The family is the basic "building block" of society. Laws that recognize the unique role of families, help them stay together, and reward responsibility and sacrifice for children enable societies to flourish. Marriage and education are two topics of vital importance when considering the impact public policies have on the family structure.

Across times, cultures and very different religious beliefs, marriage — a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love — is the foundation of the family. Through sacramental marriage, God calls husbands and wives to commit themselves completely to each other for a lifetime, in a way that is always open to bringing children into the world and caring for them. The Church recognizes sacramental marriage as a visible sign of Christ’s love for his Church; governments recognize the marriage of a man and a woman as a public institution because of the unique and essential contribution this relationship makes to the common good of society, especially through the procreation and education of children. Thus, marriage is a personal relationship with singular public significance. However, although marriage is regulated by civil and church laws, it did not originate from the church or the state, but from God. Therefore, neither church nor state can alter the basic meaning and structure of marriage. When governments attempt to make other relationships equivalent to marriage as God created it, the institution of marriage is devalued and weakened. If marriage is viewed publicly as something other than the faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman, it becomes just one of many "alternative lifestyles," rather than an institution that makes a unique contribution to the human community.

A particularly important contribution many families make to the common good of society is the education of children. Parents — the first and most important educators — have a fundamental right to choose the education best suited to their children’s needs, including private and religious schools. Governments should help provide the resources required for all parents to exercise this basic right without discrimination, and for all children to access the educational opportunities most suitable to their needs.

In Virginia, lawmakers and candidates continue to debate several key initiatives related to marriage and education. Two of these items are:

— A proposed amendment to the Constitution of Virginia stating that the commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall only recognize a union between one man and one woman as a marriage, and shall not confer marriage-like status, qualities, rights or benefits upon relationships of unmarried individuals.

— Legislation that would permit local school districts to provide bus transportation to nonpublic-school students.

For more information go to www.vacatholic.org.