Family planning

SOME perspective is required on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s latest utterances on the youth of today, and whether society is doing enough to help the “lawless” minority whose recklessness during last summer’s riots embarrassed the nation.

The rioters, Rowan Williams should recognise, were a tiny minority who ruthlessly exploited a brief vacuum in policing. In contrast the overwhelming majority of young people receive the support and love that enables them to flourish.

Furthermore, the continuing controversy about school standards should not overlook the fact that education now receives record levels of funding – and far more is now done to enable children from all walks of life to fulfil their potential.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Perhaps it would have been more beneficial if the Archbishop paid greater heed to these success stories rather than, once again, having to respond to accusations of negativity.

There is another point that Dr Williams needs to remember: most families take great care to ensure that their children are brought up in the correct way, but become exasperated by those parents who choose, for whatever reason, to abdicate their responsibilities and leave others to take charge of their offspring.

Rather than the future well-being of the nation’s youth becoming an issue for society as a whole, perhaps the Church of England needs to play a more positive role in championing family responsibility – and the importance of children being brought up in a loving home with caring parents who understand their obligations. As such, the onus should now be on Dr Williams to demonstrate how the CoE can be a force for good in 2012 rather than the Archbishop repeatedly using his position to criticise others, and to wrongly demonise all children.

Related topics: