Editorial: More urgent imperative on John Paul II’s call for family

Monday, February 20, 2012

THIRTY-ONE years to the day, Pope John Paul II visited Bacolod City and illuminated with his warmth, spirituality and unbending faith the darkness that was then enveloping the island of Negros.

The masses of workers, impoverished as they already were, were further crushed under the heel of a brutal dictatorship which brooked no opposition and which tried to stifle even the tiniest whimper of dissent.

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In Pope John Paul II, the workers and the poor found a champion who knew no fear in standing up for their cause.

"Injustice reigns when the laws of economic growth and ever greater profit determine social relations, leaving in poverty and destitution those who have only the work of their hands to offer.

The church will not hesitate to take up the cause of the poor and to become the voice of those who are not listened to when they speak up, not to demand charity, but to ask for justice," declared John Paul II thirty one years ago here in Bacolod City.

Aside from his partiality for the workers and the poor, the pope also advocated the sanctity of marriage and the family.

Thus, it is but fitting that Bacolod’s celebration of Totus Tuus! Week in commemoration of the 31st anniversary of John Paul II’s visit to Bacolod was highlighted by the national convention entitled “Blessed John Paul II’s Nuptial Theology: Call to Family Ministry, Agenda for Humanity.”

In these times of teenage pregnancies, drug addiction, lack of self-respect and wanton disregard for life, both of the born and the unborn, the strengthening of the family takes on a more urgent imperative.

It is from the family that children learn about respect for and empathy with other people.

It is from the family that children derive strength from their sense of belonging, their conviction that there will always be open arms to comfort and shelter them and their assurance that, no matter what, there will always be their family who will stand by them.

Without experiencing love from family, a child will never know how to think and feel beyond himself... how to respect, much less care for other people.

Thus, we see kids lashing out against society, striking back at perceived enemies, including themselves. Thus, we have juvenile drug addicts, prostitutes, snatchers, robbers and killers.

It is only by strengthening the family that we can put order back into our society and eradicate most of its ills.