Religious View on Importance of Family Essay Example

love, courage, commitment and generosity that should be practiced in any family to overcome challenges. He points that family problems requires patient, courage, reflection and forgiveness to one another. He points out that the role of family is procreation and argues against factors such as biotechnology, consumerism, call for a reproductive life and poor altitude towards children.

Lack of procreation in the family according to him would cut generational continuation and defy the intended purpose of marriage. He discusses the problems a family faces such as lack of finances, lack of jobs, and working away from home leaving no room for family discussions. He tackles the issue of single parenthood in families and respect and care to the elderly and the disabled in the family. He points out family problems such as alcohol abuse, stress, violent personalities and hostility towards one another as the factors that cause family break ups. The pope also points out the role of a “father” in the family in ensuring protection to children and wife and calls for mutual respect to all genders in the family and society at large. He stresses on domestic violence on women as well as sexual, physical and verbal violence women in families goes through. The discrimination of women against participating in formulation of decisions in the family is also explained (Francis, 2016).

In the document, the church is against the practice of assisted suicide and euthanasia which is being carried worldwide. There is fear from the church especially because some states of legalized the practices of assisted suicide and euthanasia. The church is determined towards assisting the families which take care of the elderly and those

members of the society who have deformities. The church advocates for special care of the elderly and those people with special needs and urges the society to view them as a blessing.

The church calls for formation of family movements and associations that are directed towards providing social and spiritual care to those people. Euthanasia is viewed as an act that is against God’s teaching and that shows disrespect to the human life. It is against practices that are aimed at taking away life before the natural death and argues that only God has the mandate of taking away life, as He is the giver of life. The church calls for respect for human life and dignity (Francis, 2016). People are considering the elderly as a burden and they find it hard to care for such people and the sick. The church is fighting for respect for life and the elderly are being housed in Christian institutions. Great care, love and provision for spiritual, social and material life are being provided to them.

I agree with the pope’s position on euthanasia especially when dealing with the elderly. Human life is dignified and holy. It commands a lot of respect from all people. God is the giver of life and He is mandated to take it. Euthanasia is a show of disrespect to life and should be discouraged. It is against the God’s teachings of love, care and respect for all. Euthanasia lowers the dignity of human life.

Family forms the basic organization of any society. Values and vices in a family are passed to the society. The church has a role to play in providing counseling to couples

and families, to instill the true purpose of marriage, hope and love despite the numerous challenges they encounter. The church also has a role to play in caring for the elderly and those with special needs. Practices such as euthanasia on elderly people should be condemned and the society needs to be enlightened on the need to care for the elderly. Couples need to practice equality and uphold respect, love and commitment to one another. The church needs to reach out to the disadvantaged and the oppressed such as victims of domestic violence and offer some hope and love to them.

Reference

1. Francis, P. (2016). AMORIS-LAETITIA. Vatican: Vatican Press.