Understanding Humanae Vitae

Oct 14, 2015

TAWAU (Herald Malaysia): The Parish Family Life Ministry of Holy Trinity Parish conducted two talks on the family, facilitated by Fr Dr Charles Chew of the Keningau Diocese, on Sept 6 and 27.

Both talks were attended by some 60 parishioners at the Upper Room of the Parish Hall from 12.00 noon to 3.00pm.

The talks focused on the encyclical letter of Humanae Vitae and Christ’s Teaching on Marriage, followed by the Nuptial Mystery. Both topics are informative and enhance the knowledge and understanding of the Church teaching and mission to the family.

Humanae Vitae or Human Life, by Pope Paul VI, foresaw the future culture on the transmission of life. Unity and procreation issues which had been debated since the early 1960s, concerned the regulation of birth, social or public relationships, sexualism and many more that relate to the purpose and value of the sacred union between man and woman.

Nuptial Mystery touched on the original plan of God in creating man and woman. The journey continues when both, united under the sacrament of marriage, set out to start a family.

This topic helped the participants to understand the challenges and trials encountered by the family today. “God has given us the freedom to choose between good and evil. At the same time, we are also given the wisdom to discern God’s teachings.

It is pertinent to understand the teaching of the Church, to be the instrument of ‘re-evangelization’ on the value of human life through the family.

Time was set aside to reflect on 1 John 2:15-17. In order to sustain human values and to protect future generations, everyone is obliged to pray for one another, for the family, society and generally, for everybody.