Church slams baby claims

The Chairman of the National Council of Churches, Deacon Le'aupepe Kasiano, has slammed suggestions that abandoning babies is part of the Samoan culture.

The suggestion has emerged following the latest incident in Australia where a Samoan woman has been charged for abandoning her baby in a drain (see story page 18 and 19).

Urging women to be more up front and ask for help when needed, Le’aupepe blamed such incidents on young people having too much freedom. He said the onset of what he described as a “foreign concept called human rights” has not helped matters.

“In the life of a Samoan, even if you have ten children and married, you still have to obey your parents,” said Le’aupepe.

“That is how it was in the past. Parents instructed their children according to God’s teaching but the introduction of such belief (rights of a child) has suppressed parents. Now we have children turning and threatening their parents with these rights.”

The Chairman said smacking children and instructing them on what to do has been reduced because of legislation “but this is where the problem arises.”

The elderly deacon of the Catholic Church pointed out that in the past, children were taught that a person is an image of God. He added that having a baby outside of marriage (tofale) is not new.

“When girls had babies outside of marriage in the past, they did not wrap them up and throw them away. No they cared for them and their families accepted them as their own and loved them.”

Recalling the past, Le’aupepe said there have been so many changes. He explained that even when he was in his 30s, he was still sleeping on his mother’s arms.

“No matter where that child wanders off to, he or she still comes back to the arms of their parents to sleep on,” he said. “Nothing happened in those days…it was so warm, and that warmth relationship shared by children and their parents is rare at this time and age.”

The Chairman also encourages young women to speak to their mothers.

“Don’t be afraid to tell your mother that you need help,” said Rev. Kasiano.

“Your mother will prepare you for what is coming and she will help you. Asking for help will take away the thinking of abandoning God’s gift.”

N.C.C Secretary, Rev. Maauga Motu agrees. In light of a number of incidents involving Samoan women abandoning their babies, Rev. Motu highlighted the need for Samoa to draw closer to God.

He believes that dumping babies are done by those who have gone away from God.

“I feel that the incident took place because she stopped going to church,” said Rev. Motu.

“The pastor’s house and the church is where children are nurtured."

"Once they break away from that, they start having problems and begin to take the wrong approach."

“The counseling from the pastor is no longer there, to advice and give support.”

He added that because children were made aware of the gospel teachings, they also feared and knew the consequences of wrong actions.

The baby having survived for five days after being dumped in a drain by his mother is a miracle, said Rev. Motu.

From his observation, Rev. Motu said too many teenagers are falling pregnant at a very young age.

Like Le’aupepe, he blamed the fact that children these days have too much freedom.

He also referred to places like the “Home and Away” at Sogi as a big problem in Samoa.

“It is shocking when you go past that place and you see them treating it like a date spot and doing things you don’t want to see,” said Rev. Motu.

“It is unbelievable to see it happening in the middle of our town. I think police should keep a watch of the area.”

Rev. Motu also called for young couples seen at the area to be “spanked” and be told in no uncertain terms to leave because they are bad examples for everyone.

“The area is not safe and it gives the impression that what they are doing is acceptable to be done publicly,” he said.

“If they see me walking down there and I say something, they would tell me it is none of my business. But they don't react the same when they see the Police.”

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