Family embodies confidence in the future, because the birth of a child encourages us to look to the future. On the occasion of the Nazareth Family Day, Interris.it interviewed Alfredo Caltabiano, president of the National Association of Large Families (ANFN).
The family is the fundamental cell of society , where we learn to live together and share resources, space and time with others, for the common good. The family “par excellence” is the Holy Family of Nazareth , composed of Jesus , Joseph and Mary : a model and example of faith, acceptance and courage. If there is a value that the family embodies, or should embody, it is precisely that of trust in the future . The birth of a child is, in fact, hope for tomorrow. This light must be nurtured to prevent it from dimming, as the demographic decline and the decrease in families with three or more children seem to indicate , down from around three million in the 1960s to the current 800-900 thousand. Interris.it spoke about this with the president of the National Association of Large Families (ANFN), Alfredo Caltabiano, on the occasion of the Feast of the Family of Nazareth .
The interview
Mr. President, what is your Christmas message for families?
The theme of Christmas is birth, and this presupposes looking forward with the light of hope. The family is the fundamental cell, the first nucleus where we are cared for, where we learn to live together, where we show solidarity. Peace is found first and foremost within us, within our families. We are a society in which everything is taken to extremes, there is no longer dialogue—while dialogue is the first thing we learn in the family. The seed of hope that grows from family dialogue can be an antidote to this climate of war and individualism.
The birth rate is at its lowest since Italian unification, and even couples who would like more than one child are giving it up. What is the value of having a large family in today’s society?
Having a child means having faith in the future because it makes you look forward. First of all, bringing a child into the world requires faith in life, and this, unfortunately, is lacking in young people. Very few couples who have children believe in these things. This also applies to grandparents; each grandchild also fuels their future prospects. Another characteristic of being a large family is joy, which certainly comes with hardship. We recently chose an image showing a family on top of a mountain: it’s worth the arduous journey, with its moments of discouragement, to reach the summit and admire the view.
What is life like in large families?
It’s a training ground for life where you learn to coexist, to argue, and to make peace. Each person fills the space left by the other, and in this context, relationships are created, ‘alliances’ are formed between siblings; it’s a horizontal education. Children in large families lack privacy and personal space, because it’s a somewhat chaotic life where they’re also ‘forced’ to share. But it’s a positive thing because when you come of age, you’re encouraged to be independent, to find your own path, knowing that family remains the cornerstone. Sharing helps you understand the logic of life, and it’s no coincidence that in companies, those from large families are appreciated for their ability to work in a team.
In a large family, is the value of “we” therefore opposed to individualism?
“In today’s society, there is a conflict between the ‘I’, which considers itself more important than others, on many levels, seeking to prevail over others, and the common good. The path we must take is that of ‘we.'”
Can you explain to us what criteria define a large family?
“At the legislative level, there’s no definition of a large family. When the association was launched, the requirement was a family with four children, but now the number has been reduced to such an extent that even families with three children are now included. Three years ago, the government committed to drafting a bill on the matter, and we’re confident.”
Are current family policies sufficient?
The universal single allowance is positive, but it has serious limitations. Precisely because it is universal, it applies to everyone, rightly including less well-off families, but the middle class is thus receiving reduced amounts that do not represent support. Another anomaly is that upon reaching adulthood, the amount for a child is halved because measures were planned that would have provided resources to adults, but these measures were never implemented. For the past thirty years, at all levels, family policies have overlapped with welfare policies, primarily since the introduction of the ISEE—a tool designed to combat poverty that also includes families. But it is an old and rigid tool and does not adapt to the various needs for which it is used, while in France they have introduced the family quotient. The situation is that 370,000 children are born in Italy, 700,000 to them. We are proposing a complete overhaul of the ISEE into a new, fair, and flexible instrument, and an inter-ministerial committee is working on this.
What do you propose to improve family policies?
We’re calling on the government to pass a law on large families and proposing two measures that are particularly close to our hearts. The relaunch of the family card, with special offers, discounts, and benefits from museums to transportation to grocery shopping, for those with three or more children. And incentives for the purchase of six-seater cars, an unavoidable choice when a fourth child is born, but one that comes with unaffordable prices. We’re calling for policies for all families, because a large family represents the end of a cycle: young people need a job and a home first, then tools for work-life balance when their first child is born, and other financial support when new children arrive.
Source: In Terris