Theological Pastoral Congress on the Family in Valencia, Spain
(05 July 2006) : Archbishop Agustin Garcia-Gasco of Valencia-Spain, inaugurated Tuesday
the International Theological Pastoral Congress on the FamilyCardinals, bishops, theologians,
and experts in education, pastoral care of families and the communications media and
various ecclesial movements from some 30 countries attended the event. The congress
which is taking place as part of the Fifth World Meeting of Families will last till
Friday 7th July. It is considering various themes associated with the
family and reflecting upon how best to transmit the faith within families. Talks,
reports, testimonies and round table discussions are part of the proceedings. At the
opening session of the Congress, following a contribution from Cardinal Carlo Caffarra,
archbishop of Bologna, Italy, on "the family and laicism," the inaugural address was
delivered by Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council
for the Family. On July 5th, 6th and 7th experts
are to analyze the question of the family in its social, educational, legislative,
demographic, economic, juridical and bioethical aspects. Representatives from different
Christian confessions, including Orthodox and Evangelical, will also offer reflections
on the family from an ecumenical standpoint. On Friday evening, the International
Theological Pastoral Congress will close with a Eucharistic celebration presided by
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.