The Bishop of Exeter has said mothers who choose to stay at home to care for their children are being unfairly penalised by a Government.
The Bishop of Exeter said that traditional families were being hit by the Coalition in a manner that was "actually unfair" and which risked costing society more in the future.
The Rt Rev Michael Langrish, who sits in the House of Lords, said that his views represented those of a number of bishops who are concerned by the Government's apparent lack of support for family life.
Over the past few months, ministers have removed child benefit from wealthier families with one breadwinner and restricted financial help with child care to those mothers returning to work, yet repeatedly delayed a promise to bring in tax breaks for married couples.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the Rt Rev Langrish said society needs to place a greater value on the role of stay-at-home mothers and fathers, who were part of "the glue which enables us to be a healthy society".
He said the impact was being felt in "middle England" adding: "The concern for me is for those who have made a principled decision to stay at home and taken the financial hit. It is actually unfair and against the Government's own rhetoric."
