<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet \"experience\u2026throughout history has shown the need for society to recognize and defend the institution of the family\". (Preamble, H., Charter Of The Rights Of The Family)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Governments seem to have forgotten that the family \"exists prior to the State<\/strong> or any other community\". They fail to grasp that the family \"possesses inherent rights which are inalienable\". (Preamble, D., Charter Of The Rights Of The Family)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The government has a responsibility to defend a culture of family, because the family is indispensable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The State \"should never fail in its fundamental task<\/strong> of respecting and fostering the family\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 45)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \"[P]ublic authorities must\u00a0do everything\u00a0possible to ensure that families have all those aids \u2013 economic, social, educational, political and cultural assistance-that they need in order to face all their responsibilities in a human way.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 45)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPublic authority should regard it as a sacred duty to recognize, protect and promote it [the family]\u2026and to favor the prosperity of home life.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Gaudium et Spes, 52)<\/a><\/p>\n \"The authorities responsible for the common good must be seriously committed\u00a0to the primary good of society, namely, the family.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Synod Report to Pope Francis, 12)<\/a><\/p>\n The practice of governments regulating family size and\/or infringing on parental rights<\/strong> is abundant today. But the Church is very clear on the State\u2019s limits.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Every state has the obligation to defend <\/strong>\u201cthe right to form a family\u2026established in marriage between a man and a woman<\/strong>\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why? \u201cThe family\u00a0[is]\u00a0older\u00a0than\u00a0the\u00a0state\u2026No human law can abolish\u00a0the natural and original right of\u00a0marriage,\u00a0nor\u00a0in any way\u00a0limit\u00a0the chief and\u00a0principal purpose\u00a0of marriage ordained by God\u2019s authority from the beginning: \u2018Increase and multiply\u2019.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Leo XIII, 12)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n There are \"necessary limits to the State\u2019s intervention\u2026inasmuch as the State exists in order to protect their rights and not stifle them<\/strong>.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 11)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201c[T]he State\u00a0cannot and must not take away\u00a0from families the functions that they can just as well perform on their own or in free associations\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 45)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Divided Government and the Political Divide<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Catholic Social Teaching is not Left or Right<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Catholic Social Teaching, Democracy, and Free Markets<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Democracy Quotes that Will Make You Think<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Human Rights on Which the State Must be Ordered<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Role of the State and Economic Activity<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Top 10 Pope Benedict XVI Quotes on Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Top 10 Pope John Paul II Quotes on Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Quotes about Government<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n What Does Catholic Social Teaching Say About a \u201cWelfare State\u201d?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The 2025 Government Shutdown<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tThe Government's Responsibility For a \u201cCulture of Family\u201d<\/span><\/h1>\n
by CAPP-USA<\/h5>\n
The Family is Vulnerable<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
A culture centered on family is under threat. Even the definition of family has been corrupted<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/bunny-wp-pullzone-shrwjal8rd.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/young-family-with-two-toddler-children-outdoors-by-WR5VN6P-crop-small.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe State Must Defend Family Culture<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
As \"the fundamental cell of society<\/strong>\" (Pope Francis, 66)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span>government\u2019s \u201cjob\u201d is to protect the family.<\/span><\/p>\nShould Governments Regulate Families?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u201c[T]hat the civil government should at its option intrude into and exercise intimate control over the family\u00a0and the household is a\u00a0great\u00a0and pernicious\u00a0error.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Leo XIII, 14)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGovernment Must Recognize Its Proper Function<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"[T]he State\u2026\u00a0is under grave obligation\u00a0in its relations with the\u00a0family to adhere to the principle of subsidiarity\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 45)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t