A Church "expert in humanity", rich with "human and spiritual experience in the field of married life that no other institution offers" was evoked by Olivier and Xristilla Roussy, of Amour et Verité, in their presentation of the second part of the Lineamenta: "Looking to Christ: The Gospel of the Family." "In an ever more strongly individualistic and rapidly de-Christianizing world, our first question should be how we can contribute to supporting our Christian life and give ourselves effectively, because—they explained— it's impossible to resist alone. We must be united in order to remain free in the truth before the different forms of pressure. For all Christians, a communion of love, service, prayer, and the gift of being together are possible and necessary. We are increasingly called —they concluded—to love people and to lead them to Christ, instead of judging their actions, and to be witnesses of mercy, as we consider the realities which they have had to face."

 

The third part of the Lineamenta, dedicated to the pastoral perspectives and especially to marriage preparation, wounded families, the divorced and remarried faithful, and homosexual orientations, was presented by Víctor and Stella Dominguez, of Proyecto Esperanza (Paraguay). Proclaiming the Gospel of the family today requires the development of "body to body" pastoral support for families: for this pastoral ministry, the presence in the parish of spouses who are experts is very important, they explained, because "they can offer their readiness to help younger couples, with the possible support of associations, church movements and new communities." As for the divorced and remarried faithful, they said: "we believe that the Church's pastoral love for them should be felt and seen, not only in announcements and speeches, but in practice. It is not enough to know that the Church loves them. They need to feel this." With respect to homosexuals, "it should be clear—they stressed— that respectfully accepting and welcoming people with a homosexual orientation is one thing, and promoting homosexuality as a natural situation, including homosexual unions, is quite another."