Dr Nicholas Briffa has said that recent remarks by the Bishop of Gozo are being interpreted too narrowly, stressing that the message should not be read as a criticism of parents who rely on childcare.
“I think the Bishop’s words are being read in a very narrow way,” Briffa wrote, explaining that his understanding of the message was “not criticism of parents who use childcare, but a reminder that children are not items to be managed around work schedules, but human beings with emotional needs.”
Drawing from his personal and professional experience, Briffa acknowledged the complexity of parental choices. “From my own experience as a father and a professional, I know how complex these choices are,” he said, adding that “many parents rely on childcare out of necessity, and that reality deserves support, not judgement.”
However, he questioned whether families are being offered genuine alternatives. “It’s also fair to ask whether our system truly offers families real choice,” he stated.
Briffa suggested that if the state invests heavily in childcare, it could also “consider supporting parents who choose to stay at home and care for their children, even for a limited period.” He proposed that “money saved from childcare could be redirected into a modest stipend” for such parents.
He concluded that “supporting working parents and valuing early caregiving at home do not cancel each other out,” describing this balance as “the deeper reflection the Bishop was inviting us to have.”
Briffa is a warranted clinical psychologist, sexologist, couple therapist, visiting lecturer at the University of Malta, and an elected committee member and researcher at the European Federation of Sexology.
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