HOMEPAGE for this issue: November 30, 2011 // Download PDF Version // Click to install/update Adobe Reader on your computer

Praying for families before the Eucharistic Lord 

By Jonathan Reyes

“As the family goes, so goes the nation.”—Blessed John Paul II

A little over a year ago, The Denver Post ran an article summarizing a study on family stability and children by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the Brookings Institution.     

The study, titled “The Future of Children,” sought to bring hard research to bear on a debate, dating from at least the 1965 Moynihan report, regarding the impact of “non-marital childbearing” on social wellbeing.  The study is fair minded and offers a good summary of the positions on the debates but concludes rather chillingly:  “Non-marital childbearing exacerbates pre-existing disadvantage by reducing opportunities for children as they grow up, primarily through family instability and complexity.” In short, marriage on the whole is better for the wellbeing of children.  

We need to be very careful reading such a study.  After all, such a conclusion can come across as “unrealistic” or worse, judgmental.  And, of course, trends do not define every case.  There is no guarantee that two parents in the home will always make for better health for children, or that a single parent household guarantees negative outcomes.  Conclusions to the contrary are out of place.  The heroic commitment of all parents to the care of their children requires our prayerful support.  What it does teach us, however, is that the health of a society, in particular its children who will be the future adults, and the health of marriage, are connected.  This explains the consistency of Catholic social teaching over the centuries that the family is the basic unit of society; or, in the words of Blessed John Paul II, ”As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.”

If this is true, certain statistics should be rather alarming to us.  For example, the number of children being raised in single parent households has tripled in the last three decades.  We also note with concern that there is clear correspondence between single parent households and poverty.   Of course there are many factors involved in poverty; still, it does not stretch the imagination to acknowledge that two incomes are usually better than one in terms of dollars.  

In a recent report by a local foundation, one of our community service providers put it this way:  “A broken family creates dysfunction. . . . Not only does it create personal issues, but (it creates) tremendous financial issues.”  Therefore, many of the social challenges we face, including poverty, can be alleviated in part by an effort to strengthen marriages.  This is an insight shared by people across the political and religious spectrum.  

These findings are particularly important at this moment.  Recently we were informed that the number of people living below the poverty line has increased dramatically and set a record in plain numbers.  On an anecdotal front, we have seen more and more first-time homeless than ever before at our shelters, with more and more families.  On any given night, we will able to shelter one family at Samaritan House but have to turn away between 15 and 20.  

As the Catholic community, informed by the teachings of the Church on the sanctity of marriage and the social importance of the family, we should be especially concerned about efforts to strengthen the family.  This is why Catholic Charities will be hosting 24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration for Families in our chapel at Samaritan House for all families from 7:30 a.m. Dec. 3 to 7:30 a.m. Dec. 4.  

Every evening, Samaritan House provides shelter, food, job search assistance, and classes for over 300 men, women and children. It is a powerful witness to the commitment of the Catholic community to our Lord’s admonition that whatever we do to the least, we do to him.  

Still, there is no single fix to the challenge of poverty in our country and we remain committed to helping anyone we encounter.  The face of Christ comes under many different “disguises,” to use the expression of Blessed Mother Teresa.  And it is our joy to love Him in everyone who comes to us for help.  Please consider joining us on Dec. 3 or Dec. 4.

Jonathan Reyes is president and CEO of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Denver.