communicate properly with the issue of each person but the
most important thing is to raise your family to be Christ-centered. Jesus makes family as an instrument on redeeming work on
behalf of humanity. Meaning, we are capable and responsible in shaping not just the future of our children but the future of new
generations. As we educate our children and introduce God to them, we are building a relationship between God and his
creation so that they can share and teach when they are about to create their own family. Therefore, family, as The Fourth
Commandment tells us, “Honor your father and your mother.” The Catechism begins its presentation of this commandment by
showing us what the tradition of the Church has understood these brief words to contain: “The fourth commandment opens
the second table of the Decalogue. It shows us the order of charity. God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents
to whom we owe life and who have handed on to us the knowledge of God. We are obliged to honor and respect all those whom
God, for our good, has vested with his authority”. At the end of the day, having a family is something we should be proud of so
we must do our best to strengthen and nurture of what God has gifted to us.

The Family Life

The family of Christians is a sign of communion in the Trinity. In the production and education of children, the family reflects
the Father's work. The family has to pray, read and evangelize the Word of God together. In families, a relationship of feelings
and interests gives rise to mutual respect. The family is a "privileged collectivity," where the spouses share their ideas and help
their children to be educated. The family was originally the cell of social life. The stability of the relationship between families is
the foundation of society. The family is the community in which children properly learn their moral values and freedom. This
brings them into society.

Family is defined as the routine interactions and activities that a family have together. The Family is often called the principal
cell or building block of human society. Since we are used to thinking about the family as the place where our Catholic faith is
handed on and lived. We sometimes pay too little attention to how the family itself is related to the plan of God revealed in
scripture of the sake of our salvation in Jesus Christ. When members of a family enjoy other’s company and spend a lot of time
doing things together, this is an example of good family. Family problems means a kind of troubled relationship between family
members which in turn leads to tensions, whether these problems result from misconduct of a family member or the two main
parties, and the frequent quarrels and differences between parents and with this, it will lead into a divorce, experiencing
domestic violence, being a single parent, and the struggle to handle a family. But despite of this, a parent should be responsible
for the family. It is from responsible parents that we most often learn social values such as kindness, honesty, altruism, etc.
Responsible parents also teach practical things about how to exist in society. Parents' values and parenting style can shape
children fundamentally as people. Responsible parenthood is an ability of parents to detect the need of happiness and desire of
children and helping them to become responsible and responsible children. When children are born too close together, the
parents do not have enough time to give adequate attention to all of them. By spacing children further apart, the parents will
have more time for each child and also more time for themselves. This can help contribute to a happier and more satisfying
family life.

.
 Discussions

What marriage is to God?

Married love is the most deeply personal union found among men and women. Married love "involves a totality, in which all the
elements of the person enter—appeal of the body and instinct, power of feeling and affectivity, aspiration of the spirit and of the
will". The marital union calls husband and wife to become one flesh, one heart and one soul. It therefore "demands
indissolubility and faithfulness in mutual giving; and it is open to fertility".

Married love is "caught up into divine love" which enriches the couple's relationship with grace. Marriage is for the good of
husband and wife, the creation of new people, and the forming of the family. It therefore is good for society. Marriage bestows a
unique dignity on husband and wife that contributes to their mutual salvation. Marriage is a vocation, a real calling from God to
form a communion of persons, the one-flesh union spoken of in Genesis and reaffirmed by Jesus. In fact, the Church teaches
that when they marry, husband and wife receive a "kind of consecration in the duties and dignity of their state". In other words,
God prepares spouses to faithfully live their sacred union and become parents who will love and nurture their children.

Family Life Reflection

Naming Christian marriage as one of the seven holy observances of the congregation implied that the demonstration of
wedding another, with the expectation that the marriage be loyal, selective, and open to the production of new life, makes a
holy connection between the spouse and husband that partakes through the working of elegance. Marriage was not just a
human or mainstream relationship. It was essential for the unique existence of being a Christian. It was brought into the
stimulating presence of God's soul that consistently revives the congregation. Marriage is a purified condition of life. It delivers
the spouse and husband heavenly through each one of those demonstrations that establish the marriage. This graced dynamic
starts with the trading of marriage pledges and through the culmination of the marriage in sex. The interaction of purification
proceeds however their coexistence.

But we can face the fact that there will be a problem in every family. Main reason for this is because of lack of communication. It
appears that every member of the family is creating a gap between them. And it causes a big problem each of them. Supposed
family is the first person we should trust in everything but if there’s a wall it would be hard. Family must put all together with
faith in their heart. A family that has faith is a strong weapon among temptations.
 References

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20060707_levada-
valencia_en.html

https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/what-is-nfp/responsible-
parenthood

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a4.htm

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zj8qn39/revision/3

https://www.catholicity.com/catechism/the_family_in_god's_plan.html

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20141018_relatio-synodi-familia_en.html