Father's Day, 2012

Today's Father's Day. I see that I didn't do a "Father's Day post" last year: partly because I'd gotten a Trinity Sunday guest post for that day. Besides, I'd posted about 'family values,' "Addams and Otherwise," the previous Sunday.

I plan to celebrate Father's Day this year the same way I have before: by being a dad. My wife and I were blessed with six children, four of whom survived birth. I like being a father, although I haven't been all that crazy about changing diapers and the occasional rough spots that come as kids grow from infants to adults.

The 'Big Picture'

Quite a few posts in this blog are about 'big picture' topics, issues that affect this nation and the world:

• "Hope, Joy, and Working for a Better World"
  (September 13, 2011)

I think it's important to keep 'working for a better world' issues in mind, since as a practicing Catholic I'm expected to:

• Support religious freedom
  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
  • For everybody
    (Catechism, 2106)
• Take an active part in public life
  (Catechism, 1915)
• Contribute to the good of society
  • In a spirit of
    • Truth
    • Justice
    • Solidarity
    • Freedom
  (Catechism, 2239)
• Submit to legitimate authorities
  • Refuse obedience to civil authorities
    • When their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience
    (Catechism, 2242)
  (Catechism, 2239)
  (June 1, 2012)

Citizenship Starts at Home

As a father, one of the vital ways I can "contribute to the good of society" is by spending the time and effort needed to be 'dad.' That's not just my opinion:

"The divine fatherhood is the source of human fatherhood;¹⁶ this is the foundation of the honor owed to parents. The respect of children, whether minors or adults, for their father and mother¹⁷ is nourished by the natural affection born of the bond uniting them. It is required by God's commandment.¹⁸"

"Parents must regard their children as children of God and respect them as human persons. Showing themselves obedient to the will of the Father in heaven, they educate their children to fulfill God's law."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2214, 2222)

That opening statement: "The divine fatherhood is the source of human fatherhood..." sets the bar pretty high. 'No pressure,' as the ironic phrase goes.

One more thing, before it's time for Mass. I've said this before, when it comes to parents and children: Respect goes both ways. (July 12, 2011)

Sort-of-related posts:

• Family, faith, and Father's Day
  • "Catholics, Families, and Hope"
    (June 9, 2012)
  • "Trinity Sunday, 2011"
    (June 19, 2011)
    • June 19, 2011, was also Father's Day
  • "Family Values: Addams and Otherwise"
    (July 12, 2011)
  • "Father's Day, 2010"
    (June 20, 2010)
  • "Father's Day, 2009"
    (June 21, 2009)
• Citizenship
  • "Obedience, Yes: Blind Obedience, No"
    (March 12, 2012)
  • "It's 'Patriot Dream,' Not 'Patriot Delusion' "
    (July 4, 2011)
  • " Citizenship, being Catholic, and the Rules of Polite Society"
    (March 22, 2011)
  • Living in America and Living a Catholic Life"
    (April 29, 2010)
  • "Elections and Citizenship, Catholic Style"
    (September 24, 2008)