The family, the fundamental cell of society and the guarantee of its stability, nonetheless experiences the crises which are affecting society itself. This happens when married couples live in economic or cultural systems which, under the guise of freedom and progress, promote or even defend an anti-birth mentality and thus induce couples to have recourse to methods of regulating fertility which are incompatible with human dignity. There is even an acceptance of abortion, which is always, in addition to being an abominable crime, a senseless impoverishment of the person and of society itself.

The social situation experienced in this beloved country has created not a few difficulties for family stability: for example, material scarcities -- as when wages are not sufficient or have a very limited buying power -- dissatisfaction for ideological reasons, the attraction of the consumer society. These and other measures involving labor and other matters have helped to intensify a problem which has existed in Cuba for years: people being obliged to be away from the family within the country, and emigration, which has torn apart whole families and caused suffering for a large part of the population.

The family, the school and the church must form an educational community in which the children of Cuba can ``grow in humanity.'' Do not be afraid; open your families and schools to the values of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which are never a threat to any social project.

It is true that in the area of education, public authority has certain rights and duties, since it must serve the common good. Nonetheless, this does not give public authority the right to take the place of parents. Consequently parents, without expecting others to replace them in a matter which is their own responsibility, should be able to choose for their children the pedagogical method, the ethical and civic content and the religious inspiration which will enable them to receive an integral education. They must not expect everything to be given to them.

Associated Press