Religion – Marriage Assignment
Reflect on and discuss the teachings of the Catholic beliefs and understanding about marriage and family in the context of our Australian society.
What does the Catholic Church teach about marriage and family?
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacred commitment between a man and a woman, with mutual love and the bearing of children in a family being integral components of marriage. Amoris Laetitia, a document by Pope Francis, outlines the importance of love in marriage, stating that marriage is “intended before else to perfect the couple’s love” (Francis, 2016). The document asserts that one feature of true love is patience, and without it “we will end up incapable of living together”. It also conveys that love is at the service of others, and has “no room for discomfiture at another’s good fortune” nor those who are “inflated with their own importance” (Francis, 2016). The Catechism
…show more content…
The Catholic Church asserts that marriage is a fundamental institution in every society because of its importance in preparing spouses to bring up children (Catholic Church in Australia, 2017), but due to same-sex couples being incapable of procreation, the Church refuses to identify these relationships as marriages. The Catholic Church also argues that redefining marriage deliberately deprives children of either a mother or a father, which puts the interests of adults before that of the children (Catholic Church in Australia, 2017). Many Catholic priests and parishes have campaigned against redefining marriage, although many Australians see this push as ‘bigoted’ and opposing equality for those who wish to commit to another person of the same sex (Reynolds, 2017). Thus, tension exists between Australian societal viewpoints and those of the Catholic