Not to be forgotten amidst the coverage of the Pope's visit last week to Valencia, Spain for the 5th World Meeting of Families was the theological congress that preceded it.
Here is Zenit's coverage of the opening proceedings.
Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop of Bologna, Italy, gave the address, in which he said "[t]here is no doubt that the clear perception of the value, of the very preciousness of marriage, is today being gradually obscured."
"In my judgment, the most emblematic event of this obscuring is that on Jan. 18, 2006, with 468 votes in favor, 149 opposed and 41 abstentions, the European Parliament approved a resolution which calls for equating homosexual couples with those of man and woman and condemns as homophobic those states and countries that are opposed to the recognition of gay couples," lamented Cardinal Caffarra.
More coverage:
- From Zenit: Cardinal Dziwisz: Cardinal Dziwisz on "John Paul II, Pope of the Family and of Life"
- From Zenit: The work of movements in supporting families
- From Zenit: Panel on "Ecumenism and the Family"
- From Zenit: Conclusion: "The family is subjected to an unprecedented crisis"
- From Fides - news service of the Church's missionary congregation: "The family that hands on the faith is a guarantee of hope for the future of the Church and humanity"
- From Fides: Summary of first day's proceedings
- From Catholic News Agency: Cardinal Re: Faith is greatest inheritance parents can leave their children
- From Catholic News Agency: More Dziwisz on JP2
- From Catholic News Agency: Request to recognize traditional marriage
- From Catholic News Agency: Summary of address by Christian Life movement founder
- Jennifer Roback Morse was a guest speaker at the Congress. She did some blogging (1, 2, 3, 4) from Valencia at the Acton Institute's Power Blog and wrote this column. She will eventually be posting her full speech on her website.
