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.27 They write,But some adults who want to liberate children are not as motivated by children sinterests as by their own interests some ideological and some that merely serveadult convenience.Adults face a conflict of interest in thinking about autonomyfor children.When they disengage themselves from the arduous task of rearingand teaching children in the name of increasing children s autonomy, adultsactual even if not fully conscious purpose may be to increase their ownautonomy by freeing themselves from the burdens of providing meaningfulcare.Even worse, some pro-child autonomy claims are merely a smokescreenintended to protect the interests of adults who profit from such claims whileindirectly exploiting the actual interests of children.The assertion that untu-tored, unguided children already enjoy all the autonomy they need may relieveadults of demanding obligations, but that assertion is ultimately a profoundform of child neglect.Children cannot raise themselves.28The Hafens claim that children s autonomy is little more than a façade andtheir argument pits the needs and interests of children against the needs andinterests of the adults who are responsible for their care (one suspects thatthey are thinking primarily of mothers).Those who desire to advance cer-tain freedoms for children are merely trying to abdicate their responsibilitiesto provide nurture and education.They write, To confer the full range ofchoice rights [voting, marrying, religious preference, education] on a childis also to confer the burdens and responsibilities of adult legal status, whichnecessarily removes the protection rights of childhood. 29 It can be counteredthat in the United States today, children do not enjoy this range of choicerights, and that fact has not stemmed a troubling trend to treat many youthsas if they are adults.In the juvenile court system, for example, more and morechildren are tried and sentenced as though they were adults.30 Restricting po-litical rights is certainly no guarantee that families, churches, or governments 58 Chapter 2will necessarily be moved to assure the economic rights of adequate food,shelter, health care, or education.And it is unclear why, if the picture of adultsand their self-interest painted by the Hafens is accurate, these same self-serv-ing adults are best suited to make decisions on behalf of children and to guidethem toward maturity.It is true that children cannot raise themselves.What the Hafens fail tomention in their critique of children s rights is that the CRC frames the exis-tence of such rights and indeed the individual child, in the context of the fam-ily.The CRC in no way envisions an untutored, unguided child as the ideal.According to the preamble, the family, as the fundamental group of societyand the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its membersand particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and as-sistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community. The CRC also claims right at the outset that the child, for the full and har-monious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a familyenvironment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. 31Practical theologian Pamela Couture has been among the most articulate inaddressing the charges leveled by children s rights critics:The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child promotes a vision ofa child who is well connected to his or her family, community, and nation, andtheir resources.A child has the fundamental right to remain connected to themultiple systems in his or her ecological web.32Children s rights as individuals are primarily the responsibility of families.Children, like all people, can only begin to exercise their autonomy in anymeaningful way when they are grounded in a secure network of relation-ships.33 The requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child do notimagine children s rights against family and community. As Couture readsthe CRC, children s rights are not understood individualistically, but com-munally, so that countries ensure that children are anchored and protectedwithin their families and communities
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