The companion to JP II & the theology of the body: Part I: a quarter century of annual addresses to the roman rota.The current assault against family and marriage is unmatched. Nothing like it has happened before. Not only are the assaults made legal and acceptable by our legislatures (contraception, abortion, divorce, embryonic stem-cell research Noun 1. embryonic stem-cell research - biological research on stem cells derived from embryos and on their use in medicine stem-cell research - research on stem cells and their use in medicine , in vitro fertilization in vitro fertilization (vē`trō, vĭ`trō), technique for conception of a human embryo outside the mother's body. Several ova, or eggs, are removed from the mother's body and placed in special laboratory culture dishes (Petri dishes); and sodo-matrimony) but the corruption of moral integrity through violence, pornography and adultery is piped into our homes via TV, radio, videos, movies, and iPods. The Catholic need for a renewed understanding of sexuality is urgent. As Joseph Tevington explains, Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan Paweł II) born Karol Józef Wojtyła has laid the foundations for such a renewal.--Editor We are slowly learning that Pope John Paul Pope John Paul is the name of two Popes of the Roman Catholic Church:
Generally speaking, human sexuality is how people experience and express themselves as sexual beings. and love, re-awakening an absolute awe that "God created man in His image; in the Divine image He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1: 27). Against forces which would promote sexual relations sexual relations pl.n. 1. Sexual intercourse. 2. Sexual activity between individuals. as mere recreation, he declared that sexual relations were the very "language of the body," by which husbands and wives present themselves as "gifts" and participate in God's very work of creation! He spoke of marriage as the "primordial sacrament"--a mysterious symbol of God's love and a means of growing in closeness to the Divine. Of necessity, such a phenomenal relationship is to be monogamous and indissoluble in·dis·sol·u·ble adj. 1. Permanent; binding: an indissoluble contract; an indissoluble union. 2. ; each act of sexual relations--each participation in God's creation--is to be open to life! Wow! The culture of divorce In The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25 Year Landmark Study, the University of California's Judith Wallerstein and her colleagues compassionately note that those who began "reforming" divorce laws around 1970--to facilitate so-called "no-fault" divorce--could not have foreseen the impact on kids from their attempts to "help" parents. Three to four decades later, amidst a 50% divorce rate, society does not have the "luxury" to be ignorant of divorce's devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. psychological, emotional, financial and spiritual impact on kids. Academics are slowly waking up to this disaster. Via its "'National Marriage Project," (2) Rutgers University Rutgers University, main campus at New Brunswick, N.J.; land-grant and state supported; coeducational except for Douglass College; chartered 1766 as Queen's College, opened 1771. Campuses and Facilities Rutgers maintains three campuses. reports on the necessity of stable marriages to society. Via the "Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study," (3) Columbia and Princeton Universities are coming to appreciate truths which used to be apparent to those with less formal education. Except for the most dramatic situations, secular sources are beginning to say that parents in unhappy marriages should stay together for the sake of their kids! Coupled with America's booming divorce rate, there has been an incredible increase in the number of annulments granted by Church courts in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . As per retired Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame sociology professor Robert Vasoli, "Most estimates for 1968 place the number of annulments granted by U.S. tribunals between 400 and 600. By 1980, ... the number had risen to 53,858." Vasoli charges that "Divorce itself and any psychological and behavioral oddities, no matter how benign or commonplace, suffice for most U.S. tribunals to build a case for nullity nullity n. something which may be treated as nothing, as if it did not exist or never happened. This can occur by court ruling or enactment of a statute. The most common example is a nullity of a marriage by a court judgment. NULLITY. ." (4) Strong words indeed! Unintended consequences? While re-awakening to the grandeur of marriage and family, some voices have tried to equate marriages which have yet to flourish with marriages that are invalid. In calling us back to a true vision of marriage and sexuality, could Pope John Paul II have possibly intended such a perspective? Are seemingly unsuccessful marriages to be dismissed? Should we question whether marriages--which are less than perfect--are even valid? Affirmative answers in these regards seem to require ignorance of Pope John Paul II's annual addresses to the Roma Rota--the Church's highest marriage court. (5) While holding out great hope for the promulgation PROMULGATION. The order given to cause a law to be executed, and to make it public it differs from publication. (q.v.) 1 Bl. Com. 45; Stat. 6 H. VI., c. 4. 