CMP Review 2026-01-19

January 19, 2026

“Some 30 years ago Malinowski refuted these pessimistic and negative appraisals with the striking statement, ‘The family, that is, the group consisting of mother, father and child, still remains the main educational agency of mankind. Modern psychologists agree that parenthood as the dominant influence of infancy forms the character of the individual and at the same time shapes his social attitudes and thus places its imprint upon the constitution of the whole society.’

“… I endorse these conclusions and would emphasize one in particular. Family life not only educates in general but its quality ultimately determines the individual’s capacity to love. The institution of the family is decisive in determining not only if a person has the capacity to love another individual but in the larger social sense whether he is capable of loving his fellow men collectively. The whole of society rests on this foundation for stability, understanding and social peace.” (MLK)