Fathers in the family. Thoughts on a father's presence and his responsibility at MCC Fest
The Mária Kopp Institute for Demography and Families (KINCS) participated in this year's MCC Fest again as an exhibitor. The Mathias Corvinus Collegium’s Festival took place in Esztergom from 31 July to 2 August 2025. The fifth edition of the festival featured over 300 renowned public figures and professional speakers, including Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Tünde Fűrész, president of KINCS, János Lackfi, writer and Imre Bedő, founder of the Men's Club discussed the journey of becoming a father, the responsibilities of fathers, and the importance of a father's presence. They emphasised the crucial role that fathers play in raising children.
During the roundtable discussion entitled "I am my father's boiling bile...", Tünde Fűrész emphasised the important role of men in families. During the discussion, which was moderated by Melinda Hal, clinical psychologist and economist, the President of our institute highlighted that two-thirds of adult men in Hungary are fathers, and that nine out of ten men would like to become fathers. The President of KINCS also pointed out that, compared to the past, fathers today are much more actively involved in raising their children, and that there is widespread agreement in Hungarian society that mothers and fathers should share responsibility for raising their children, and that they should make the most important family decisions together.
János Lackfi described fatherhood as a powerful and transformative experience of continuity. In his view fatherhood is a form of care, that overrides the logic of competition and self-assertion, enabling us to build our lives according to an entirely different set of values.
Imre Bedő called fatherhood the pinnacle of a man's existence. The founder of the Men's Club pointed out that boys used to be raised their entire lives to be heads of the family, setting an example and protecting their loved ones. In contrast, today they are primarily prepared for work. He stressed that, in a world based on competition and material expectations, strengthening their spiritual role, and their caring, supportive presence is particularly important.
