Before the Cross | Marriage is sacred, the foundation of human society

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Archbishop Robert Carlson distributed Communion to pilgrims from Missouri at Mass before the 39th annual March for Life held in Washington, D.C.

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

As we prepare for the important local, state and national elections that will be held later this year, we bishops of the United States have focused our attention on several current and fundamental problems that must be addressed by all of us as we form our consciences and vote as faithful citizens. Some of these problems involve opposition to intrinsic evils such as abortion and other threats to the lives and dignity of human beings. Other challenges, like our current economic crisis, raise serious moral questions that must be resolved as we seek concrete solutions to the nation's many problems.

One of our top priorities as citizens is to defend the institution of marriage, which is both a fundamental social institution and a sacrament instituted by Christ. The Church teaches that a man and woman united in marriage, together with their children, form a family. A family is a community of faith, hope and charity; it assumes singular importance in the Church as a "domestic church" with Christ at its center.

A "marriage" is not whatever anyone says it is. It is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to give themselves to one another in love and to be open to the gift of life. Authority, stability and relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security and fraternity within society. God chose to raise up marriage as a sacrament, not simply a social contract; and the family is much more than simply a social arrangement. As a domestic Church, it is the most fundamental and important community that human beings belong to.

The institution of marriage, which is the bedrock of human society, is a partnership between a man and a woman. It is a critically important relationship in human life because it provides a loving context for the continuation of our species. Technologically speaking, we could do away with the institution of marriage and procreate by means of "test tube babies." But what we would lose in the process is our very humanity -- not to mention our identity as children of God and members of His family.

The Sacrament of Marriage takes the fundamental societal unit that marriage is and makes it even more special. Not only do a man and a woman enter into a unique covenantal relationship with each other, they also become more closely united to Christ. As a sacrament, holy matrimony is a sign that causes what it signifies. That means that it is a sign not only of the human love and togetherness of this man and this woman but also of their union with Christ and His communion with all of us, the members of His body, the Church.

Family is the most basic unit of society. While it's common today to describe families as "blended" in various ways, the fundamental structure of the human family comprises a man and a woman united in marriage with their children. The extended family -- grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and even close family friends -- are all vitally important, but they do not replace (or relativize) the basic structure of the human family.

If you're married, your vocation to follow Jesus is lived out concretely in the vows you have taken to love, honor and freely give yourself to your spouse. This is not easy. The grace of the Sacrament of Marriage and the frequent reception of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance are needed to help make married life a "way to holiness" that a woman and a man live out together.

Our Church teaches that all social organization (economics, politics, law and public policy) should flow from the family and should support, defend and strengthen marriage and family life. Movements in our society that tend to devalue the importance and the dignity of marriage and family life must be vigorously opposed -- not because we are closed-minded or old-fashioned or prejudiced, but because we recognize the absolute necessity of preserving our most basic God-given social structure.

During the coming year as we study the positions (and voting records) of those who are seeking vitally important positions in our local, state and national governments, let's make sure that we have formed our consciences on all of the important moral issues that are at stake today. And let's pay careful attention to where the candidates stand on the institution of marriage as a sacred reality, the foundation of human society.

Archbishop Carlson's schedule, January 29-February 4

Sunday, Jan. 29

9 p.m. Mass, St. Francis Xavier "College" Church, St. Louis University

Monday, Jan. 30

11 a.m. Mass for Region 2 schools, Holy Spirit Church, Maryland Heights

3 p.m. Annual Catholic Appeal Council meeting, Cardinal Rigali Center

Tuesday, Jan. 31

9:30 a.m. Mass for Region 3 schools, Holy Infant Church, Ballwin

Wednesday, Feb. 1

9:30 a.m. Mass for Region 5 schools, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church, south St. Louis County

1 p.m. Little Flower School meeting', Cardinal Rigali Center

7 p.m. Keynote presentation, Archdiocesan Stewardship Evening, Cardinal Rigali Center

Thursday, Feb. 2

10 a.m. Mass for Region 8 schools, St. Francis Borgia High School, Washington

2 p.m. Mission Advancement Initiative promulgation, John F. Kennedy Catholic High School, Manchester

Friday, Feb. 3

10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Weekly meeting with priests, Archbishop's residence

2 p.m. Mass and blessing of new school building, Barat Academy, Chesterfield

Saturday, Feb. 4

Mass, Catholic Men for Christ conference, Peabody Opera House, Downtown 

Archbishop Carlson has made the following appointments