Sister Helen Alford addresses Vatican conference on Amoris laetitia

Sister Helen Alford addressed a Vatican conference marking the 10th anniversary of the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia. During the meeting at Paul VI Hall, the Dominican sister and president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences spoke before Pope Leo XIV and various bishops.

Alford described the law of gradualness as a principle where individuals know and practice moral good through stages of growth. She clarified that this concept is not a gradualness of the law itself, but rather refers to how people prudentially exercise free acts when they may not fully understand or practice the objective requirements of the law. She noted that the moral ideal remains even in these circumstances, as the law serves as a gift from God that indicates the path.

In her meditation, Alford connected Amoris laetitia with Familiaris consortio, the apostolic exhortation on the family by Saint John Paul II, noting that both documents address moral growth in relation to the law. She urged for ways to encourage young people to face the challenges of family life by embracing stress and tension while building courage and trust.

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell also spoke at the event, stating that environments must be created to preserve Christian life.