Commentary on the Instrumentum Laboris: The spouses Leonardo and Martha Lorena Casco on Chapter II of Part III
Leonardo and Martha Lorena Casco, members of the Pontifical Council for the Family, speak about Chapter II: "The Family and Formation" of Part III of the document that will guide the next Synod of Bishops on the family.
Mr. and Mrs. Casco reflect on how necessary it is today to form young people in the values of marriage and the family, in contrast to the culture of the provisional, and to reinvigorate a sacrament that is still "unknown" to many. The first place where one can enjoy and contemplate the beauty of marriage and family life is certainly the family home, where parents, by their example of love, gratuity and commitment, become a visible and tangible sign for their children, inspiring desire, and teachers of life. The school and the Church are called to participate in this educational and formative function, the first by presenting to children and young people the values of the male and female identities, and consequently the beauty of motherhood and fatherhood, "conditions without which they cannot succeed in forming a healthy marriage;" the latter by working in two directions: on the one hand, by the formation and accompaniment of young people and engaged couples to the mystery of the vocation to marriage and family, and, on the other, by preparing priests to support and care for these realities of others. It is important―they say―that the pre-marriage courses, which should open the young people to the value of the sacrament of marriage and the deep significance of the marital vocation, be enriched with suitable content and examples, in order to avoid the degree of superficiality and generality often complained about, and become a real source of formation in life and faith. At the same time, it is necessary to intervene in the formation of priests, "so that they may be true marriage counselors, full of realism and aware of the difficulties they face." Only in this way, conclude Mr. and Mrs. Casco, will we have strong and well-formed families, capable of having an influence in public life and redirecting policies in favor of marriage and the family. This issue is a priority for the Church, because―they argue―"if the family is lost, the faith is lost."