His Holiness John Paul II has gathered all the contributions provided by the various Episcopal Synods on one apostolic exhortation. This is why following the Synod on the family held in 1981, on November 22^nd that same year the Familiaris consortio was published, exhorting family members to acknowledge the inalienable rights of married couples and consequently those of the family, also inviting them to fight to protect them.

No. 46 is entitled: "The Charter of family Rights" is situated in Part Three of the Exhortation entitled: "The role of the Christian Family", and specifically in Chapter Three which is called: "Participating in the development of society". In that context we were reminded that the family is society’s fundamental cell and it is within it that the fundamental values of communion and participation are learned, indicating that is necessary for the family to make itself heard in the social-political field, precisely to assert its rights, and also how the State and society must help families and not impose on them functions that to not belong to them, or on the contrary not acknowledging their rights.

The Pope acknowledged in no. 46 of his Letter, the wish expressed by the Synod Fathers in the Propositio 42, to elaborate those "guarantees"; hence effectively the "Charter of Family Rights" was published on November 24^th 1983, in which those rights are defended with commitment. The Charter, after an introduction, consists in twelve articles.

No. 46, although previously published, does however contain the seed of all stated in the Charter. In fact it states how the Synod had to frequently denounce the treacherous actions that various societies implemented against the family, and also the fact that various States had imposed their own inadequate vision of the family.

The following rights are stated: the right to create a family for oneself, regardless of a person’s poverty that should not preclude freedom in this sense; The right to exercise one’s own responsibility in procreation and in educating children; The right to preserve the nuptial bond in spite of the ups and downs of history; the right to have a faith and to spread it, as well as the right to educate one’s children according to cultural traditions and religious values resorting to all suitable means.

On the other hand society must be responsible for the physical, social, political and economic safety especially of the poor and the ill, providing them with a dignified place to live in. It is necessary to have representational and expressive power in the various social and state institutions to present one’s own needs and requirements and, for this reason, be able to create with other families associations allowing the accomplishment of one’s mission. The family will also have the right to protect minors from all that affects them in an unsuitable manner, both physically and morally, allowing them adequate human and spiritual development. Families must enjoy adequate enjoyment, respect for all elders and for a worthy life, including life’s conclusion. A family must finally enjoy the right to emigrate in search of better living conditions.

Silvio Cajiao, S.I.

Bogotá, November 28^th 2003