The bold, joyful and optimistic spirit of Poland truly invigorated the World Congress of Families IV and left the Congress' participants with renewed energy, fresh information and a challenging role model as they return to their own nations and the pro-life, pro-family challenges that await them.
In fact, the example of Poland's courageous stand for the the sanctity of life, for natural marriage, and for the Christian ideals of purity and sexual sanity, even when severely attacked by entrenched powers in media, the European Union and elsewhere, was one of the persistent inspirations in the conference presentations. It even shaped the specific priorities of the Warsaw Declaration of 2007, voted unanimously at the Congress' conclusion.
Previous to that impressive moment, Sunday's activities at the Palace of Culture and Science here in Warsaw had included many heartwarming moments like a ceremony honoring multi-decade marriages, tender expressions of appreciation for the conference organizers and workers, a fun celebration of the kids who won a national pro-family art and essay contest, and more. Added to the intellectual weight of the WCF IV sessions, these touching personal moments made sure that conference participants would remember that courtesy, beauty and kindness are as important to the success of family life (and pro-family advocacy!) as the heavier academic contributions the conference had delivered.
And today's WCF IV did have a bit more of these academic contributors before it closed - expert presentations that were every bit as stimulating and helpful as those coming in the Congress' previous two days.
Among them was a letter from Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, whose presence with Pope Benedict in Latin America precluded him from being present. In his remarks, Cardinal Trujillo spoke eloquently and with candor about the injustice and cruelty which marks the anti-family movement. But he then reminded the delegates of several reasons that they must continue their efforts to protect life and marriage:
* Malthus was wrong - wildly wrong;
* The "demographic crisis" facing Europe is so clear a danger that many of the opposition are now beginning to hear our message;
* Men in their sin and stubbornness will suppress truth but God continues to reveal truth and, through that graciousness, He will continue to change minds and hearts;
* The family is an institution more free, more valuable and more important than even the state. Thus, the stakes are just too high to quit;
And finally, * We need not fear man or the media or even the power of the devil, because we serve the Lord Jesus Christ. We possess not only His truth but also His mercy, comfort, hope and empowerment.
But it wasn't time to put the notebooks away just yet for there was one long last session to go which featured nearly a dozen terrific speakers. But though the delegates may have been suffering a bit of writer's cramp, and inflamed ears (from listening through earphones to translations of each talk), as well as other "sore spots" from three days of sitting, their attentions remained riveted to the stage. In so doing, the assembly listened to Austin Ruse express reasons for hope even in the midst of the spiritual malaise most of us face in our respective cultures; Tom Minnery giving a wise analysis of the grassroots movement to protect natural marriage in the U.S.; and Fr. Wieslaw Jankowski's observations of how the family comes not from a mere idea but is, in truth, an elemental expression from the Trinity.
But my personal favorite in this final set of speakers was President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Paige Patterson whose spirited sermon challenged us to remember that "anything left neglected will suffer deterioration"; and that truth applies to the family as well. No one should take this lightly. And, when one remembers that the family today is not only neglected but nastily attacked, then our devotion to its health is all the more critical.
Patterson also suggested that among the primary reasons for modern culture's "tragedy of disconnectedness" is the busy-ness of way too many women who are energetically occupied in so many areas of life...except that of nurturing their children. And finally, Patterson's five point conclusion (he is, after all, a Baptist preacher!) was really good, showing those specific strengths of the family that alone can bring a reformation of the whole social order.
Want to know those five points? Then I suggest you make plans to order the World Congress of Families IV collection when it is ready. You'll find Dr. Patterson's presentation just one of many that you'll find enlightening and valuable in your own pro-life, pro-family service. But even before then, you might want to join me and send along a personal thank to the WCF for all the work they invested in this truly splendid event. Contact can be made at their home page right here.
