This document summarizes Chapter 2 of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. It discusses the current realities and challenges facing families today, including a more individualistic culture, lack of support for families, increasing divorce and cohabitation, effects of modern technology and media, and challenges such as drug/alcohol abuse. It also addresses declining birth rates, single-parent homes, and ideologies that deny biological differences between men and women.

1. Amoris laetitia
the Joy of Love
Chapter 2 – The experiences and challenges of families
The current reality of the family (32-49) - Some challenges (50-57)

2. The current
reality of
the family
(32-49)
“through an equitable
distribution of duties,
responsibilities and tasks”;
indeed, “a greater emphasis
on personal communication
between the spouses helps
to make family life
more humane” AL 32

3. while “neither today’s society nor that to which we are progressing allow
an uncritical survival of older forms and models”. It is also evident
that “the principal tendencies in anthropological-cultural changes”
are leading “individuals, in personal and family life, to receive less
and less support from social structures than in the past” AL 32

4. “equal consideration needs to be given to the growing danger
represented by an extreme individualism which weakens family
bonds and ends up considering each member of the family as an
isolated unit, leading in some cases to the idea that one’s personality
is shaped by his or her desires, which are considered absolute”. AL 33

5. The tensions created by an overly individualistic culture, caught up
with possessions and pleasures, leads to intolerance and hostility in
families”. Here I would also include today’s fast pace of life, stress and
the organization of society and labour, since all these are cultural
factors which militate against permanent decisions. AL33

6. Freedom of choice makes it
possible to plan our lives and
to make the most of ourselves.
Yet if this freedom lacks noble
goals or personal discipline,
it degenerates into an
inability to give oneself
generously to others. AL 33

7. it is easy nowadays
to confuse genuine
freedom with the idea
that each individual
can act arbitrarily,
as if there were
no truths, values
and principles
to provide guidance,
and everything
were possible and
permissible.
AL 34

8. We have long thought that simply by stressing doctrinal, bioethical
and moral issues, without encouraging openness to grace, we were
providing sufficient support to families, strengthening the
marriage bond and giving meaning to marital life. AL 37

9. We also find it hard to make room for the consciences of the faithful,
who very often respond as best they can to the Gospel amid their limitations,
and are capable of carrying out their own discernment in complex situations.
We have been called to form consciences, not to replace them . AL 37

10. in various parts of Africa, secularism has not weakened certain traditional
values, and marriages forge a strong bond between two wider families, with
clearly defined structures for dealing with problems and conflicts. AL 38

11. Nowadays we are
grateful too for the
witness of marriages
that have not only
proved lasting, but also
fruitful and loving.
All these factors can
inspire a positive and
wel-coming pastoral
approach capable of
helping couples to grow
in appreciation of the
demands of
the Gospel. AL 38

12. …“culture of the ephemeral”. …for example, of the speed with which people
move from one affective relationship to another. They believe, along the lines
of social networks, that love can be connected or disconnected at the whim of
the consumer, and the relationship quickly “blocked”. Al 39

13. I think too of the fears associated with permanent commitment,
the obsession with free time, and those relationships that weigh
costs and benefits for the sake of remedying loneliness,
providing protection, or offering some service. Al 39

14. Narcissism
- makes people
incapable of looking
beyond themselves,
beyond their own desires
and needs. Yet sooner or
later, those who use
others end up being
used themselves,
manipulated and
discarded by that
same mindset.
Al 39

15. we live in a culture which pressures young people not to start a family, because they
lack possibilities for the future. Yet this same culture presents others with so many
options that they too are dissuaded from starting a family”. In some countries, many
young persons “postpone a wedding for economic reasons, work or study. Al 40

16. Some do so for other reasons, such as
 - the influence of ideologies which devalue marriage and family,
 - the desire to avoid the failures of other couples,
 - the fear of something they consider too important and sacred,
 - the social opportunities and economic benefits associated with simply living together,
 - a purely emotional and romantic conception of love,
 - the fear of losing their freedom and independence,
 - and the rejection of something conceived as purely institutional and bureaucratic”.15 AL 40

17. We need to find the right language, arguments and forms of
witness that can help us reach the hearts of young people,
appealing to their capacity for generosity, commitment, love
and even heroism, and in this way inviting them to take up
the challenge of marriage with enthusiasm and courage. AL 40

18. “cultural tendencies in today’s world seem to set
no limits on a person’s affectivity”; indeed,
“a narcissistic, unstable or changeable affectivity does not
always allow a person to grow to maturity”. AL 41

