...November 19, 1993
The Message -- for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
WASHINGTON (CNS)
After a two-year consultation
:.S:a:.document offering
lamilies the encour-
agement, COmpassion and sup-
port of the U.S. Catholic bish-
Nov.°PS went15, before the bishops
The bishops devoted about
20 minutes to introduction and
r0ecl!minary discussion of the
Wa,' sent, cal!ed "Follow the
" ove: A Pastoral Mes-
Sage of the U S Cathohc
ost. .... ' ' " Bish-
P " rarames _ On t
cation of ,k^ ,, . he Oc-
1994 In:.".. umted Nations
-- rnahonal Year of the
r'amily.
The 29.pag e docu
Introduc,a t ment was
I , u oy Cardinal Jose h
i::san °f Chicago, wo
tore had received a
Standing OVation fr
low L._oh.,__ om hm fel-
SUppot"::_.asa sign of their
• plte sex abuse alle-
gation against him.
Car inal Ber
chalrs the k-- nardm, who
d "*nops Commlt
0a bIa a-- - " tee
that t l se and Family, noted
• . e theme chose
rntec Nat-' - n by the
r y IRe::UnC: Sc Ions I°r the Ydar IgR: i
in this theme is a
confidence in the fu-
and a chal-
ourselves,
recognize and
and re-
said.
We can do this is
SUpported by
"" that encourage,
ge, show COmpassion,
and instill hope
Cardinal
:d. "This is the
'Follow the
Bishops' proposed message offers families compassion, support
which was to
on Nov 17, urges
0Uples to rei "an
spirit"
reship and par-
children's
Washington
Auto Trim
27 Years Service
1
OUi Ann
Administrator
Washington, IN
rle Village
ng Center
needs first.
"What you do in your family
to create a community of love,
to help each other to grow and
to serve those in need is criti-
cal, not only for your own sanc-
tification, but for the strength
of society and our church," the
message says. "It is a partici-
pation in the work of the Lord,
a sharing in the mission of the
church. It is holy."
The bishops noted that they
too are family members. "We
are sons and brothers and un-
cles. We have known the com-
mitment and sacrifices of a
mother and father, the warmth
of a family's care, the happi-
ness and pain that are part of
loving."
The document discusses
openly many of the problems
facing families today -- eco-
nomic demands, changing role
expectations, interpersonal dif-
ficulties and outside pressures
such as neighborhood violence
and the intrusion of "communi-
cations media (that) bring im-
ages and messages into your
home that may contradict your
values and exert a negative in-
fluence on your children."
But the bishops told married
couples facing problems that
divorce "is not inevitable and is
certainly not your only option."
"An enduring marriage is
more than simply endurance,"
they added. "It is a process of
growth into an intimate friend-
ship and a deepening peace. So
we urge all couples: renew
your commitment regularly,
seek enrichment often, and ask
for pastoral and professional
help when needed."
The document called mar-
riage a "partnership of a man
and woman equal in dignity
and value" and said it should
"never become a struggle for
control."
"True equality, understood
as mutuality, is not measuring
out justice (who prepares the
meals, who supervises home-
work, etc.) or maintaining an
orderly schedule," the bishops
said. "How household duties
are distributed should follow
from understanding what it
takes to build a life together,
as well as the individual skills
and interests you bring to your
common life."
The document urged men to
"interpret their traditional role
as 'provider' for a family in
more than an economic sense."
"Physical care of children,
discipline, training in religious
values and practices, helping
with schoolwork and other ac-
tivities: all these and more can
be provided by fathers as well
as mothers," it said.
The bishops commented on
"the incredible busyness of
family life" today and said that
it is "hard to imagine how a
family can live faithfully, be
life giving and grow in mutual-
ity without deliberately choos-
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ing to spend time together."
Whenever possible, "hours
on the job need to be weighed
against their impact on family
life," the bishops said. They
urged all family members to
"see what individual pursuits
could be given up or replaced
with family activities?
The document included a
seven-part pledge by the bish-
ops to work to strengthen fami-
lies. Among other things, they
said they would "include more
deliberately within the scope of
our pastoral care an attentive-
ness to single-parent families,
minority families, families in a
second marriage, interfaith
families and persons who are
widowed or divorced?
The bishops closed their doc-
3
ument with special messages
for various groups.
"Not only do your children
need discipline and love, they
need the example of adults
whose behavior demonstrates
their caring," they told par-
ents. "Put your children first in
making decisions about family
life."
To children, they said, "You
have the right to expect love,
guidance, discipline and re-
spect from your parents and el-
ders. And, in turn, you should
share with them your love,
your experience of God, your
fears and hope."
Annual Message Coloring Contest
This week, the back page of
the Message features a draw-
ing of the Nativity; the annual
Coloring Contest is open to
children in grades kinder-
garten through four.
The drawing was provided
by Amy Housman, Message
secretary since January and a
1988 graduate of Memorial
High School, Evansville.
The deadline for entries is
December 13 and winners will
be announced in the Christmas
issue on December 24.
Prizes are furnished by G.D.
Ritzy's, Stephen Libs Candy
Company, Lie's Ice Cream and
Sandwich Shoppes, and Chuck
E. Cheese.
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