11. Lastly, because of
the present circumstances which were mentioned earlier, the Church's concern
has become more urgent with regard to marriage preparation. On the one hand,
the recovery of values and some important aspects of marriage and the family
can be observed together with the flourishing of joyful testimonies by
countless Christian spouses and families. However, on the other hand, the
number of persons is increasing who ignore or reject the riches of marriage
with a form of mistrust that goes so far as to doubt or reject its goods and
values (cf. GS 48). Today we see with alarm the spread of a
"culture" or a mentality that has lost heart with regard to the
family as a necessary value for spouses, children and society. Some attitudes
and some measures envisaged in laws do not help the family based on marriage
and even deny its rights. As a matter of fact, a secularized atmosphere has
been spreading in different parts of the world which especially affects
young people and subjects them to the pressure of a secularized environment in
which one ends up losing the meaning of God and consequently the deep meaning
of spousal love and the family as well. Is it not denying the truth of God to
shut out the very origin and source of this intimate mystery? (cf. GS
22). The negation of God in its different forms often includes the rejection of
the institutions and structures which are part of God's plan, and which have
been laid down since Creation (cf. Matthew 19: 3ss). As a result,
everything is interpreted as being the fruit of human will andor consensus that
can change.
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