‘PRESSURES CAUSING FAMILIES TO FALL TO PIECES’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33816, 12 April 1975, Page 6

‘PRESSURES CAUSING FAMILIES TO FALL TO PIECES’

L rbanisation and the effect it has had on the pattern of life has brought pressures to bear on todays’ families, causing them to fall to pieces. Miss Claire-Lisle de Benoit, of the Scripture I nion of Switzerland, believes.

This was the situation in Europe, she said, and it was because New Zealand parents were concerned that the same thing might he happening here, that she was invited to come to New Zealand to talk about the situation in her own country.

Miss de Benoit is m : Christchurch at the invitation of the Scripture; Union of New Zealand. She said that many fac-: I tors were contributing to the! breakdown of families.) Among them were working; mothers, fathers not spend-; ing enough time with their] ; children, television and per-1 missiveness. “There has been an abdication of responsibility by the fathers. Many of them I have given up their role as 'head of the family.” she! I said.

1, “Future shock” was not; - too strong a phrase to use; fl to describe what parents] should be arming their child-; ten against, she added. . ] “We cannot prevent our! " children experiencing what] J| goes on in society but with] jthe influence of the Chris-' J tian home behind them they; J will be better able to cope.” Examples ' Miss de Benoit said; 1 Christainity in the home did! ; not necessarily have to pro-i fl vide a creed but an example! [of the kind of life to live.

I “The children should not [be subjected to dry rules [and morals but be shown the reality of a Christian I life.” she said.

All parents must be made ] aware of tlveir responsi- : biiities to their children. A

I spiritual nurturing in their .'early years was most im- ; portant. | Miss de Benoit believes ; the way to lessen ’ the pres- ■ sures on families is to work I with the families as a whole, [not just with the children or [with the parents. Family camps end weekends could be arranged with I the whole family conIcentrating on one theme. “Children learn bv imitation, land for a child to see his ; father reading from the I Bible at home would be betj ter than his going to Sunday [school,” she said.

Miss de Benoit said that in times of distress, as is illustrated by the Vietnam war, people want to help the children first. However, a child’s spiritual welfare should be an everyday concern. Tragedy “The greatest tragedy of; today is that it seems the; whole concept of truth being! [an absolute for everybody; [ has died.” Miss de Benoit, who has; [been with the Scripture! I Union of Switzerland since: 11939, has done a lot of work, iwith children and adults] 1 alike. She has written pray-1 1 ers for small children. Bible-; I study books and hymns and] Ichoruses. She has been in- 1 ! volved in Sunday school! j teacher-training in several] [European countries, leads] [week-end camps for adu’tsj land children and has conducted radio programmes for! !women and children. i Her family is known in; ! the focal canton as part of! the Swiss aristocracy. When; [she inherited one of her! (father’s homes she divided it; : up into flats for people who] needed homes. Miss de Benoit is speaking, at functions organised by; the Scripture Union today, and tomorrow. ,1