2. of the Theology of the Body Theology of the Body refers to a series of 129 lectures given by Pope John Paul II during his Wednesday audiences in the Pope Paul VI Hall between September 1979 and November 1984. , the new Code of Canon Law canon law, in the Roman Catholic Church, the body of law based on the legislation of the councils (both ecumenical and local) and the popes, as well as the bishops (for diocesan matters). and the Catechism, Pope John Paul II--as evidenced by his annual addresses to the Roman Rota-seemed increasingly disturbed by some tribunal practices, which were (inadvertently) hijacking hijacking Crime of seizing possession or control of a vehicle from another by force or threat of force. Although by the late 20th century hijacking most frequently involved the seizure of an airplane and its forcible diversion to destinations chosen by the air pirates, when the Church's teaching on marriage, family and sexuality. Pope John Paul II saw grave threats to marriage and the welfare of the family from these illegitimate practices. His annual addresses to the Roman Rota highlight these realities, of which promoters of the Theology of the Body must be aware or else drown in naivete na·ive·té or na·ïve·té n. 1. The state or quality of being inexperienced or unsophisticated, especially in being artless, credulous, or uncritical. 2. An artless, credulous, or uncritical statement or act. . His final addresses seem to be the most confrontational, in regard to tribunal abuses. Just what concerns did Pope John Paul II express about marriage tribunals ?--The early years As is becoming increasingly well known, John Paul II John Paul II, 1920–2005, pope (1978–2005), a Pole (b. Wadowice) named Karol Józef Wojtyła; successor of John Paul I. He was the first non-Italian pope elected since the Dutch Adrian VI (1522–23) and the first Polish and Slavic pope. used the Wednesday afternoon audiences of his early pontificate to teach the Theology of the Body. Addresses to the Roman Rota of this same period were of a general nature, compared to those of his later pontificate. Addresses of this period reflect a hopefulness, perhaps directly related to those Wednesday audiences and his apostolic exhortation, Familiaris consortio--as well as the coming into force of the new Code of Canon Law. Yet we also know that Pope John Paul II's hopefulness was not naive. The mid-1980s to 1990 Addresses of the mid-1980s up to 1990 get specific about certain tribunal abuses. In 1986, Pope John Paul II warned that "the new Code can run the risk of imprecise, incoherent or innovative interpretations, particularly in the case of psychological disturbances invalidating consent to marriage (c. 1095) or in the case of the impediment of deceit (c. 1098), and error conditioning the will (c. 1099), as well as in the interpretation of some new rules of procedure." (6) In 1987, he warned that some tribunal consultants did not even share the Church's vision of humans: "According to some psychological trends the vision of marriage is such that it reduces the meaning of the marriage union simply to a means of gratification or of self-fulfillment or of psychological release.... They consider easily even cases of slight psychopathological psy·cho·pa·thol·o·gy n. 1. The study of the origin, development, and manifestations of mental or behavioral disorders. 2. The manifestation of a mental or behavioral disorder. disturbance, or straight away failures of the moral order as proof of the incapacity The absence of legal ability, competence, or qualifications. An individual incapacitated by infancy, for example, does not have the legal ability to enter into certain types of agreements, such as marriage or contracts. to assume the essential obligations of married life." (7) In 1988, he clarified that "the concept of normality ... includes moderate forms of psychological difficulty.... [and] the call to live in accordance with the Spirit even in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of tribulation and at the cost of renunciation The Abandonment of a right; repudiation; rejection. The renunciation of a right, power, or privilege involves a total divestment thereof; the right, power, or privilege cannot be transferred to anyone else. and sacrifice." (8) Similar to divorce, it is sometimes the case that one party seeks a decree of nullity, while the other is in opposition. Agreement is not required for a marriage to be declared null. Regarding parties who do not concur with tribunal decisions, Pope John Paul II reinforced in 1989 and 1990 the idea that "the tribunal is bound to indicate to the parties the ways in which the judgment can be challenged." (9) "A fair trial is a right of the faithful (see c. 221), and at the same time it is required for the public good of the Church." (10) 1991: The role of culture Culture figured prominently in John Paul II's 1991 address: "Marriage is an institution based on natural law, and its characteristics are inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. in the very being of man and woman. From the very first pages of Holy Scripture the sacred Author presents the distinction between the sexes as being willed by God.... The bond which is created between a man and woman in the marriage relationship is superior to every other interpersonal bond, even the one between parent and child.... Among the influences which today's culture has on matrimony MATRIMONY. See Marriage. , we must point out that some of them have their inspiration in the Christian faith. For example, the decline of polygamy polygamy: see marriage. polygamy Marriage to more than one spouse at a time. Although the term may also refer to polyandry (marriage to more than one man), it is often used as a synonym for polygyny (marriage to more than one woman), which appears and other conditions by which the woman was subject to the man, the affirmation of the equality of man and woman, the growing orientation toward a personalized view of marriage understood as a community of life and love ... are all values which are now part of humanity's moral patrimony PATRIMONY. Patrimony is sometimes understood to mean all kinds of property but its more limited signification, includes only such estate, as has descended in the same family and in a still more confined sense, it is only that which has descended or been devised in a direct line from the .... Contemporary culture, nonetheless, also