Reverend Semisi Turagavou, the President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, is calling on parents to assume greater accountability for their responsibilities.
A report from the Ministry of Women and Social Protection highlights a concerning trend of child neglect, revealing that 76 percent of the abused and neglected children surveyed come from Christian homes, with 75 percent identified as iTaukei.
Reverend Turagavou expressed concern that such high involvement of Christian families paints a negative picture of the community. He stated, “We acknowledge the problem and will not shy away from it,” emphasizing the church’s commitment to addressing social issues that persist in homes despite various awareness campaigns.
In a bid to tackle these challenges, the Methodist Church may reduce some of its programs. The Reverend pointed out that certain activities can take time away from family interactions, which has raised concerns among many congregants.
He noted that excessive participation in church functions can detract from valuable family time, underlining the importance of reinforcing family structures to mitigate adverse effects on children. “We will work with the congregation to strengthen family ties to aid in resolving these issues,” he affirmed.