22 January 2015
Your news from across the Archdiocese of Perth
Edition #15
Large families the bearers of hope POPE FRANCIS has this week spoken about families, contraception and ideological colonisations that threaten the family – in the process gaining world-wide media attention and sparking questions from Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The Archdiocese of Perth Communications and Media Office this week took a closer look at what the Pontiff really said and spoke with Attadale parish priest and lecturer in theology at the University of Notre Dame Fremantle, Fr Sean Fernandez, asking him to provide Perth Catholics with an insight into how this applies to us today. The Pope’s remarks come in the wake of a number of comments he made about birth control during an impromptu press conference on the papal plane. In answer to questions on the Church’s stance on contraception, the Holy Father noted that responsible parenthood doesn’t mean that “a Christian must have children serially”. “Some think that - excuse the language - that in order to be good Catholics, we have to be like rabbits. No. Responsible parenthood. This is clear and that is why in the Church there are marriage groups, there are experts in this matter, there are pastors, one can search; and I know so many ways that are licit and that have helped this,” the Pope said. Attadale parish priest EDITION #15 | 22 JANUARY 2015
Pope Francis is last week greeted by children and young people at a home for former street children in Manila, Philippines, on January 16. PHOTO: CNS
and lecturer in theology at the University of Notre Dame Fremantle, Fr Sean Fernandez commented on
husband or wife, couples can “take advantage of the natural cycles immanent in the reproductive system during
“The Holy Father has a very pastoral, down to earth way of expressing what is traditional Church teaching, he wasn’t disparaging large families.” the Pope’s remarks, emphasising that the Pope was reiterating Blessed Paul VI’s 1968 Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae which states that, for “well-grounded reasons” such as physical or psychological conditions of the
those times that are infertile”. “In doing this,” the encyclical states, “they certainly give proof of a true and authentic love” (HM, 16). “The Holy Father has a very pastoral, down to earth way of expressing what is
traditional Church teaching: he wasn’t disparaging large families,” Fr Fernandez said. “Only a few weeks ago there was a gathering of families and he stated that, in a world often marked by selfishness, the big family is a school of solidarity and sharing, and these attitudes benefit the whole of society,” he added. Fr Fernandez believes this “down to earth approach” was also visible in the comments he made following the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks, which some took as a justification of violence. Full Text available at
www.therecord.com.au