Dads feel more responsible for spiritual care of their child - church survey

Nine out of every 10 fathers feel responsible for the souls of their children, research commissioned by the Church of England has revealed. More than eight out of 10 mothers feel the same responsibility. By age, those feeling most responsible were people aged from 25 to 34 years, according to the survey.

Some 84 per cent of men and women, with or without children, agreed with the statement that they, as parents, were responsible for the spiritual care of their child and 68 per cent strongly agree. Men with children in the household were even more likely to agree. Where there are children in the household 88 per cent of men compared to 82 per cent of women were likely to agree.

The research, carried out by ICM Research, showed some variation by age with 78 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds agreeing with the statement compared with 88 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds and 84 per cent of those over 65.

Men from the North of England took the most responsibility for the spiritual care of their children with 91 per cent agreeing it was their responsibility as a parent. This compared with 81 per cent in the South East, 85 per cent in the Midlands, 79 per cent in Wales and the South West and 82 per cent in Scotland.

Now the Church of England, the Mothers' Union and the FLAME Network (Family Life and Marriage Education), have produced a pocket-sized card that will be given to fathers having their baby baptised.

The card, called What Dads Add includes ideas for giving spiritual care, prayers and an explanation of the Baptism promises as well as affirming the role of a father. It will also promote a website, due to go live in the next couple of weeks, www.whatdadsadd.co.uk which will give further resources and ideas for Dads and churches.

The Rt Rev Nick Baines, Bishop of Croydon and father of three grown-up children, said: "Recent surveys on praying and belief have shown that many people in this country have a strong personal spiritual life.

"However the results of this survey have encouraged us with parents expressing a consistent sense of responsibility for the souls of their children.

"We don't know exactly what people envisage when they think about spiritual care but we hope these cards become one small way in which the church offers support to parents who express their faith by having their child baptised."

The Rev Lynda Barley, Head of Research and Statistics for the Church of England, said: "Men want to contribute to the spiritual upbringing of their children as much as women. The number who strongly agreed that they, as parents, were responsible for the spiritual care of their child is amazingly high and surprisingly consistent across the country.

"The survey has reminded us that we need to do all we can to help these dads and mums to get involved in the spiritual development of their children. They are both needing and open to support in this area."

The Church of England survey was carried out by ICM Research, with 1,018 adults polled by telephone. They were asked to imagine they were a parent if they did not have children and were then asked: "To what extent would you agree or disagree with the following statement: I feel a responsibility for the spiritual care of my children?"