VATICAN: Rome has condemned the "current crisis" in Catholic practice, writes Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent
A Vatican document published yesterday has said the concept of the family as traditionally understood has never been under greater threat, and has condemned contraception, abortion, in-vitro fertilisation and same-sex marriage.
It has described abortion as an "abominable crime" and said it was "inconceivable" that it remained unpunished.
Published by the Pontifical Council for the Family and titled Family and Human Procreation, the 57-page document reaffirmed the 1968 papal encyclical Humanae Vitae, which banned the use of artificial means of contraception.
It did not address the continuing debate in Rome and elsewhere on the use of condoms in the fight against Aids, particularly where one partner in a marriage may have the virus.
It said that since the publication of the 1968 encyclical, couples "have been limiting themselves to one, or maximum two, children". It continued that "never before in history has human procreation, and therefore the family, which is its natural place, been so threatened as in today's culture."
Strongly asserting traditional Catholic teaching on sexuality generally, as well as on human life and marriage, it said issues such as gay marriage, abortion, lesbians wanting to have children and other practices were signs of "the eclipse of God", the causes of which were "diverse".
This was at the root of "the profound current crisis concerning the truth about man, about human procreation and the family".
Even in traditionally Christian cultures, the family was under attack around the world by what it called "radical currents" proposing new family models such as gay marriage and giving gay couples equal legal recognition as married heterosexuals, as well as lesbians demanding the right to have children through artificial insemination and gays who wanted to adopt children.
Last month in Dublin the Human Rights Commission warned, in a report launched by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, that Ireland could be in breach of international human rights conventions in not making any provision for de facto couples.
It said piecemeal provision may not be the best way to go, and that reform should be introduced through an overarching statute providing for relationship recognition.
Constitutional reform, providing for respect for private and family life beyond marital relationships, was desirable, it said.
It pointed out that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects a person's private and family life, has been found to extend to families other than those based on marriage.
This court also treats suspiciously discrimination based on sexual orientation, which suggests that failure to hold proceedings involving disputes between de facto couples in camera may infringe Article 8 of the convention.
The Irish courts' reluctance to uphold cohabitation contracts may also have to be revisited in the light of convention standards, it said.
At the weekend, US president George W Bush called for a constitutional amendment there to keep "activist" judges from overturning efforts by some state legislatures to ban gay marriage.
Gay marriage has been an increasingly divisive issue in the US since a Massachusetts court ruled in 2003 that the state legislature could not ban it.
Meanwhile the new Prodi government in Italy has promised some form of recognition for unmarried couples but has stopped short of openly supporting gay marriage as part of its programme.
Gay unions are already legal in traditionally Catholic Spain while Britain has introduced a law allowing gays to formalise their relationships.
Additional reporting AP and Reuters