Reverend Semisi Turagavou, the President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, is calling on parents to take ownership of their responsibilities. A report from the Ministry of Women and Social Protection reveals that a significant 76 percent of children who have been abused or neglected hail from Christian households, with 75 percent belonging to the iTaukei community.
Reverend Turagavou expressed concern about this troubling statistic, highlighting that it reflects poorly on the church community. “We acknowledge the problem and will not shy away from it,” he stated, emphasizing the church’s commitment to taking full responsibility as social issues continue to exist within homes, despite ongoing efforts to raise awareness.
In response to these concerns, the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma is considering scaling back certain church programs. The Reverend pointed out that some of these activities interfere with family time, an issue that has been raised by numerous congregation members.
He remarked on the negative impact that excessive church involvement can have on family dynamics, stressing the importance of strengthening family ties to safeguard the well-being of children. “We will work with the congregation to reinforce family bonds to help resolve these issues,” he affirmed.