Many of us can relate to the difficulties of living as a one-income family in a nation and marketplace where two-incomes have become the norm. Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, recognizes the problem and suggests a solution (for Italy):Cardinal: Stay-at-Home Moms Deserves Compensation, Incentives
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
ROME, March 3, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, has highlighted the importance of a mother in the home caring for her family and has suggested economic compensation or tax reductions for those women who choose to do this.
Speaking on the theme of "Family and Business, Vital Cells of Society," at a meeting of the Catholic Union of Businessmen and Executives (UCID) in Rome last week, the cardinal noted that many of the societal problems today, especially those concerning children and youth, are a result of the fact that both parents work outside of the home.
He observed, "The self-realization sought by the woman in a job, in a career, in social success has as a cost the renouncement of the marriage and children."
The Italian edition of L'Osservatore Romano reported that during his address the cardinal stressed that "domestic work deserves economic recognition" and that "numerous families deserve special reductions and financial facilities," pointing to the examples of France and Germany where "families with three children pay €2,000 [$2,720] or €3,000 [$4,080] less" in taxes.
Cardinal Antonelli also addressed the problem of the effects of a missing father figure on children, and cited statistics from the U.S. which he said illustrate a trend in many parts of the Western world to single parent families.
"Ninety percent of homeless people, 72 percent of adolescent suicides, 60 percent of rapists and 85 percent of youth in jail grew up without a father present," the Cardinal said.
"The traditional family," Cardinal Antonelli continued, "is even being considered oppressive injustice, and matrimony and maternity are viewed as things from which a woman must liberate herself."
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It's nice to read about encouragement directed at mom's who want to stay at home (and stressing the importance of that job). I don't know about you, but I've had enough people ask me when I'm going back to work and then look very confused when I say that my full time job is being a mom. The next question is about what I'll do when the little ones are in school... and if the questioner looked confused when I say that my job is being a full time mom, they look as though I've suddenly grown two heads when I say that we're absolutely committed to homeschooling (when it gets tough I'll just call up some of the conversations I had with the girls I coached and my resolve will be strengthened over and over again).
The funniest part of the questioning really is the idea that there would be "nothing to do all day" once the kids were in school. With children at home or at school there's more than enough to fill every day and dozens (if not more!) of places to save money and cut costs and make a house a home!
Nice post, lovely pics.
ReplyDeleteThat was great to hear (so behind on news too). Being a SAHM is important to me too anything recognizing that is nice. I do plan (at this point) on going back to work outside the home at some point, but no arguments that staying home at that point would still be just as important or just as hard. I know it is...
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