Carey pleads for the family

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, yesterday called in Rome for Catholics and Anglicans to fight together for family values.

"Both our traditions place great emphasis on the family and family life. Anglicans can say with Pope John Paul that `The future of the world and of the church passes through the family'."

Dr Carey quoted several major Catholic documents in support of his argument for the importance of family life, delivered during a lecture at the Anglican Centre in Rome. Though he has publicly disagreed with Pope John Paul II on contraception and the role of women in the church, the importance of family life to both church and society is a theme the two leaders agree on.

"The churches are ideally placed to make an enormous contribution to underpinning good parenting and faithful, loving relationships. The family is a paradigm of the Kingdom of God."

Today he meets the Pope for substantive discussions. He also celebrates a eucharist in the chapel of the English College in Rome, training place for Catholic priests.