CSDC 211

Enlightened by the radiance of the biblical message, the Church considers the family as the first natural society, with underived rights that are proper to it, and places it at the centre of social life. Relegating the family “to a subordinate or secondary role, excluding it from its rightful position in society, would be to inflict grave harm on the authentic growth of society as a whole”⁴⁶² John Paul II, Letter to Families Gratissimam Sane, 17: AAS 86AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 86 (1994) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1994), 906.. The family, in fact, is born of the intimate communion of life and love founded on the marriage between one man and one woman⁴⁶³ Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 48: AAS 58AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 58 (1966) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1966), 1067-1069. It possesses its own specific and original social dimension, in that it is the principal place of interpersonal relationships, the first and vital cell of society⁴⁶⁴ Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree Apostolicam Actuositatem, 11: AAS 58AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 58 (1966) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1966), 848.. The family is a divine institution that stands at the foundation of life of the human person as the prototype of every social order.