Archbishop Carlson: We honor marriage, family as foundation for society | Archdiocese of St. Louis

"A 'family' is not whatever anyone says it is. The family is the original cell of social life. It is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to give themselves to one another in love and to be open to the gift of life. Authority, stability and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security and fraternity within society. God chose to raise up marriage as a vocation in the Church. For us, marriage is a sacrament, not simply a social contract; and the family is much more than simply a social arrangement. It is a domestic Church, the most fundamental and important community that human beings belong to." Visit:Archbishop Carlson: We honor marriage, family as foundation for society | Archdiocese of St. Louis: