31. THE FAMILY IN GOD'S PLAN

31. THE FAMILY IN GOD'S PLAN THE COMMANDMENT TO HONOR ONE'S FATHER AND MPTHER REFLECTS THE FAMILY'S ROLE IN THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY Compendium 455-465 Dt 5:16 Sirach 3:2-7,12-14 The family is not a human invention but rather a gift from God for the benefit of the spouses and procreation and formation of children. The family is the Domestic Church where faith and virtue are imparted and develop. The basic lessons of, prayerfulness, love and service to one another, truth, honesty, discipline, and respect are inculcated and reinforced. Only in rare and extreme cases is it legitimate for government to intervene in family affairs. Eventually children must care for their parents when they are in need. Finally our love for Christ must exceed our love for parents and children.