Familiaris Consortio. A post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation written by Pope John Paul II promulgated on November 22, 1981. The document describes the official position of the Catholic Church concerning the meaning and role of marriage and the family, and outlines challenges towards realizing that ideal. It defines marriage "as a personal union in which the spouses reciprocally give and receive." The document considers life issues such as artificial birth control and abortion, the responsibilities and expectations of the family regarding the education of children, the responsibility of the family regarding the larger society, including service to the poor, the expectation of a permanent union for all members of the church seeking marriage, and the legitimacy of alternative arrangements, including "trial marriages,” exclusively civil marriages, and unions with no publicly recognized bond. The final portion of the document describes expectations of the life of the family which more directly involve religion in daily life, relating it to several of the Catholic sacraments.

Keywords:church documents