THE traditional family is close to becoming an endangered species in Australia, and deserves special protection.
But as Governor-General Sir William Deane pointed out at the National Catholic Family Gathering in Melbourne last weekend, it would be a mistake to discriminate against those who live in arrangements which may not conform to the traditional view of a family unit.
Families come in many shapes and sizes, and this should not be overlooked. An uncharitable attitude toward families that do not conform with the traditional model should be discouraged.
As the Governor-General rightly points out, by focusing on the unique positiveness of the family in the wider sense, tragedies such as those involving the stolen generation would be avoided.
