MOTHERS' UNION

This is Part 2 --- [ Part 1 | Part 3 ]

Points raised in discussion groups - minutes

• Not enough awareness and education programmes being conducted.
• Not enough resource people and resources for adequate training/education.
• Neglect by parents and poor parenting.
• Bad example
• Breakdown of authority and discipline within communities and families.
• Negative influence of videos
• Bad example by: authorities, leaders, family.
• Jealousy and envy.
• Lack of appropriate sex education : young people.
• Adults (menopause in particular).
• Changes in the community:
  • Family
  • Values
  • Traditional leadership
    
    
• Return of people from the cities to the village after years away.
• Lack of valuing of women. Lack of respect of women and for women.
• Treating women like some "thing" or object.
• Urbanization
• Competition:
  • Educated husband and uneducated wife.
  • Uneducated husband and educated wife.
  • Different wage levels.
    
    
• Bad side of the wantok system.
• Selfishness, greed, tribalism increasing in the community.
• Ignorance and lack of understanding.
• Poor literacy levels.

Problems facing the Church

Finances Falling number of men involved in Church Mixed motives for going to Church Lack of resources - especially people Role of women - limited opportunities Unfair demands made on the MU Sects - new movements Lack of disciplining in Church and MU Liturgy is poor - not enough participation Not enough care for workers Poor communications and difficulties of communications making growth difficult. Poor use of all resources. Lack of co operation at all levels Lack of commitment to Church Poor level of youth attendance and involvement.

Poor levels of giving to the Church Ignorance - absence of teaching Gender issues and roles Failure of the whole community to responsibility in the Church Lack of teaching resources Language issues (Too much English) Administration: Ineffective Too centralized Ineffective structures Lack of pastoral vision and plan Not enough lay ministries Liturgy: Not enough cultural features Language: too much English Boring; too adult Decline in interest in Church by youth

Problems facing the Clergy

Not knowing their parishioners Failing in visiting their parishes Liturgical performances bad No partnership with wives Poor role models for community: drink, language, anger, women, etc

Too demanding Lack of commitment No reverence in liturgy poor personal spirituality

Causes of the Problems

• Ignorance of possible alternative ways of living and working.
• Fear of change
• Lack of integral human development: failure to develop the full potential of our people.
• Lack of resources: finances, human.
• Unwillingness to change: an idolizing of the past and past ways.
• Lack of sharing of responsibilities.
• Lack of respect, understanding and care.
• Discouragement of those doing something.
• Failure to provide adequate and appropriate training and teaching.
• Not enough delegation and sharing of responsibilities.
• To big - too scattered - too poor.
• Changing values in society and inability to speak to the world.
• Poor leadership
• Shortage of good vocations.
• Lack of good pastoral programmes.
• Poor management of time and resources.
• Failure in teaching the faith and modernizing the Church.

Problems facing the Mothers' Union

• History: An English women's movement.
• Need to translate it into PNG society today
• Illiteracy - limits involvement, participation and growth.
• Finances
• Lack of resources: Books, materials, training.
• Lack of training and lack of programmes.
• Poor commitment.
• Poor cooperation often combined with a lack of respect.
• Inadequate and inefficient structures.
• Great distances making communications difficult.
• Lack of support from : Clergy; parish councils; community; Church; Dioceses.>
• Not enough discipline and not enough disciplining of members.
• Misunderstanding of the role of MU in the wider Church.
• Cooperation - coordination within the MU and between MU and others.
• Low morale
• Few young women are interested in joining.
• Lack of any programme of integral human development.
• A "you can't do without me" mentality.
• Failure in Leadership: fear in leading; feelings of inadequacy in leadership.
• Former leaders interfering or not giving up their positions.
• Language difficulties.

Areas for Action: Areas of Need

• Literacy
• Marriage breakdown
• Marriage separations
• Drugs and alcohol
• AIDS - STDs
• Violence against women
• Health care
• Education
• Integral human development
• Child abuse (sexual abuse)
• Sexual problems:
  • Unwanted pregnancies
  • Prostitution
  • Adultery
  • cohabitation
• Sex education
• Marriage and family life
• Teaching and education (all areas)
• Political awareness and human rights
• Environmental awareness