DIVIDED HOMES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 767, 2 April 1954, Page 5

DIVIDED HOMES

Sir,-I have just heard a 1YA panel discussing the all-too-recurring problem of the child of separated parents. They agreed that there was no general solution to such tragedies, so liable to repeat themselves in future generations. Certainly no one mentioned the only possible solution, ie., reduction of the number of separations. I have yet to hear of any organisation officially adopting any positive measures to do this. They can’t. get beyond the negative "make divorce more difficult." The churches, which should be taking a lead in such a Serious problem, seem resigned to the present state of affairs, in spite of the excellent work of individual clergymen. Is.it more. noble to make frantic sfforts to bolster up an already tottering marriage, or to take some measures beforehand to see that it’s less likely to totter? Inspiring exhortations, or threats, or even prayers for happier family life,

-------- ee slr ee Ee ee ee ee, Os a, al are just empty words. Prayers aren’t answered by miraculous divine intervention, but by the agency of human effort. Surely there are people with sufficient experience and knowledge to formulate a positive policy Which could be agreed to by a united body, and acted on, as an example to the rest of the community. What a wonderful change it would be to hear of a church conference discussing, not divorce (abolish the word completely!), but happy marriages, and how to build them, from advice on early childhood training likely to produce more emotionally stable adults, to a sound course of preparation for martriage. The press recently reported the case of a clergyman who "guarantees" marriages at which he officiates. We'd have many less cases of broken homes if

many more did so.

J.

B.

(Opotiki).