Preliminary Reception of Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”) by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Abstract

In the United States, since the second half of the twentieth century, the issues of marriage and family sets more and wider aspects starting with the recognition of the right to abortion, euthanasia and ending with the legalization of same-sex marriage. A broad aspect of the activities undertaken by the American Episcopate, primarily by Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, was inspired by Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Amoris laetitia”(“The Joy of Love”) proclaimed on April 8, 2016. Hard statistical data, as well as the observation of social life in the United States, prompted American bishops to begin a kind of "promotional campaign" based on the strategic plan developed for the period 2017-2020. Based on the answers of respondents (believers) plan was developed which is realized not only by the clerical or consecrated people, but also lay people using all the forms of communication available in the modern world: bishops’ letters read during the mass, social media supported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, group and individual meetings organized by American dioceses.