The Church and “Responsible Fatherhood”

Abstract

It is almost seven years since Pope Francis, on his return from his trip to Manila, defended the Church’s position on “responsible fatherhood”, challenging the idea that Catholic couples should have as many children as possible, but also speaking out against the “Malthusianism” that reduces the birth rate. For the responsible fatherhood promoted by the Church consists in the awareness of parents to transmit life in conditions that allow them to assume their rights and duties in order to educate their children properly. In order to put it into practice, it requires that it be understood by the parents in both form and content. But how can we understand this expression in the face of a rapidly changing world? This article seeks to elucidate the reasons for the Church’s position on the issue of “responsible fatherhood”.