AFRICA/GHANA - The Bishops: "let us avoid repeating the language of those who want to destroy the family"

Accra (Agenzia Fides) - From 8 to 11 June the preparatory meeting for the Synod on the family to be held in October in Rome was held in Accra (Ghana). According to a statement sent to Agenzia Fides, the meeting, entitled "The family in Africa: what experiences and what contributions to the XIV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops", was organized by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM/SCEAM) and was attended, among others, by Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
From the reports and group discussions the following points to be proposed at the Synod were highlighted: the need to clearly affirm family and marriage values according to the Word of God and the doctrine of the Church; sexual education regarding young people; pastoral care for people who have "divorced and remarried"; formation of the laity; wise and responsible use of modern means of social communication, to avoid a blind and destructive use that could harm family and marriage; Solidarity of the Churches of Africa towards those of Europe that have to face ideologies related to the family and marriage that are likely to disrupt what is natural and universally recognized.
On this point, several participants in the meeting asked the Church to avoid repeating the language used by the movements that are fighting for the destruction of the family, in order to avoid legitimizing them. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/06/2015)