Once again the Minister of Finance has talked about the role of the family in the development of the society in a budget presentation. But, it is noticeable that family life is not one of the Government’s stated priorities and that there is little indication of a concerted and positive approach to improving the quality of family life.

When the 2007 -2008 Budget Statement speaks about the family it does so strangely under the heading of “Social Protection”.

While proposals in the area of housing and health care can have a positive impact on family life, this year the family does not get the kind of attention it received in the 2005 – 2006 Budget Statement where “building strong families” and “personal security” were among the first of major priorities. 

This year’s Statement reiterates that sound family life is vital to the enhancement of the society. But it appears not to take into account the profound and rapid changes that have taken place in the world, and its impact on the family.

It declares: “The family, as the principal teacher and transmitter of ethical, social, spiritual and religious values is indisputable.” While this should be the case, unfortunately, the reality is that it is no longer so.

The powerful role of the media in shaping the values of the society and the life-styles of its members has meant that the place of the family is seriously challenged and is often usurped. Those who lead today – those who seek to lead with a 2020 vision – neglect this fact at their peril.

In today’s environment, where secularist leanings seek to overturn traditional values, family life can become a sensitive if not contentious matter. In last year’s budget presentation, the Finance Minister chose to spend time heaping praise on the Family Planning Association and promised to boost financially the work of the organisation several of whose approaches the Catholic Church finds abhorrent to the promotion of sound family life.

And when social protection becomes Government’s focus, it can be led to adopt policies which undermine what ought to be the inalienable rights of parents over their children. The family is a far too important building block of society to be the subject of political manoeuvrings.

Selfless and dedicated service

Perhaps, there will always be disagreement between the Church and those in government about the approaches that ought to be adopted to strengthen family life. If, however, a positive and truly life-giving approach is taken to improving the quality of family life then there will be ample common ground on which to build understanding.

In the few lines in which the Finance Minister addressed the family, this year, he did not give specifics about what will be done to uplift family life, except to announce plans for a National Parenting Programme “to educate young people on the role of parents and the ideals of good parenting” and to identify three other supportive programmes. He mentioned, not for the first time during a budget address, a National Family Policy but what such a policy entails is unclear.

The Government, according to the Minister, recognises “the selfless and dedicated service of civil society organisations”. If this is so then more needs to be done to cooperate with the work of non-governmental organisations to assist families in need.

The Archdiocesan Family Life Commission and its affiliates have been doing a great deal to assist families and to improve the quality of family life generally.

Most recently the Commission conducted a two-day workshop on Bereavement Counselling. This initiative and others of this kind can only serve the work of the Government and enhance our national life.

More needs to be done – and urgently – at a national level to introduce themes and activities that promote the cohesiveness of the family, sound values and ethical behaviour.