Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Contra facta non valet argumentum”. The ancient philosophical saying shows all its truth which resists even the most violent and underhand attempts at reductionism. Italy's Family Day 2007 was an event of extraordinary impact which, it must be said, exceeded even the expectations of Cardinal Vicar Camillo Ruini who the day before the event, predicted the presence of about 500,000 and for this was said to be optimistic. “Contra facta non valet argumentum”.
Over one million people, 1.5 million counting all those who dropped in at the demonstration, voiced their personal yes to the family, to life, to a society of justice founded reasonably on the law of nature rather than on individual caprice and with full respect for the constitutional dictate. “Contra facta non valet argumentum”.
Thousands of families with numerous children, even babes in arms, came to say: “Here we are”. To show that there exists a silent, hardworking, constructive majority in Italy which desires to be respected, safeguarded and encouraged, also to the state's advantage, to continue to exist, to build, to be Family. “Contra facta non valet argumentum”.
Totally wrong and not corresponding to reality, the presentation of “two Italys” and “two Squares ”, as if more than one million people, in democracy, could obtain exactly the same representation as a few thousand, perhaps five. In fact “two squares” do not exist, because “two Italys” do not exist. There is only one great normal country which identifies with normality of values and needs and wants to continue doing so. Only shameful political and party interests could push the media to construct ad hoc a non existent alternative which, in actual fact, faded in a few days, indeed a few hours. “Contra facta non valet argumentum”.
Over one million citizens and therefore tax payers, who insulted no one, protested against no one, were not unruly but simply celebrated, sang, listened, dialogued, shared family experiencies, some even difficult but also marked by the certainty of being a “gift”, of living a great adventure which no one and nothing can ever deny or change: the family: “Contra facta non valet argumentum”.
The proposal, insistent to excess, to introduce in Italian public order types of “families” different from the one recognised by the Constitution appears now completely arbitrary, distant from the Italian people and therefore acquires, precisely in its insistence, that character of cultural intolerance already so often stigmatised. With regard to the DICO, or any other form of public recognition they wish to protect, private rights are amply guaranteed. Let them have recourse to this and leave the Family alone. “Contra facta non valet argumentum”.
At stake is not only the concession of a few rights, and of this the people of Family Day was well aware. At stake is the idea of the human person. They would provoke artificially nothing less that an “ anthropological change” with uncontrollable and certainly tragic results. All this, let them admit it, in the name of an anti-Catholic ideology which will end up, as always in history, revealing itself to be anti-human. Of course a Family Day is not enough to change the culture and the perversions of society, but we thank the Family Day and above all the families which took part, for the fundamental contribution offered to the cultural, social and political debate. Only confrontation guarantees real democracy and safeguards authentic communion. Once again the people amazed us and pointed the way, for the bishops too. “Contra facta non valet argumentum”. (Agenzia Fides 24/5/2007; righe 41, parole 588)
