An initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Church Teaching

Also available: MUR Church Documents with Quotes with these excerpts listed.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Español:

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Second Vatican Council

Pope Francis

Major documents:

Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (2016)

Encyclical Laudato Si, no. 155 (2015)

Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, no 66 (2013)

Encyclical Lumen Fidei, no 52 (2013)

Various addresses and homilies about marriage:

For a compilation please see For Your Marriage‘s Pope Francis Corner!

Pope Benedict XVI

  • For a compilation of selections from Pope Benedict’s teachings on marriage and family, see Family (USCCB, 2009)

Major documents:

Various addresses and homilies about marriage:

Pope John Paul II

Major documents:

Various addresses and homilies about marriage:

  • Homily during the Jubilee of Families(October 15, 2000) : see nos. 2, 3
  • See also John Paul II’s Wednesday audiences (Sept. 5, 1979 – Nov. 28, 1984) collectively known as “the theology of the body.” Available online at EWTN’s website and at the Vatican website(includes all of John Paul II’s audiences).
    • The most recent critical English translation is Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body, trans. Michael Waldstein (Boston: Pauline Books & Media), 2006.

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Español:

Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life

Keys to Bioethics – A Manual of Bioethics for Youth (2022)

Dicastery for Culture and Education

Pontifical Council for the Family

Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2004)

  • See nos. 144-148, The Equal Dignity of All People and the “Equality in Difference” between Man and Woman
  • See nos. 209-254, Marriage and Family
  • Importance of the family for the person (no. 212)
  • Importance of the family for society (nos. 213-214)
  • Marriage as the foundation of the family (nos. 215-218)
  • Sexual identity, difference, and complementarity (no. 224)
  • Homosexual unions (nos. 228-229)

Español: Compendio de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia (2005)

  • Ve nos. 144-148, La igual dignidad de todas las personas
  • Ve nos. 209-254, La familia, Célula vital de la sociedad
  • La importancia de la familia para la persona (no. 212)
  • La importancia de la familia para la sociedad (nos. 213-214)
  • El matrimonio, fundamento de la familia (nos. 215-218)
  • La identidad sexual, la diferencia, y la complementariedad (no. 224)
  • Las uniones homosexuales (nos. 228-229)

Select State Catholic Conference Statements on Marriage