AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
- Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan of Milwaukee, U.S.A.
- Bishop Rafael De La Barra Tagle, S.V.D., prelate of Illapel, Chile on his "ad limina" visit. - Bishop Luigi Infanti Della Mora, apostolic vicar of Aysen, Chile on his "ad limina" visit.
- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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SITUATION AND PERSPECTIVES OF FAMILY AND LIFE IN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Pontifical Council for the Family released the "Santo Domingo Declaration," the result of the meeting which took place in that city from September 1 to 5 on the theme "Situation and perspectives of family and life in America."

In the meeting promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Family, participants included members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), the presidents of the episcopal conferences of America as well as some married couples and university professors. Those who participated approved the document unanimously and decided to publish it "on the significant date of October 12."

The first section, entitled "Situation of the family," states that "due to strong ideological pressure, it could be said that there exists the goal to dismantle piece by piece the structure of the family, based on marriage."

The second part of the document, "Truth of family and life," emphasizes that "a healthy society and culture are reflected in and nourished by the health of the family. Similarly, a sick society and culture are reflected in a weak and deteriorated family. The future of humanity will not be possible without recognizing and respecting the values of the natural institution of the family."

"We are distressed by the pretext of giving legal recognition - with the juridical effects that the tradition of peoples only recognizes in marriage. an eminently public good - to the so-called 'de facto unions' in their diverse versions and stages. Even greater is our concern when such an expectation applies to people of the same sex. It is inadmissable to ask that the union of homosexuals and lesbians be considered a legitimate union and included as 'marriages', or that they have a supposed right to adopt children."

The third and last section, "The need for action," urges "politicians and legislators, not only Catholics to vote against immoral laws, just as they are obligated to vote for laws that favor the common good. We ask them insistently to search for creative initiatives that promote the family and life which emerge as one organic and positive legislation."

"The right to conscientious objection," concludes the document, "is particularly urgent in the face of an avalanche of proposals on unions at different levels which attack the singularity of marriage."

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THE CATECHISM PRESERVES ITS RELEVANCE AS A PRIVILEGED GIFT

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, Pope John Paul received 220 participants in the International Catechetical Congress which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the original edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the Latin edition.

After recalling various events and anniversaries linked with the Catechism, the Pope noted that "exactly forty years ago Blessed John XXIII solemnly opened the Ecumenical Vatican Council II to which the Catechism makes constant reference."

"In these days," he told the congress participants, "you have prayed, reflected and dialogued together on how to realize, in today's context, that which is the perennial and ever new message of the Catholic Church: proclaiming to everyone the Good News that Christ entrusted to us. ... For the Third Millennium, barely begun, the Lord has given us a special instrument for announcing His Word: the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved 10 years ago."

The Holy Father stressed that the Catechism "preserves its relevance as a privileged gift placed at the disposition of the entire Catholic Church" and of every individual. He added that the Catechism, "with its complete and integral illustration of the Catholic truth" and "with its essential and basic contents, allows for knowing and studying more deeply, in a positive and serene way, what the Catholic Church believes, celebrates, lives and prays."

"We must not forget," the Pope continued, "its nature as a collegial magisterial text. Suggested in fact by the 1985 episcopal synod, edited by the bishops as the fruit of a consultation of the entire episcopacy, ... (the Catechism) is destined above all for the bishops, who are authoritative teachers of the Catholic faith and the primary leaders of catechesis and evangelization."

He remarked on the Catechism's "good reception and wide publication over the past ten years in various parts of the world, even in non-Catholic milieux," saying that these indicate "a positive witness to its validity and continuing relevance."

"The Catechism," stated John Paul II, "is called to play a special role with regards to planning local catechisms for which it is proposed as a sure and authentic 'reference point'. ... To realize this objective," he concluded, "the new edition of the General Directory for Catechesis has been available since 1997."

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