Abstract

The couple and the family constitute a priority reality for the Church because all believers are called with all their strength to protect and support these foundations of the human social life of the community. This commitment concerns the clergy in particular - Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons, who must be the first to assume service in relation to the family. After having specified the character of this requirement regarding the clergy; after having shown the essence of the pastoral care of families as well as pointing to the differentiation of the participation of the clergy in the pastoral structures of families and in the realization of the basic tasks of this pastoral care, in the aforementioned article new challenges are identified, which are faced by the clergy in carrying out the service with regard to the couple and the family.