It is a sacrosanct fact that many Maltese families are experiencing difficulties of all sorts. Some are financially related whereas others directly concern the emotional and spiritual aspect of the family in question.
In his well-timed pastoral letter of 18 May, entitled ‘Strengthening the Family’, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech pointed out that the individualistic mentality that is seriously threatening our traditional values as a nation is consequently sorely fragmenting the basic cell of our society, the family. What counts is the ‘society of individuals’ not the ‘society of families’. The question comes naturally: What can be done to strengthen the family in our country?
Before tackling this relevant issue, Bishop Grech takes the opportunity of giving his own definition of the family. According to him, the family we are talking about has nothing to do with “a mere ‘legal’ recognition of persons living under the same roof (household), or such similar arrangements”. He outrightly excludes that these unions qualify as a family. Rather, what essentially constitutes the family, as we all know it to be, is “the natural society of persons built on the relationship between a man and a woman, founded on unbreakable marriage bond for their mutual union and love, and the procreation, upbringing and education of their children”.
After clarifying any ambiguous definitions of what really makes up a family, Bishop Grech passes on to suggest three resources, thanks to which our families can be strengthened effectively.
The first resource is the state. The latter is duty bound to counter the “financial constraints, the precarious nature of work, the acquisition of a proper house etc,” encountered by a huge number of families by “devot(ing) more attention to creating favourable conditions for married couples to have children. It is indeed timely that ways to strengthen the positive initiatives already in place be found so that the newly-formed married couples be supported. These measures should not be considered as ex caritate but ex iustitia, so that while work practices and conditions are family-friendly, those families who are rearing their children are financially encouraged to do so”. Moreover, the state should guarantee that “the parents have an exclusive right to educate their children according to their religious and ethical beliefs. This right has to be fully respected, especially with regard to those parents who do not have the opportunity to send their children to a school of their choice. It is fitting that the design and implementation of the curriculum respect this right. The parents are the fundamental educators of their children and schools should respect this right and support it. This also applies to the state in the drawing up of the National Minimum Curriculum”.
The second resource comes from the media of social communications.
Unfortunately, many a time, the media tended to portray a negative picture of the traditional family. Thus, the time has come to balance this situation by presenting a positive scenario of family life.
Therefore, “the media should be instrumental in fostering the awareness of the positive experiences of family life, and the values which sustain it, such as unwavering fidelity, spirit of sacrifice, total commitment, patience, forgiveness and charity”.
The final resource for family renewal on our islands is the creation of an association of families. The latter assist in the acknowledging of the family by promoting it “as a subject and interlocutor so that in continuous dialogue with the state, contributes to the consolidation of the common good.” Furthermore, they consolidate society’s common good by assuring that “the family is respected and promoted as a fundamental good (value), and indispensable tool for the formation of future generations”.
Is it wise to strengthen the family?
■ Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
San Ġwann