The parents of the "family in the woods" broke their silence with an open letter: they denied rumors of their denial of aid and alternative housing. "The children's education is our priority, but crucial documents arrived late."
A passionate, firm defense, yet open to dialogue. This is what emerges from the words of Nathan and Catherine, the parents who became known in the news as the "family in the woods," at the center of a complex legal and media affair that culminated with the removal of their three children, ordered by the Juvenile Court of L'Aquila.
In a letter sent to the press, the couple intends to dispel the clouds that have gathered over their conduct in recent days, categorically denying the rumors that they are adamant or isolated from the world.
The denial: "I never refused help."
The letter's focal point concerns the rumors circulating in various national newspapers. They alleged the couple's stubborn refusal to accept any alternative housing solution proposed by local authorities or private individuals.
"Even this morning, we continue to read that we are stubbornly entrenched in our intransigent and rigid positions," Nathan and Catherine write. "This is absolutely not true. We don't know who spread this news, but it is certain that whoever did so engaged in reckless and false conduct."
The parents clarify that, while they want to preserve their "philosophy of life" in close contact with nature, they are not "deaf to external stimuli".
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The issue of homeschooling
Beyond the housing issue, the heart of the matter concerns the education of the three minors. The court's ruling had raised concerns about the children's schooling. On this point, the couple expresses deep disappointment over a bureaucratic short circuit that would have penalized their position.
"We deeply regret that we have not had the opportunity to demonstrate how closely we observe, monitor, and manage homeschooling," they explain in the letter, attributing the misunderstanding to the "late production of certain documents" that had been duly submitted but not evaluated in a timely manner.
The education and open-mindedness of their children, they assure, are essential values: "Our wonderful children have been, are, and will be the sole and undisputed center of our journey."
A call for loyalty
The letter concludes with a thank you, but also a warning. Nathan and Catherine express their gratitude for the attention they have received, but ask that the narrative of their story return to the truth. The decision to move to that "extraordinary land" that welcomed them, they reiterate, was always geared toward the children's psychological and physical well-being, not their deprivation.
The final hope is that institutions and those close to them will continue to support them "with the loyalty and serenity that are essential when primary values in people's lives are at stake." Now the ball is back in the court's courtroom and social services' courts' courts' courts' courts, which are called upon to assess whether this openness could facilitate family reunification.
Comments (1)
It's important for parents to speak clearly about their situation. But I don't understand how they can say they want help and then refuse it. I hope a solution can be found for the children.