The Family

Society rests upon the family

Society-a stable moral union of a plurality of persons for the purpose of achieving a common end
and by the use of common means.

Family- a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit.
Smallest social unit of a society.
Marriage- a stable union entered into by a man and a woman for the procreation and education of
children and for mutual support and helpfulness.
In marriage, sex is a permissible act even when procreation is not intended. What is required
is that “each and every marriage act(quilibet matrimonii usus) must be open to the transmission
of life”.
Types
Monogamy-union of one man and one woman
Polygamy-plurality of wives
Polyandry-plurality of husbands (Plateau of Tibet, Parts of China, Northern India, Nigeria, Kenya and
South America).

Indissolubility of Marriage-Perpetuity. Marriage contract, once validly made, cannot be broken but
remains in effect until it is naturally dissolved by the death of one of the parties. “What god hath joined
together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:9)

Annulment- A legal ruling that erases a marriage by declaring the marriage null and void and
that the union was never legally valid

Grounds
1. No parental consent (18-21)
2. Insanity
3. Fraud(Ex. Conviction to a crime involving moral turpitude, concealment of STD and drug
addiction)
4. Consent obtained by FORCE
5. Impotence
6. Serious and Incurable STD

Family Planning-program regulating the size of the family. The aim of family planning is not
morally objectionable. What morality prohibits is the artificial methods of contraception
encouraged by the government.

Legal Separation-a process of allowing husband and wife to live separately from each other with
marriage bond remaining in force.
Divorce- the act by which a valid marriage is dissolved, usually freeing the parties to remarry. It
contradicts the permanent character of marital union.

Adultery-committed when either the husband or the wife indulges in carnal relationship with any
third person.

Concubinage- living together of a man and a woman without any intent of marriage. Sex outside
marriage is fornication. It is a sin against chastity and involves complicity in the sin of another.
Flesh Trade is the most degrading form of fornication. The guilt is not only shared by the
prostitute and the customer, but also by the pimp and the owner who facilitate the commission of
an immoral act.