Friday, 7 December 2007

Media

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4315830a11.html

Dad argues for right to hit son
By SALLY KIDSON - The Nelson Mail | Friday, 07 December 2007

SPARE THE ROD: Rowan Flynn of Nelson is prepared to go to jail to assert his right to smack his four children.

A Nelson father charged with assaulting his son, in one of the region's first prosecutions under a controversial new child discipline law, says he is prepared to go to jail for his right as a parent and a Christian to hit his child.

Rowan Flynn has been charged with two counts of assaulting his 11-year-old son under the new legislation, which came into effect in June and removed a parent's right to use "reasonable force" when discipling a child.

The 52-year-old denied the charges when he appeared in the Nelson District Court this week, and has chosen to have a judge and jury hear the case.

Mr Flynn, who has four children, told the Nelson Mail his son called the police two weeks ago after he hit the boy.

Mr Flynn disputes the police summary of facts. He estimated that he hit his son five times on the bottom with a wooden spoon after he was disobedient, and said it was a "tiny issue" that blew up.

While the police visited him at home to talk to him, they did not take any action at that stage, he said.

"But I made it quite clear to the cop that if it was needed again, I would smack."

Mr Flynn said that about a week later, he "clipped" his son around the face.

Several days later, he was at home cooking dinner when the police arrived and he was arrested.

Mr Flynn said he wanted to speak out about his case because he thought he would not have been charged under the old law.

"I believe very strongly in smacking as a form of discipline. I'm a Christian, and believe it's what I've been commanded to do.

"I'm not going to lay down and take it. I'm going to kick and scream to the very end."

He said he only occasionally used the wooden spoon, when his son's behaviour was particularly bad.

He believed that passages in the Bible gave him the right to use the spoon, or "rod".

"Parents must have the right to correct their children and give them a good whack if that's what they need.

"All this law is doing is making criminals out of good parents. I'm not afraid to say `I smack my kids'."

He believed that smacking was effective because it was an immediate form of discipline.

"We have to have it there, because the kids just know they can get away with anything if it isn't there as a punishment.

"I don't beat my kids. I don't thrash them.

"This new law is going to destroy families. It's already started."

Mr Flynn, who is separated from his wife, said his son had been living with him under an informal arrangement until he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Mr Flynn was granted bail but refused to sign the bail bond because of a condition that he not contact his son. He said he was handcuffed, searched and spent several hours in a holding cell before being released. He intends to appeal the bail condition, and is due back in court on January 18.

Nelson Bays police area commander Inspector Brian McGurk declined to comment on the prosecution, other than to say it had always been illegal for a parent to assault a child.

A 33-year-old Masterton man recently became the first parent convicted under the new legislation. Last month, he was sentenced to nine months' supervision and counselling for grabbing his son and smacking him three times.

Green MP Sue Bradford, who campaigned for the legislation, said the law had changed to put the rights of a child to be free of violence before the rights of the parent.

"What the law is about is protecting babies, children and young people from violence."

Ms Bradford said there were many alternatives to hitting children.

"It's a huge fallacy to think that beating them is helping them. It's hurting and humiliating them."

4 comments:

JamesHip said...

And so it begins...

BTW, I believe that smacking is a valid form of discipline, but where in the New Testament does it say I am commanded to do it? Am I being disobedient to God if I obey the laws of the land and refrain? I don't want to compromise on my Christian faith, but don't want the authorities to take away my kids. Can I do both?

Craig said...

Great question.

I do not see it as a commandment, such as "Love your enemies," or "Children, obey your parents." But it is clearly the method of child discipline commended by the Scriptures. If one does not smack with wisdom and discretion, both parent and child -- and society -- will suffer the conseqences.

The problem is an intrusive civil government making legislation in areas it has no business going. So now, if you take up the Biblical commendation to wield the rod of correction, you must be prepared to face the Biblically invalid but all very real consequences of criminal charges and possible removal of your children. It is social engineering at its worst.

dangerousideasformen said...

What Scripture says in Proverbs 13:24 is "He that spares the rod hates his son: but he that loves, diligently chastens him." Therefore, accordion to God, if you do not "diligently chasten" and instead "spare the rod," then you are HATING your child. And of course we have a direct command to "Love our neighbor," so I see that scripture logically commands the use of physical discipline when necessary. You are not accountable to me or anyone else if you don't obey that command, you are only accountable to Jesus the Christ (1 Cor.11:3,John 14:23-24).

The fact that you mention only the New Testament is a warning flag for me, though. If you are only looking to the New Testament for God's word, then you have much larger problems than how to discipline. I think Jesus (Matt.5:17-19) and Paul (2 Tim.3:16-17) would agree.

dangerousideasformen said...

On the issue of civil disobedience, there are many fine examples (Acts 4 and 5, the Hebrew midwives, Jesus Himself healing on the Sabbath) but you alone must judge by your conscience what level of risk you are willing to take. The Bible makes clear that ceasing to physically disciple when warranted is not the loving thing to do, but you will have to decide, perhaps on a case by case basis, whether your child's pattern or trend of disobedience warrants the risk. We take these risks every day, every time we step behind the wheel of a car, etc.. This is an issue of wisdom which every man will have to decide on their own conscience, but you have ample Scriptural support if you choose to disobey the unjust NZ government.