Amoris Laetitia

Pope Francis opened the “Amoris Laetitia” Family Year March 19, encouraging people to read the document, strengthen their families and support other families who may be struggling.

Pope Francis wants us to invoke St. Joseph’s protection, “to seek his prayers and guidance, and to learn from the example of his virtue,” said Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, during a special national Mass.

The statement was a response to a question or “dubium” that came from priests and lay faithful “who require clarification and guidance concerning a controversial issue,” said an official commentary accompanying the statement.

The first step in pastoral ministry with, for and by families must be listening to families describe their real-life joys and challenges, said Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell.

U.S. Catholic bishops acknowledged that Catholic families and married couples need more support from the church at large and hope to offer it by giving parishes plenty of resources through a pastoral plan for marriage and family life.

The president of the 2018 World Meeting of Families stressed that “there is no such thing as the ideal family” but that “there is an ideal of family,” which is what the church is seeking to promote through the international gathering of families in Ireland.

The provisions of “Amoris Laetitia” allow people in irregular marriage situations access to the sacraments only if they recognize their situation is sinful and desire to change it, according to the cardinal who heads the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl addressed a workshop on the papal document, “Amoris Laetitia,” for seminarians of the Archdiocese of Washington.