We are
Family
Last week the Lumen Christi Institute in Chicago held an important
conference on the theme of the Family and the Economy. The event brought together economists, social
scientists, theologians, and philosophers to discuss the importance of the
family and what we know from the empirical data that can help us meet the needs
of families today. A number of different
areas were explored; videos of all the presentations will be available soon so
that people can explore the many different areas of research discussed at the
conference.
One conclusion among all the others that stood out was the empirical
data determining that children in two parent households do much better than
children in single parent households. The
following
link provides ten studies where this empirical data is presented in an
academically rigorous way. Leaving aside the fact that the Church must minister
to all families in whatever condition they are found, this empirical conclusion
has implications in four public policy areas where the Church can and ought to
have a profound voice:
- If it is the case that two parent families fare better, then the upcoming Synod on the Family must find a pastoral solution to families where remarriage has taken place precisely because the adults do so for the good of children. Regardless of the reasons for the previous bond failing, we should honor and respect the decision of adults to provide a two parent household for the good of children. Certainly the annulment process can be much more pastorally applied in such cases.
- Given the fact that two parent families are more stable environments for children, the Church must ever more be a voice for peace and reject war as a solution to problems between nations. The loss of a father or mother to the casualties of war leads to single parent household bearing a heavy burden and grief. So much is lost to war, and so much is gained when we strive for peace in our world – both in the places of conflict and in our own nation.
- The Church will continue to be a leading voice for a change in immigration policy and deportation implementation. The breakup of families due to deportations of one parent creates a crisis within that family that results in increased societal crises and reliance upon social services. For the good of families a more human immigration policy aimed at keeping families together is essential for the stability of our society.
- More than 90% of incarcerated people in the United States are in prison for non-violent offenses, mostly drug related. Many of these incarcerations have created single parent homes. Our society must find alternatives to incarceration for the good of families and for the health of our society that can no longer afford to incarcerate people at the levels we currently do.
If we wish to honor the data from social scientists and promote stable
families in our society, then these are four practical applications that flow
naturally from our theology and from the empirical sciences. In this way, we can more fully participate in
the ministry of Jesus “to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to
captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the downtrodden free, and
to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord.”