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 abused and neglected children come from Christian households, with 75 percent being of iTaukei descent.
Reverend Turagavou expressed concern over the significant representation of Christian families in these statistics, indicating it casts a negative light on the community. He acknowledged the issue, stating, “We recognize the problem and will not shy away from it.” He emphasized that the church accepts its role in addressing social challenges within families, noting that these issues persist despite various awareness efforts.
To tackle these concerns, the Methodist Church may consider scaling back certain programs that detract from family time, as this has been a growing concern among congregants. He pointed out that prolonged involvement in church activities can take away from quality family interactions.
Reverend Turagavou reiterated the importance of strengthening family units to mitigate adverse effects on children, saying, “We will collaborate with the congregation to reinforce family bonds to help resolve these issues.”