A Summary

Written by Fr. Thomas Knoblach.

On November 22, 1981, Pope John Paul II issued Familiaris Consortio or "The Family Community in the Modern World." The Church has always esteemed the family and seen it as a "domestic Church." It is in the family that the first seeds of true Christian living are planted and cared for in an atmosphere of love, mutual help, forgiveness, and selfless giving. The Church itself is the family of God the Father. The Church has a special care for the family as the basic unit of society and the community which first preaches the Gospel to the children of God, bringing them to full human and Christian maturity.

Numerous sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sometimes referred to as STIs, are infecting both youth and adults around the world, including in Minnesota. Parents, as primary educators, need to be able to talk to their children intelligently about the facts. This way they can guide their children to understand why good moral choices affect them positively, not only from a conscience perspective, but a health perspective, as well. Resources about the diseases are available at any family medical facility or at www.webmd.com