Stephan Kampowski’s book Famiglie diverse: espressioni imperfette dello stesso ideale? (Different Families: Imperfect Expressions of the Same Ideal?) is in the books stores. The author investigates the substantial differences between the Christian family and other types.Does the Church really need to adapt Herself more to reality, by finding a mediation point between Her ideals and everyday life, if She wants the faithful, in the family, to begin listening to Her again? This is the question asked by Stephan Kampowski, professor of philosophical anthropology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute, at the beginning of his book Famiglie diverse: espressioni imperfette dello stesso ideale? (Different Families: Imperfect Expressions of the Same Ideal?).
The work (128 pages, 10 €) is published by Cantagalli Press in its new series "Famiglia, lavori in corso," recently presented on this site. In a respectful yet critical analysis, the author highlights that the faithful often tend to leave the Church because they do not know Her teaching well. However, wherever Jesus' words are transmitted without filters—says Kampowski—, they are accepted with enthusiasm and we see their ability to attract large numbers of people, who go willingly to embrace a lifestyle quite different from that proposed by today's dominant culture. Thus, the book reveals that the basic principles upon which "different families" are built are for the most part opposed to everything that allows us to speak of the Christian family. In fact, the teaching that the Church proposes—the author reminds us—is not ideological, but in tune with reality, and the ideals She promotes are not only beautiful, but also possible, in spite of all the adversities.
