(CCCB - Ottawa) – The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) has published its annual message for families with special focus on single-parent families.

This year’s message recognizes that family circumstances have become more complex and diverse. Although most couples decide at some point to get married and have children, it is a fact that these marriages happen later, are more fragile and are more at risk of breakdown. Increasingly, children are living with a single parent or with step-parents. In 2001, out of 1.07 million Canadian children, 19% of children did not live with both parents. A majority of children lived with one parent only, most often their mother.

The message, entitled Families: Messengers of the Compassionate Love of Christ, launches a call for the solidarity and compassion of all families with those that face difficulties in life. “Through the example of Jesus Christ, who took upon himself our loneliness and reclothed it with his presence, our families are called to remain near to, compassionate toward and in solidarity with families that are struggling in some way,” the document says.

The COLF message can be ordered through the COLF secretariat by telephone: (613) 241-9461, ext. 161; by fax: (613) 241-9048; or by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Donations to cover the costs of printing would be greatly appreciated.

COLF was jointly founded by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus to promote respect for human life and dignity and the essential role of the family. 

Families: Messengers of the Compassionate Love of Christ is available for downloading in PDF format.