Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ottawa (Agenzia Fides) – At the close of their Plenary Assembly held September 22-26 (see Fides 22/9/2008), the Bishops of Canada issued a Pastoral Letter on the 40th anniversary of the Encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” inviting all Catholics to discover or rediscover the message of the encyclical issued by Pope Paul VI in 1968.
The Bishops describe the encyclical as a “prophetic document,” especially in view of “the troubling evolution of two fundamental human institutions, marriage and the family.” In fact, marriage and the family “continue to be affected by the contraceptive mentality feared and rejected in the encyclical of Pope Paul VI.”
However, the encyclical “is much more than a ‘no’ to contraception,” the Bishops say, as it “proposes a vision of the whole person and the whole mission to which each person is called.”
In their Message, the Bishops point out that there is an important link between Humanae Vitae and the “theology of the body,” developed by Pope John Paul II. These reflections of John Paul II are a pedagogical support in appreciating the theological and pastoral significance of the Encyclical.
The Bishops see the 40th anniversary of this Encyclical as an opportunity for a more profound reflection on the extraordinary mystery of Christ’s love: “The free, total, faithful and fruitful love of Christ who gives his life for his spouse the Church and its members is the love to which spouses are especially called.”
The Bishops conclude their message with an appeal to all Catholics and all those of good will to “promote and defend life and the family,” finding their inspiration “in the rich tradition of the Church to educate youth and families about the beauty of married love, and to work unceasingly to safeguard the beauty and grandeur of marriage and the family.”
During the Plenary Assembly, as well, several Bishops were appointed to head up committees, commissions, and other entities. After three years of reflection on restructuring, the CCCB has decided to maintain only three national Bishops’ Committees: Social Affairs, Doctrine, and Christian Unity/Religious Relations with Jews/Interfaith Dialogue. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2008)
