Duties and Rights of Parents and Children

Nature of Christian Family

  • The Christian family is referred to as a "domestic church" emphasizing its role in ecclesial communion.
  • It is a community characterized by faith, hope, and charity.
  • Its importance is highlighted in the New Testament.

Duties of Parents

  1. First Responsibility for Education
  • Parents hold the primary obligation for educating their children.
  1. Teaching to Avoid Negative Influences
  • Parents should guide children away from compromising and degrading societal influences.
  1. Spiritual Initiation
  • Parents are called to introduce their children to the mysteries of faith early on, acting as their first heralds of faith.
  1. Early Education in Faith
  • Education in faith should commence in the child's earliest years.
  1. Provision for Basic Needs
  • Parents must ensure their children’s food, clothing, health, shelter, and overall well-being, respecting their dignity as human beings.
  1. Care and Attention
  • Expressing respect and affection through devoted care that meets the physical and spiritual needs of children.
  1. Choice of Education
  • Parents possess the right to choose schools that align with their values and beliefs.

Duties of Children Towards Parents

  1. Reverence and Honor
  • Commandment: "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you." (Ex. 20:12)
  1. Obedience
  • Children are called to obey their parents, as emphasized in apostolic letters.
  1. Love and Gratitude
  • Filial love should be a grateful acknowledgment of life, education, and benefits received from parents.

The Wider Family

  • Domestic servants are considered part of the family in a broader sense; employers should recognize them beyond mere workers.
  • The relationship should embody loyalty rather than a mere contractual obligation.

Duties of Justice

  1. Employer Obligations
  • Just wages should be paid to servants.
  • Avoid overburdening staff with excessive work.
  • Provide reasonable free time.
  • Do not dismiss servants without just cause before the contract ends.
  1. Servant Obligations
  • Servants should ensure their work matches the compensation they receive.

Duties of Loyalty and Personal Care

  • Employers must prioritize the well-being of their servants, ensuring their physical and spiritual needs are met.
  • Long-serving domestics deserve special recognition, akin to family members, including respect, affection, and support during illness and old age.
  • Servants should show interest in the family’s well-being, fostering mutual loyalty.