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threat to the Indian Christian families. The values and preferences of the
family have undergone vast changes. Pope John Paul II, in his discourse to
the bishops of the Ecclesiastical provinces of Bombay, Goa, Hyderabad,
Nagpur and Verapoly, on the occasion of their ad limina visit on 13
December 1995, spoke about the role of Christian families in protecting
God’s gift of human life in all its dimensions from conception to death and
promoting the primacy of human dignity above economic efficiency. 112

One of the most essential changes to be noted in the Christian family
is the importance given to the individual, at the cost of the family.
Sociologist Joseph George is of the opinion that family values are
compromised for the sake of individual fulfilment. He states that this
“implies a greater amount of personal freedom and maximum opportunity
for self-fulfilment at the cost of collective experience and traditionally-held
values”. 113

Another change is found in the concept of sexuality and in the
understanding of the relationship between the individual and society. This
creates certain problems in family values. “In the world today the family’s
changing functions have varied a great deal. Some have lost importance....
Consider, for example, the new understanding and experience of sexuality,
the reduction in its procreative function, and the new reproductive
technology”. 114

S. Arockiasamy believes that globalization and liberalization have
caused degradation in moral values: “In fast changing world of globalization
and liberal postmodern currents on the mores of marriage and family, the
fundamental perspective of life in common and of our very humanity are

111 Cf. FRANCIS, Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, nos. 54 -55, Rome, 24
November, 2013. Accessed 5 April, 2013.
<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-
francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-
gaudium_en.html#No_to_the_new_idolatry_of_money>
112
Cf. PALLATH, PAUL (ed.), Pope John Paul II and the Catholic Church in India, Mar
Thoma Yogam, Rome, 1996, p. 148.
113
GEORGE, JOSEPH, in the introduction of P. D. DEVANANDAN and M.M. THOMAS
(eds.), The Changing Pattern Of The Family In India, Christian Institute for the Study of
Religion and Society, Bangalore, 2007, p.20.
114 Cf. MARCIANO, VIDAL, “Family Values and Ideals”, in Concilium, Vol. 4, 1995, pp.
110-111.

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