19. They also expressed
concern about the
current “spread of
pornography and the
commercialization of
the body, fostered also
by a misuse of the
internet, and about
those “reprehensible
situations where
people are forced
into prostitution”.AL 41

20. Many tend to remain in the early stages of their affective and sexual life.
A crisis in a couple’s relationship destabilizes the family and may lead,
through separation and divorce, to serious consequences for adults, children
and society as a whole, weakening its individual and social bonds”. AL 41

21. Failures give rise to new relationships, new couples, new civil
unions, and new marriages, creating family situations which
are complex and problematic for the Christian life”. AL 42

22. Furthermore, “the decline in population, due to a mentality against
having children and promoted by the world politics of reproductive health,
creates not only a situation in which the relationship between generations
is no longer ensured but also the danger that, over time, this decline will
lead to economic impoverishment and a loss of hope in the future. AL 42

23. Factors which influence
the birth rate AL 42
Bio-technology
Industrialization
The sexual revolution
Fear of overpopulation
Economic problems
Consumerism

24. the Church strongly rejects the forced State
intervention in favour of contraception,
sterilization and even abortion”. AL 42

25. The weakening of faith and
religious practice in some societies
has an effect on families, leaving
them more isolated amid
their difficulties.
The Synod Fathers noted that
“one symptom of the great poverty
of contemporary culture is
loneliness, arising from the
absence of God in a person’s life
and the fragility of relationships.
-There is also a general feeling
of powerlessness in the face
of socio-cultural realities
that often-times end up
crushing families…
-Families often feel abandoned
due to a lack of interest
and attention on the part
of institutions. AL 43

26. The lack of dignified or affordable housing often
leads to the postponement of formal relationships. AL 44

27. Families have the right to “to be able to count on an
adequate family policy on the part of public authorities
in the juridical, economic, social and fiscal domains”.AL 44

28. “Economic constraints prohibit a family’s
access to education, cultural activities and
involvement in the life of society. AL 44

29. Families, in particular, suffer from problems related
to work, where young people have few possibilities
and job offers are very selective and insecure.

30. Workdays are long and oftentimes made more burdensome by
extended periods away from home. - This situation does not help
family members to gather together or parents to be with their children
in such a way as to nurture their relationships each day”. AL 44

31. “A great number of children are born out-side of wedlock,
many of whom subsequently grow up with just one of their
parents or in a blended or reconstituted family… AL 45

32. The sexual exploitation of children is
yet another scandalous and perverse
reality in present-day society. AL 45

33. Societies experiencing
violence due to war,
terrorism or the
presence of organized
crime are witnessing
the deterioration of
the family, above all in
large cities, where, on
their outskirts, the so-
called phenomenon
of ‘street-children’
is on the rise”. AL 45

34. “Migration is another sign of the times
to be faced and understood in terms of
its negative effects on family life”. AL 45

35. Extreme poverty and other
situations of family breakdown
sometimes even lead families to
sell their children for prostitution
or for organ trafficking”. AL 46

36. “The persecution of Christians and ethnic and religious minorities in
many parts of the world, especially in the Middle East, are a great trial
not only for the Church but also the entire international community.

37. Every effort should be encouraged, even in a
practical way, to assist families and Christian
communities to remain in their native lands”. AL 46

38. Families who lovingly accept the difficult trial of a child with special
needs are greatly to be admired. - They render the Church and society
an invaluable witness of faithfulness to the gift of life AL 47

39. A special word of appreciation is due to those associations and
family movements committed to serving the elderly, both spiritually
and socially. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are serious threats
to families worldwide; in many, they have been legalized . AL 48

40. SOME CHALLENGES
Drug use was also mentioned as
one of the scourges of our time,
causing immense suffering and
even breakup for many families.
The same is true of
alcoholism, gambling
and other addictions. AL 51

41. This is often the case with families where communication is lacking, defensive
attitudes predominate, the members are not supportive of one another, family
activities that encourage participation are absent, the parental relation-ship is
frequently conflictual and violent, and relationships between parents and children
are marked by hostility. Violence within the family is a breeding-ground of
resentment and hatred in the most basic human relationships”. AL 51
Violence within families breeds new forms of social aggression, since
“family relationships can also explain the tendency to a violent personality.