presents some aspects which cause concern.... People tend to forget then that in the face of difficulties in relationships it is important not to let oneself be dominated by fear or weariness, but to be able to find in love's resources the courage to be consistent with the commitments made. Renouncing one's own responsibilities ..., rather than leading to true fulfillment of the person, results in a progressive self-alienation.... It tends to attribute the difficulties to psychological mechanisms, whose functioning is understood in a deterministic manner, resulting in hasty recourse to the conclusions of psychology and psychiatry to claim the nullity of the marriage." (11) The early 1990s The new Catechism of the Catholic Church The Catechism of the Catholic Church, or CCC, is an official exposition of the teachings of the Catholic Church, first published in French in 1992 by the authority of Pope John Paul II. , the impending im·pend intr.v. im·pend·ed, im·pend·ing, im·pends 1. To be about to occur: Her retirement is impending. 2. third millenium of Christianity, unexpected cultural changes beginning in 1989, and the eternal unchanging truth were major themes of the Holy Father's 1992 address. In 1993, he focused on the proper interpretation/application of Canon Law, as well as on peace in ecclesial Ec`cle´si`al a. 1. Ecclesiastical. society: "Law in the Church, as well as in states, is a guarantee of peace and a tool for preserving unity.... Subjecting canon law to capricious or contrived interpretations, in the name of an ambiguous and indefinite humanitarian principle, would mean destroying the very dignity of the humans, even before the norm." (12) In 1994, he noted that "it is necessary for all in the Church who administer justice to reach the point of perceiving its beauty through regular conversation with God in prayer...; 'charity or mercy ... cannot put aside the demands of truth.'" (13) The final years of the second millenium When we review addresses of the years leading up to the Third Millenium, they seem to become ever more pointed, noting--for example-"unacceptable consequences resulting from erroneous doctrinal approaches... Certain demands of the Gospel, which from a purely earthly and temporal viewpoint could seem too hard, are not only possible but can even result in ... personal growth in Christ.... Whoever would presume to transgress the legislative provisions concerning the declaration of marital nullity would ... put himself outside, and indeed in a position antithetical an·ti·thet·i·cal also an·ti·thet·ic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or marked by antithesis. 2. Being in diametrical opposition. See Synonyms at opposite. to, the Church's authentic magisterium mag·is·te·ri·um n. Roman Catholic Church The authority to teach religious doctrine. [Latin, the office of a teacher or other person in authority, from magister, master; see and to canonical legislation itself." (14) Surely, "it must never be forgotten that it is a question of a good that cannot be disposed of at will and that the ultimate goal is the determination of an objective truth, which also concerns the common good." (15) It is difficult to read the Holy Father's 1997 address without unease. This great Witness to Hope was acutely aware of how Satan wants to twist our thoughts. We need to pay grave attention to John Paul II's warning about idealized i·de·al·ize v. i·de·al·ized, i·de·al·iz·ing, i·de·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To regard as ideal. 2. To make or envision as ideal. v.intr. 1. , unrealistic notions of marriage: "The concept of marriage as a reciprocal gift of the persons would seem to justify a vague doctrinal and jurisprudential tendency to broaden the requirements for capacity or psychological maturity and for the freedom and awareness necessary to contract marriage validly.... It would be a mistake to have a too idealized notion, so to speak, of the marital relationship, which would lead one to interpret the normal difficulties that can occur as the couple progress towards full and reciprocal emotional integration as though there were a genuine incapacity to assume the obligations.... One cannot demand what it is not possible to require of the majority of people.... The favor matrimonii and the presumption of the validity of marriage (see c. 1060) can be seen ... as consequences perfectly in keeping with the specific reality of matrimony." (16) John Paul II reminded us that "fidelity to the revealed truth about marriage and the family, authentically interpreted by the Church's magisterium, always serves as the definitive reference point and the true incentive for a profound renewal of this area of Church life." (17) In the 1999 address, John Paul II seems to go fast forward to 2005: "We can discern a widespread deterioration of the natural and religious meaning of marriage.... we cannot ignore, in this regard, the growing phenomenon of mere de facto [Latin, In fact.] In fact, in deed, actually. This phrase is used to characterize an officer, a government, a past action, or a state of affairs that must be accepted for all practical purposes, but is illegal or illegitimate. unions..., and the unrelenting public opinion campaigns to gain the dignity of marriage even for unions between persons of the same sex.... I would like ... to remind ... everyone concerned with true human progress, how serious and indispensable are certain principles that are fundamental for human society and even more so for safeguarding the human dignity of every person.... The central core and foundation of these principles is the authentic concept of conjugal Pertaining or relating to marriage; suitable or applicable to married people. Conjugal rights are those that are considered to be part and parcel of the state of matrimony, such as love, sex, companionship, and support. love between two persons of equal