Traditional Catholic Teaching - Lesson 14

Lesson 14 - Supplement A

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Everyone visiting this website will be aware of the unprecedented attack on the family, especially the Christian understanding of the family, which is in full momentum in these days. As bad as the last 40 years have been, in this regard, the last 15 have witnessed the most devastating destruction. This is documented so well elsewhere, we will not make any further comment other than to encourage Christians, at least to work together and present some kind of united opposition to the ruthless advance of atheistic social and moral forces. Having expressed a hope that we might collectively put up some kind of robust united opposition, we would have to be honest and say that such a hope seems but a dream. And why is this? Simply put, the doctrine on marriage held by the Catholic Church and other Churches is too different. We can’t even agree on what Jesus meant by being married! To begin with, traditional Christianity holds steadfastly to the solemnity of marriage as a sacrament. Bishop Dwyer’s lesson unpacks, as it were, the teaching of the Church which unfolds from this great truth. He presents the beauty of marriage and how it reflects something of the love and unity between Christ and his Body, the Church.

In recent years, non-catholic Churches have introduced more and more changes to ethical positions in relation to marriage, family, procreation and sexual practice. This ever-widening drift (or should we say, rift) is entirely irreconcilable and we draw attention to it to avoid blundering on in the hope that some new ecumenical movement might patch it up. Given this desperate situation, we ask our readers to approach lessons 14 and 15 with the intention of seriously reviewing what Jesus taught, what the Catholic Church is trying to uphold in the modern world against increasing opposition, and what each reader personally believes.

We have selected a simple Gospel reflection to underpin the importance for Christians to abide (remain) in Christ, and he in them. The sanctity of marriage can only be maintained by Christian couples when they seek, in the first instance as individuals, but also as a couple, to remain in Christ through prayer and active Christian living. That is the foundation upon which true models of family life can flourish bountifully.

End of Lesson 14 Supplement A

Supplement B: "Life In the True Vine"

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