Church, State, and Family: Reconciling Traditional Teachings and Modern Liberties

This book defends the marital family as an essential cradle of conscience,chrysalis of care,and cornerstone of ordered liberty in modern liberal societies,and urges churches,states,and other social institutions to protect and promote it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 456 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This book is a powerful defense of the fundamental role of the marital family in modern liberal societies. While celebrating the advancements in sexual freedom, John Witte, Jr. also upholds the traditional Western belief that the marital family is a vital cradle of conscience, a nurturing environment for care, and a cornerstone of ordered liberty. He implores churches, states, and other social institutions to actively protect and promote the marital family. He encourages reticent churches to embrace the rights of women and children, as Christians have long taught, and urges modern states to foster responsible sexual freedom and harmonious family relations, as liberals have long advocated.

Witte also calls for modern churches and states to participate in the governance of family law and to resist recent attempts to privatize, abolish, or radically expand the marital family sphere. He invites fellow citizens to put an end to their bitter disputes over same-sex marriage and to focus on the vast family field that urgently requires concerted attention and action.

In conclusion, this book offers a comprehensive and compelling argument for the preservation and promotion of the marital family in modern societies. It is a valuable resource for policymakers, religious leaders, and citizens alike, as it provides a roadmap for building stronger, healthier, and more resilient families.

Weight: 648g
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316636121