42. No one can think that the weakening of the family as that natural founded
on marriage will prove beneficial to society as a whole, only the exclusive
and indissoluble union between a man and a woman has a plenary role to
play in society as a stable commitment that bears fruit in new life. AL 52

43. We need to acknowledge the great variety of family situations that can
offer a certain stability, but de facto or same-sex unions, for example,
may not simply be equated with marriage. No union that is temporary
or closed to the transmission of life can ensure the future of society. AL 52

44. Nowadays who is making an effort to strengthen marriages,
to help married couples overcome their problems, to assist
them in the work of raising children and, in general, to
encourage the stability of the marriage bond? AL 52

45. In many places, not only in the West,
the practice of living together before
marriage is widespread, as well as a
type of cohabitation which totally
excludes any intention to marry”. AL 53

46. In various countries, legislation facilitates a growing variety of alternatives to marriage,
with the result that marriage, with its characteristics of exclusivity, indissolubility and
openness to life, comes to appear as an old-fashioned and outdated option.
Many countries are witnessing a legal deconstruction of the family, tending to adopt
models based almost exclusively on the autonomy of the individual will. AL 53

47. The strength of the family “lies in its capacity to love
and to teach how to love. For all a family’s problems,
it can always grow, beginning with love”. AL 53

48. The verbal, physical, and sexual violence that
women endure in some marriages contradicts
the very nature of the conjugal union. AL 54

49. we cannot overlook the use of
surrogate mothers and the exploita-
tion and commercialization AL 54

50. The equal dignity of men and women makes us
rejoice to see old forms of discrimination disappear,
and within families there is a growing reciprocity AL 54

51. Men “play an equally decisive role in family life, particularl with regard to the
protection and support of their wives and children… Many men are conscious of
the importance of their role in the family and live their masculinity accordingly.
The absence of a father gravely affects family life and the upbringing of children
and their integration into society. This absence, which may be physical, emotional,
psychological and spiritual, deprives children of a suitable father figure”. AL 55

52. ideology of gender that “denies the difference and reciprocity in
nature of a man and a woman and envisages society without sexual
differences, thereby eliminating the anthropological basis of the family.

53. This ideology leads to educa-tional programmes and legislative enactments that
promote a personal identity and emotional intimacy radically separated from the
biological difference between male and female. Consequently, human identity
becomes the choice of the individual, one which can also change over time”. AL 56

54. (These ideologies) manage to assert themselves as absolute and
unquestionable, even dictating how children should be raised. It
needs to be emphasized that “biological sex and the socio-cultural
role of sex (gender) can be distinguished but not separated”. AL 56

55. “the techno-logical
revolution in the
field of human
procreation has
introduced the
ability to manipulate
the reproductive
act, making it
independent of the
sexual relationship
between a man and a
woman… Let us not
fall into the sin of
trying to replace
the Creator.

56. We are creatures, and not omnipotent. Creation is prior to
us and must be received as a gift. At the same time, we are
called to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first
place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created. AL 56

