Reverend Semisi Turagavou, the President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, is calling on parents to embrace their responsibilities. A report from the Ministry of Women and Social Protection highlights that 76 percent of cases involving abused and neglected children originate from Christian households, with 75 percent of these cases involving iTaukei children.
Reverend Turagavou commented that this prevalence within Christian families reflects negatively on the community. “We recognize the issue and will not ignore it,” he stated. He emphasized that despite various awareness campaigns, social issues within homes continue to persist.
In response to these challenges, the Methodist Church may consider scaling back certain church programs. Reverend Turagavou pointed out that some activities may interfere with family time, a concern expressed by numerous church members. He noted that spending excessive time on church activities can impact family dynamics negatively, highlighting the importance of reinforcing family cohesion to protect children’s well-being.
“We will collaborate with the congregation to strengthen family ties and address these problems,” he affirmed.