Moscow, November 8, 2016
On November 7, 2016, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with the new Russian Federation’s Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Anna Yuryevna Kuznetsova at the working Patriarchal residence in Chisty Lane in Moscow, reports Patriarchia.ru.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated Kuznetsova with her new appointment and drew attention to the fact that the scope of activity of a children’s ombudsman is associated with a theme which the Church has traditionally given special consideration. Specifically, these are the issues of the protection of family, motherhood and childhood.
Anna Kuznetsova thanked His Holiness for his support and noted that today the problem of protecting family values unites the Church, the state and society. Among the measures taken by the state in this field she particularly mentioned the development of the institution of the commissioners for children’s rights – currently there are such commissioners in all regions of Russia. Additionally, today public initiatives for the defense of family values are more often supported by the state.
“Undoubtedly, the Church plays a huge role,” the children’s ombudsman continued. “One major example of this is the development and intensification of work on the protection of motherhood. There are so many children who have been saved from being aborted, who have been saved from becoming orphans; so many families have been preserved. And this is to the credit of those people who consider it their mission – not merely a job or an assignment, but the mission of protecting childhood.”
In Anna Kuznetsova’s view, the common task of the Church and the state is to prevent the dilution of values which contribute to preserving both the individual person and the family alike.
The children’s ombudsman has divided the most serious modern threats into internal (alcoholism, drug addiction) and external ones, “when alien notions and values infiltrate our legal framework.” “That is why it is so important to build our foreign policy properly,” she added.
“I sincerely rely on your support for the good of the family institution and children, and for the restoration of genuine Christian values,” the children’s ombudsman A. Kuznetsova said, addressing Patriarch Kirill, stressing that the protection of children and preservation of the traditional family are the keys to a decent future Russia.
During the conversation matters of interaction between the Russian Federation children’s rights ombudsman institution and the Russian Orthodox Church were discussed.