57. LIST OF PRESENTATIONS IN ENGLISH
Revised 21-5-2022
Advent and Christmas – time of hope and peace
All Souls Day
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – In the Light of the Word
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – The Experiences and Challenges of Families
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 - Looking to Jesus, the Vocation of the Family
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - Love in Marriage
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Love made Fruitfuol
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Some Pastoral Perspectives
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Towards a better education of children
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Accompanying, discerning and integrating weaknwss
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – The Spirituality of Marriage and the Family
Beloved Amazon 1ª – A Social Dream
Beloved Amazon 2 - A Cultural Dream
Beloved Amazon 3 – An Ecological Dream
Beloved Amazon 4 - An Ecclesiastical Dream
Carnival
Conscience
Christ is Alive
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – Church and Family today
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - God’s plan for the family
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – family as a Community
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – serving life and education
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – mission of the family in society
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - Family in the Church
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Football in Spain
Freedom
Grace and Justification
Haurietis aquas – devotion to the Sacred Heart by Pius XII
Holidays and Holy Days
Holy Spirit
Holy Week – drawings for children
Holy Week – glmjpses of the last hours of JC
Human Community
Inauguration of President Donald Trump
Juno explores Jupiter
Laudato si 1 – care for the common home
Laudato si 2 – Gospel of creation
Laudato si 3 – Human roots of the ecological crisis
Laudato si 4 – integral ecology
Laudato si 5 – lines of approach and action
Laudato si 6 – Education y Ecological Spirituality
Life in Christ
Love and Marriage 12,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Lumen Fidei – ch 1,2,3,4
Martyrs of North America and Canada
Medjugore Pilgrimage
Merit and Holiness
Misericordiae Vultus in English
Moral Law
Morality of Human Acts
Mother Teresa of Calcuta – Saint
Passions
Pope Franciss in Thailand
Pope Francis in Japan
Pope Francis in Sweden
Pope Francis in Hungary, Slovaquia
Pope Francis in America
Pope Francis in the WYD in Poland 2016
Passions
Querida Amazonia
Resurrection of Jesus Christ –according to the Gospels
Russian Revolution and Communismo 3 civil war 1918.1921
Russian Revolution and Communism 1
Russian Revolution and Communismo 2
Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr
Saint Albert the Great
Saint Anthony of Padua
Saint Francis de Sales
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Saint James, apostle
Saint John N. Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Saint Joseph
Saint Maria Goretti
Saint Mark, evangelist
Saint Martin of Tours
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta
Saint Jean Baptiste MarieaVianney, Curé of Ars
Saint John N. Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Saint John of the Cross
Saint Patrick and Ireland
Saints Zachary and Elizabeth, parents of John Baptis
Signs of hope
Sunday – day of the Lord
Thanksgiving – History and Customs
The Body, the cult – (Eucharist)
The Chursh, Mother and Teacher
Valentine
Vocation to Beatitude
Vocation – mconnor@legionaries.org
Way of the Cross – drawings for children
For commentaries – email – mflynn@legionaries.org
Fb – Martin M Flynn
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58. LISTA DE PRESENTACIONES EN ESPAÑOL
Revisado 13-3-2022
Abuelos
Adviento y Navidad, tiempo de esperanza
Amor y Matrimonio 1 - 9
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – A la luz de la Palabre
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – Realidad y Desafíos de las Familias
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 La mirada puesta en Jesús: Vocación de la Familia
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - El Amor en el Matrimonio
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Amor que se vuelve fecundo
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Algunas Perspectivas Pastorales
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Fortalecer la educacion de los hijos
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Acompañar, discernir e integrar la fragilidad
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – Espiritualidad Matrimonial y Familiar
Carnaval
Conciencia
Cristo Vive
Dia de todos los difuntos
Domingo – día del Señor
El camino de la cruz de JC en dibujos para niños
El Cuerpo, el culto – (eucarisía)
Espíritu Santo
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – iglesia y familia hoy
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - el plan de Dios para la familia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – familia como comunidad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – servicio a la vida y educación
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – misión de la familia en la sociedad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - participación de la familia en la iglesia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Fátima – Historia de las Apariciones de la Virgen
Feria de Sevilla
Haurietis aquas – el culto al Sagrado Corazón
Hermandades y cofradías
Hispanidad
La Iglesia, Madre y Maestra
La Comunidad Humana
La Vida en Cristo
Laudato si 1 – cuidado del hogar común
Laudato si 2 – evangelio de creación
Laudato si 3 – La raíz de la crisis ecológica
Laudato si 4 – ecología integral
Laudato si 5 – líneas de acción
Laudato si 6 – Educación y Espiritualidad Ecológica
Ley Moral
Libertad
Lumen Fidei – cap 1,2,3,4
Madre Teresa de Calcuta – Santa
María y la Biblia
Martires de Nor America y Canada
Medjugore peregrinación
Misericordiae Vultus en Español
Moralidad de actos humanos
Pasiones
Papa Francisco en Bulgaria
Papa Francisco en Rumania
Papa Francisco en Marruecos
Papa Francisco en México
Papa Francisco – mensaje para la Jornada Mundial Juventud 2016
Papa Francisco – visita a Chile
Papa Francisco – visita a Perú
Papa Francisco en Colombia 1 + 2
Papa Francisco en Cuba
Papa Francisco en Fátima
Papa Francisco en la JMJ 2016 – Polonia
Papa Francisco en Hugaría e Eslovaquia
Queridas Amazoznia 1,2,3,4
Resurrección de Jesucristo – según los Evangelios
Revolución Rusa y Comunismo 1, 2, 3
Santa Agata, virgen y martir
San Alberto Magno
San Antonio de Padua
San Francisco de Asis 1,2,3,4
San Francisco de Sales
Santa Maria Goretti
San Marco, evangelista
San Ignacio de Loyola
San José, obrero, marido, padre
San Juan Ma Vianney, Curé de’Ars
San Juan de la Cruz
San Juan N. Neumann, obispo de Philadelphia
San Martin de Tours
San Maximiliano Kolbe
Santa Teresa de Calcuta
San Padre Pio de Pietralcina
San Patricio e Irlanda
Santiago Apóstol
Santos Zacarias e Isabel, padres de Juan Bautista
Semana santa – Vistas de las últimas horas de JC
Vacaciones Cristianas
Valentín
Vida en Cristo
Virgen de Guadalupe
Virtud
Vocación a la bienaventuranza
Vocación – www.vocación.org
Vocación a evangelizar
Para comentarios – email – mflynn@lcegionaries.org
fb – martin m. flynn
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