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Skriven 2007-01-30 07:31:10 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                               VIS-Press releases

DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF THE "TRUTH OF MARRIAGE"

VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI
received the dean, judges, promoters of justice, defenders of the bond,
officials and lawyers of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, for the occasion of
the inauguration of the judicial year.

At the beginning of his address to them, the Holy Father pointed out that "the
expression 'truth of marriage' loses all existential significance in a cultural
context marked by the relativism and juridical positivism that consider
marriage as a mere social formalization of the ties of affection. Thus,
marriage not only becomes contingent, as human affections can be contingent,
but appears as a superimposed legal structure which human will can manipulate
at will, even denying its heterosexual character."

The Pope warned against those who believe that "the conciliar doctrine on
marriage - and in particular the description of that institution as 'intima
communitas vitae et amoris' - necessarily leads to denying the existence of an
indissoluble conjugal bond," on the grounds that this is "an 'ideal' which not
all 'normal Christians' can be 'obliged' to follow."

"The anthropological and salvific truth of marriage - also in its juridical
dimension - is already present in Holy Scripture," said the Pope, and he
quoted: "[He] made them male and female, and said, for this reason a man shall
leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become
one. ... What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder." The
Book of Genesis, he continued, also "presents the truth of marriage at the
'beginning'," a truth that achieves fullness "in the union of Christ with the
Church."

"Each marriage is certainly the fruit of the free will of a man and a woman,
but their freedom puts into effect the natural capacity inherent to their
masculinity and femininity. ... The indissolubility of marriage does not derive
from the definitive commitment of the two parties involved; rather it is
intrinsic to the nature of the 'potent bond established by the Creator.' The
contracting parties must make a definitive commitment because such is the
nature of marriage in the plan of creation and redemption."

"Against the subjective and libertarian realization of sexual experience," said
Benedict XVI, "the tradition of the Church clearly affirms the naturally
juridical nature of marriage, in other words the fact that, by its very
character, it pertains to the field of justice in interpersonal relationships."
In this context, he went on, "the law interweaves with life and love. ... Love
[between husband and wife] is the fruit of their freely seeking the good of the
other and of the children."

Referring to the danger of the erroneous interpretation of current canonical
norms, the Holy Father encouraged his audience to react "with courage and
trust, ... without allowing yourselves to be seduced by interpretations that
entail a break with the tradition of the Church."

"The contribution of ecclesial tribunals to overcoming the crisis in the
significance of marriage, both in the Church and in civil society, may seem to
be some somewhat secondary," he said. However, "precisely because marriage has
an intrinsically juridical dimension," it is of fundamental importance to be
"wise and convinced servants of justice in this delicate and important field.
... You, dear prelate auditors, are committed to a task in which responsibility
for truth is especially felt. ... Remaining faithful to that task, seek to
ensure that your activities become a harmonious part of a global rediscovery of
the beauty of the 'truth of marriage' - the truth of the 'beginning' - that
Jesus taught us, and of which the Holy Spirit reminds us continually in the
Church today."
AC/.../ROMAN ROTAVIS 070129 (630)

SUMMARY

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