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| Archbishop urges parents re-think | Archbishop urges parents re-think |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Attitudes towards parenting need a radical re-think, the Archbishop of Wales has said. | Attitudes towards parenting need a radical re-think, the Archbishop of Wales has said. |
| In a speech to the Church in Wales' governing body in Llandudno, Dr Barry Morgan said parents must work hard to spend quality time with their children. | In a speech to the Church in Wales' governing body in Llandudno, Dr Barry Morgan said parents must work hard to spend quality time with their children. |
| He said: "In our busyness and self-absorption we have simply lost sight of the big picture." | He said: "In our busyness and self-absorption we have simply lost sight of the big picture." |
| Dr Morgan said children were facing "huge social problems" and growing up in a society which fostered "greed". | Dr Morgan said children were facing "huge social problems" and growing up in a society which fostered "greed". |
| Parents should be given help and advice to support them through difficult times, Dr Morgan added. | Parents should be given help and advice to support them through difficult times, Dr Morgan added. |
| "Comfortable Britain" | "Comfortable Britain" |
| Dr Morgan said: "The recession is not something we can lay at the door of 'them' - the drunken youngsters, unmarried mothers, knife-carrying youths, anti-social gangs..." | Dr Morgan said: "The recession is not something we can lay at the door of 'them' - the drunken youngsters, unmarried mothers, knife-carrying youths, anti-social gangs..." |
| "Its causes well and truly belong to 'us' - comfortable Britain." | "Its causes well and truly belong to 'us' - comfortable Britain." |
| Parents may know the "real needs" of children, said Dr Morgan, but "frequently refuse to recognise that these often come at a personal cost to our own needs and desires - be they compromises in our earning capacity or career development, or commitment to work at a relationship. | Parents may know the "real needs" of children, said Dr Morgan, but "frequently refuse to recognise that these often come at a personal cost to our own needs and desires - be they compromises in our earning capacity or career development, or commitment to work at a relationship. |
| Children are the "responsibility of both parents", who should work hard to prevent family break-ups, he said. | Children are the "responsibility of both parents", who should work hard to prevent family break-ups, he said. |
| Dr Morgan, 62, who is married with two children, stressed: "I am not saying that a woman's place is in the home. Fathers are no less important than mothers in a child's life. | Dr Morgan, 62, who is married with two children, stressed: "I am not saying that a woman's place is in the home. Fathers are no less important than mothers in a child's life. |
| "Nor am I saying that parents must stay together at all costs. | "Nor am I saying that parents must stay together at all costs. |
| "Where there is a high level of conflict that cannot be resolved, or an abusive relationship, the child would obviously be better served if the parents separate." | "Where there is a high level of conflict that cannot be resolved, or an abusive relationship, the child would obviously be better served if the parents separate." |
| "Parent-craft" | "Parent-craft" |
| He said children and young people are facing "huge social problems", exacerbated by the credit crunch, because they are growing up in a society that fosters "greed and individualism". | He said children and young people are facing "huge social problems", exacerbated by the credit crunch, because they are growing up in a society that fosters "greed and individualism". |
| Turning to sex education, Dr Morgan said: "We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe." | Turning to sex education, Dr Morgan said: "We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe." |
| He said that schoolchildren should be taught about the commitment and responsibility involved in parenting, alongside education about sex and contraception. | He said that schoolchildren should be taught about the commitment and responsibility involved in parenting, alongside education about sex and contraception. |
| Dr Morgan said: "We need to be teaching these basic concepts, as well as parent-craft, from an early age. | Dr Morgan said: "We need to be teaching these basic concepts, as well as parent-craft, from an early age. |
| "Particularly to those who have not experienced it first hand, and not simply informing them about the mechanics of a sexual relationship and contraception divorced from the basic concepts of love, responsibility and self-respect." | "Particularly to those who have not experienced it first hand, and not simply informing them about the mechanics of a sexual relationship and contraception divorced from the basic concepts of love, responsibility and self-respect." |
| What do you think of the Archbishop of Wales' comments? Does parenting need an re-think? We will publish a selection of your comments. | |
| I think Dr Barry Morgan is absolutely accurate to address the cause of our current culture and economy instabilities as stemming from individual and family levels. It is too easy to place blame on higher-level social groups or institutions such as the bankers or the government, which is right to some extent, but we must face up to our own failures to take responsibilities and reflect honestly on our own lifestyles and values. I think underlying many of our environmental issues and financial issues is the attitude of greed and self-interest, and in order to face these important issues we need to address the very personal evils, as well as the systematic ones. The confrontation of our problems has become the only adequate response, for denial, despair, or inaction are no longer options, and this must include the important familial levels. Addressing these issues is the best way to change the world for the better. Each of us needs to be empowered, to properly value our responsi! | |
| bilities to each other, to our society and to the wider, international community, and at the same time abandon self-interest and self-promotion, by putting others first to form a world-wide community that would best-benefit all. Carla, Durham | |
| I think he should be given first prize in the 'stating the blinking obvious' category...Why is it that we give a platform to these people who either have nothing of use to say, or worse, advocate ridiculous adherence to antiquated dogma. David Edwards, Aberdare | |
| I absolutely agree. What an intelligent and perceptive man! At last, a sensible, honest and constructive set of thoughts and ideas to take and put into action. We should all be challenged from this to be better at raising our children.EKPhillips, Essex, UK | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |