MANILA, Nov. 8, 2011— A Catholic prelate has urged parents to take charge and be “better role models” for their children to learn from.
Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that it is imperative that parents lead by example for it would encourage their children to behave the same way.
“Teaching children about the right values is not just by telling them about it but then the parents will do the opposite,” Cruz said. “Parents have to show their children what is right.”
At the same time, the prelate also stressed that a child’s another greatest need is quality time with their parents.
“It’s a good thing and means a lot when the family is under one roof, eats together… that’s very important, “ he said.
Cruz is reacting to the controversy hounding the powerful Revilla clan following the murder of Ramgen Bautista, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla’s half brother.
Authorities investigating the case, however, tagged Ram’s brother Ramon Jose and his sister Maria Ramona as the alleged mastermind of the killing last October 28.
Ram was the son of former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. with Genelyn Magsaysay.
Archbishop Cruz said he was saddened by the incident hounding the Revilla clan but said “I might be wrong [but] it maybe the culmination of it all.”
“The problem here is it will be hard to teach them the right values if their parents did not serve as a good model in showing what is right and wrong,” he said.
“It’s hard for the children to learn (the right values) if the family background is wrong,” Cruz added.
Children from broken families are more likely to get into trouble than those in stable families, he also said.
Cruz said that two parents are much better than one if children are to avoid slipping into emotional distress and anti-social behavior.
“The victims of conjugal misunderstanding or conjugal irregularity are always the children,” he stressed. “They are maybe exceptions but usually it’s like that.” [CBCPNews]
