Recently, Catholic priests have been talking about childlessness quite often. Some of them even find the culprits of the phenomenon. Last month, there was a lot of talk about the controversial statement of Archbishop. Marek Jędraszewski.
– This dramatic situation is largely due to the way in which a large family is presented in contemporary culture, especially in the media, often ridiculing and stigmatizing it. Along with this, there is a message about the need to “realize yourself”, mainly through very measurable professional and material achievements. All this is accompanied by the image of a man who lives only in the present and who constantly has fun, not caring at all what the future may bring him. On the other hand, people for whom their children are the greatest joy and for whom the fact of being a parent is a source of happiness and pride are extremely rarely shown – said the Metropolitan of Krakow.
A priest on childless marriages
Recently, Father Robert Wielądek from the National Pastoral Center for Families of the Polish Episcopate spoke about childless marriages. His words may surprise many people.
During the church wedding, the future spouses must answer in the affirmative to the question whether they intend to “lovely accept and raise their offspring in the Catholic way”. However, many people notice that the word “yes” in such cases falls, despite the fact that the fiancée does not plan to have children. Can their marriage be declared null and void then?
Openness to life is inscribed in the essence of the sacrament of marriage, which is also needed to confirm its validity. The sacrament itself presupposes that it is received by people who stand in truth before God. The marriage of people who knowingly lied is void
– said Father Robert Wielądek in an interview with the Catholic Information Agency.
Bad economic situation? According to the priest, this should not be an argument
The priest added that in his opinion, economic doubts should not be an excuse not to have children. – Deeply believing people often say: “God gave a child, he will give for a child”. This is the real experience of these couples, people who go through life with true faith, he said.
He also noted that each couple must answer the question of whether doubts about having children are justified. – Every couple must stand before God and ask themselves how much the lack of openness to life is justified and how much it is the result of our selfishness – he said.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
