Cleric says husband, wife have equal responsibility in child upbringing

An Anglican cleric, Rev. Maxwell Onyia, has said that husband and wife have equal responsibility to bring up well-nurtured children for societal benefit.

Onyia, who is in-charge of the Anglican Church of Ascension, Enugu, made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu.

The cleric was speaking against the backdrop of rising spate of divorce and single parenting.

He said that the church was against divorce, adding that children needed training from both parents to be socially balanced.

The cleric blamed increasing misbehaviour among children on divorce and other forms of abandonment.

“Marriage is ordained by God from the beginning."

“At the core of all family relationships is the union between a man and his wife. The man and woman must become one flesh."

“As the fruit of this union, the children belong as much to the man as to the woman."

“Both parents share equal responsibility in terms of training, providing emotional balance, healthcare and general provision especially in an era where both the man and his wife are working or doing businesses,’’ he said.

Onyia said that both parents must train their children to live godly lives.