NEWS | Wednesday, 25 February 2009

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The Church must face up to the challenge to see that more families stay together and raise their children in a stable environment, Archbishop Paul Cremona said yesterday in a seminar that discussed work and family.
He said that while the economic benefits of work were clearly visible, it seemed that the tough job of parenting and child rearing were not being given enough importance.
He said the family was the root of many ills and benefits for society, and that ensuring the care of children also meant seeing that couples stay together and remain stable. “The biggest gift we can give to children is a stable family in which to raise them. It is from here that worry or happiness will be passed on to society.”
Cremona said that it seemed the challenge of keeping a family together was not being given enough importance as the challenge of keeping a job. He said that while the latter raised money, a stable family was also important to the economy and could not be ignored.
He warned against leaving children to “leftover time” after a day’s work, in a veiled message to working couples.
“In the past someone would work and the other tended to the family. Today there are three jobs: two for the couple that works, and then there is their family. Which means less time to love and be with your children. I tell couples that they cannot leave their relations and those with their children for ‘leftover’ time.”
Cremona however said that 63% of Maltese women are still working inside the home, and that consideration should be given to women who left their successful careers to raise a family.
“Shouldn’t we recognise this contribution as well? If you are taking care of your family, you don’t get any remuneration; if you go to work, you get paid.”
Cremona said the new challenge was to see that work and family do not get separated, and that they are given a central part in society.
He said the Church must not be the only contributor to this debate. “Fifty years ago, the Church was more central and had a stronger voice, but today the Church cannot stand alone.”

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