LONDON, MARCH 21, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Edmund Adamus, director of pastoral affairs for the Westminster Diocese, was honored with the 2011 Family Values Award given by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This award recognizes those who make «significant contributions to help and sustain the institution of the family.»
Adamus was honored in particular for his work to promote «marriage as part of Christian living.»
He was also recognized for facilitating «remedial support for troubled marriages» and working to «assist families with special needs, while directing a diocesan grants foundation to alleviate poverty and deprivation throughout London with a particular regard for families suffering hardship.»
In response to this tribute, Adamus stated, «I feel greatly honored by this award but more importantly am grateful for the recognition it affords those with whom I collaborate, making possible the promotion of authentic resources and initiatives for marriage preparation, integrating theology of the body as well as matrimonial enrichment and remedial support for marriages facing difficulties.»
In his acceptance speech, the diocesan pastoral affairs director underlined the importance of affirming parents as the primary educators of their children.
Adamus affirmed: «Nothing is more intuitive and instinctual than the parents’ natural desire to love and protect their child.
«But what is needed in society and the Church more than ever today is the fresh and newly energized grasp by parents of their inalienable rights and divinely instituted responsibilities especially in the area of the moral formation of their children.»
Evangelization
He stated, «If the work of the new evangelization is to have the desired impact and outcome it must rest on the reality of the primary educator as a real and living force for good.»
Adamus is a speaker on topics such as John Paul II’s theology of the body, and the role of parents as the primary educators of their children. He was invited by the Pontifical Council for the Family as a presenter at the 2009 World Meeting of Families in Mexico.
Adamus authored several articles such as «The Stages of Life and the ‘Communion of Persons;’ A Challenge for Morality» (2007), and «The Genesis of Humanae Vitae — Memory and Identity» (2008), and contributed to the «Prayer Book for Spouses» (2009).
He is currently involved in the development of a diocesan Caritas organization aimed at promoting family solidarity with the poor.
The 2011 Family Values Award was also given to Phillip Blond, director and founder of the ResPublica think tank.
