Attempt to Kidnap the Children
The Proposed Child Care Act
The Minister for Social Development commissioned the South African Law Commission (SALC) to revise the Child Care Act a few years ago. This was done to streamline adoption procedures, since there are currently many legal problems in this area.
Africa Christian Action wrote a submission to the SALC expressing concerns from a Christian point of view (you can read this on our web: http://www.christianaction.org.za, under ’submissions’, or contact our office and ask for the “Hands off our Children!” newsletter). Many of our contacts and supporters also wrote submissions. Earlier this year, the SALC released their report of the revision of the Child Care Act, a huge tome (if you need an insomnia cure, you can download it from the SALC website at http://www.law.wits.ac.za).
Unfortunately the liberals, promoting their own agenda, have managed to hijack the process, and the proposed law reflects their (lack of) values. On the other hand these proposals are not law yet, and Christians still have plenty of opportunity to make a difference. If we show the government that there are many of us who are strongly opposed to the proposals, and have viable alternatives, by the Lord’s grace we can win this battle.
According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, to ’kidnap’ means to ’carry off by illegal force or deception’. In the proposed law:
Children before birth are specifically excluded from protection, thus endorsing and allowing continued bloodshed through abortion.
All girls are specifically given the right to have abortions without parental consent, even though any other surgery requires parental consent.
Children are alienated from their parents by making condoms ’a child’s right’, thus undermining their sexual morals. There is no responsibility to investigate abuse (no matter how young the child requesting or buying condoms is) even though sex with a child under 16 is a crime.
Parents’ Biblical right and duty to discipline their children is restricted. Currently, ’reasonable’ chastisement is legally accepted, but if the proposed law is passed by Parliament, any parent using corporal punishment (no matter how reasonable) to discipline a child, can be charged with assault and imprisoned.
Children have the right to social security. To a socialist this sounds nice, but the State is undermining and usurping the family and Church’s role.
’Parental rights’ can be given by courts to more than two people. This reflects our society’s widespread family break down, and is open to abuse.
It is always good to understand and use Biblical arguments. Even if we are talking to hardened non-Christians, the Word of God is powerful and active, and will touch their consciences.
We can also use the South African Constitution. Since it mandates that everything be done in the best interests of the children (a nebulous standard), we can argue that our proposals are in the children’s best interests. The Constitution also gives children the right to parental care, and we can argue that e.g. giving children an absolute right to condoms negates their right to parental care.
“Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 4:31-5:1
by Jeanine McGill
Jeanine McGill is the National Co-ordinator of Africa Christian Action
PO Box 36129, Glosderry 7702, Tel. 021 689 4481, Fax.021 685 5884,
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