dignity, but different and complementary in their sexuality.... This statement must be correctly understood, without falling into the facile misunderstanding that sometimes confuses a vague feeling or even a strong psychophysical psychophysical /psy·cho·phys·i·cal/ (-fiz´i-k'l) pertaining to the mind and its relation to physical manifestations. psy·cho·phys·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to psychophysics. attraction with real love for another person, which consists of a sincere desire for his or her welfare and is expressed in a concrete commitment to achieve it.... Faced with the juridical Pertaining to the administration of justice or to the office of a judge. A juridical act is one that conforms to the laws and the rules of court. A juridical day is one on which the courts are in session. JURIDICAL. culture of ancient Rome Ancient Roman culture evolved throughout the almost 1200-year history of that civilization. The term refers to the culture of the Roman Republic, later the Roman Empire, which, at peak, covered an area from Cumbria and Morocco to the Euphrates. , Christian authors already felt compelled by the Gospel command to surmount sur·mount tr.v. sur·mount·ed, sur·mount·ing, sur·mounts 1. To overcome (an obstacle, for example); conquer. 2. To ascend to the top of; climb. 3. a. To place something above; top. the well-known principle that the conjugal bond lasts only as long as the affectio maritalis.... Marriage consists essentially, necessarily and solely in the mutual consent expressed by those to be married. This consent is nothing other than the conscious, responsible assumption of a commitment through a juridical act by which, in reciprocal self-giving, the spouses promise total and definitive love to each other. They are free to celebrate marriage after having chosen each other with equal freedom, but as soon as they perform this act they establish a personal state in which love becomes something that is owed, entailing effects of a juridical nature as well.... It is only in the union of two sexually different persons that the individual can achieve perfection in a synthesis of unity and mutual psychophysical completion. From this perspective, love is not an end in itself and cannot be reduced to the corporal joining of two beings, but is a deep interpersonal relationship which reaches its culmination in total mutual self-giving and in cooperation with God the Creator, the ultimate source of every new human life.... Deviations from the natural law inscribed by God in the nature of the person seek their justification in the freedom that is a prerogative of the human being.... To conceive of freedom as the moral or even juridical licence to break the law is to distort its true nature. Freedom consists in the human being's possibility of conforming responsibly, that is by personal choice, to the divine will expressed in the law, and in this way to become more and more like his Creator (cf. Gn 1:26).... The daily news amply confirms the miserable fruits that these aberrations from the divine-natural law ultimately produce.... The problems of the present moment should not lead to discouragement or resignation. It should spur us instead to a more determined and better focused commitment.... I will ... emphasize the serious responsibility incumbent on the Pastors of God's Church to provide engaged couples with serious and appropriate marriage preparation: only in this way can the mind of those preparing for marriage be instilled with the intellectual, moral and spiritual dispositions necessary for fulfilling the natural and sacramental reality of matrimony." (18) Editor: Part II of this article will follow in March ENDNOTES (1.) www.ccli.org/marriage/west.shtml (2.) http://marriage, rutgers.edu (3.) http://crcw.princeton.edu/fragilefamilies/about.asp (4.) www.familylifecenter.Net/txt/annulments-in-america.html (5.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ index_spe-roman-rota.htm (6.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1986/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19860130_roman-rota_en.html (7.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1987/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19870205_roman-rota_en.html (8.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1988/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19880125_roman-rota_en.html (9.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1989/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19890126_roman-rota_en.html (10.) www.va/can.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1990/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19900118_roman-rota_en.html (11.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1991/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19910128_roman-rota_en.html (12.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1993/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19930130_roman-rota_en.html (13.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1994/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19940128_roman-rota_en.html (14.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1995/february/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19950210_roman-rota_en.html (15.) http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/ speeches/1996/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19960122_roman-rota_en.html (16.) www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/ 1997/documents/hf_jpii_spe_19970127_rota-romana_en.html (17.) http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/ speeches/1998/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19980117_roman-rota_en.html (18.) http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/ speeches/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_1999012l_rota-romana_en.html |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion