A family, however, is a very special type of
"community." The Research Department has not come across any
statements which specifically name the father as responsible for the
"security, progress and unity of the family: as is stated in Bahiyyih
Nakhjavani's book [When We Grow Up], but it can be inferred from a number of
the responsibilities placed on him, that the father can be regarded as the
"head" of the family. The members of the family all have duties and
responsibilities towards one another and to the family as a whole, and these
duties and responsibilities vary from member to member because of their natural
relationships.
(From a letter dated 24 December 1980 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
