"The retreat from marriage in Middle America means that all too many Americans will not be able to realize the American Dream."
UPDATE 1/14/11: The Religious Procreate, Others Don't
UPDATE 5/26/11: No Marriage in Most U.S. Households: Census
UPDATE 4/5/13: More Women Shack Up & Give Birth; Marriage Rare
-- From "Higher Education Linked to More Church Attendance, Marriage" by James Gilbert, WLTX TV-19 (Columbia, SC) 12/7/10
A new report finds that Americans with college degrees are now more likely to attend church and stay married than those with only high school diplomas.
Sociology professor Brad . . . Wilcox, who directs the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, says that while college graduates tend to be liberal on many issues, they now take their own marriage and religion more seriously than those who are less educated.
The findings are contained in the 2010 issue of "The State of Our Unions," which is subtitled, "When Marriage Disappears: The Retreat from Marriage in Middle America."
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From "New Report Finds Marriage Trouble in Middle America" Source: University of Virginia, posted at Newswise, Inc. 12/5/10
The 2010 edition of the State of Our Unions report was released today by the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and the Center for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values.
The report is the first to address the causes of the observed retreat from marriage in Middle America. It finds that shifts in marriage attitudes, increases in unemployment and declines in religious attendance are among the trends driving the retreat.
The report finds . . . In a historic reversal, the cultural foundations of strong marriages – adherence to a "marriage mindset," religious attendance and faith in marriage as a way of life – are stronger now among the highly educated than among the moderately educated.
The author of this year's lead essay, sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox of U.Va.'s College of Arts & Sciences, said, "Marriage plays a central role in securing the American Dream for countless Americans. Adults and children fortunate enough to live in an intact, married family are much more likely to succeed in school and the workplace, to acquire a home of their own, and to experience upward mobility.
"The vast majority of American adults aspire to marriage, and children are much more likely to thrive if they are raised in a married home with their own mother and father," Wilcox said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Leaders From Diverse Faiths Express Commitment to Protect Marriage" by Michael Otterson, Contributor KCSG TV14/16 (St. George, UT) 12/6/10
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with other faiths Monday in signing “The Protection of Marriage: A Shared Commitment”, an open letter to express commitment toward the preserving of marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Presiding Bishop H. David Burton signed on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The letter, which was signed by leaders from Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish, Lutheran, Mormon, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Sikh communities, stated:
Marriage is the permanent and faithful union of one man and one woman. As such, marriage is the natural basis of the family. Marriage is an institution fundamental to the well-being of all of society, not just religious communities.To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
As religious leaders across different faith communities, we join together and affirm our shared commitment to promote and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We honor the unique love between husbands and wives; the indispensible place of fathers and mothers; and the corresponding rights and dignity of all children.
From "Religious leaders’ open letter reaffirms protection of man-woman marriage" posted at Catholic News Agency 12/7/10
The U.S. Catholic bishops have joined other American religious leaders in signing an open letter reaffirming their commitment to the protection of marriage as “the permanent and faithful union of one man and one woman.”
“The preservation of the unique meaning of marriage is not a special or limited interest but serves the good of all. Therefore, we invite and encourage all people, both within and beyond our faith communities, to stand with us in promoting and protecting marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” the letter concludes.
“Today is the moment to stand for marriage and its unchangeable meaning. We hope this letter will encourage just that,” commented Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) and a signatory to the letter.
He said the letter reflects a “broad consensus” across religious divides.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "'Stand with us' on marriage, leaders urge" by Tom Strode, Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press 12/6/10
Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land and other religious leaders Dec. 6 urged Americans to stand together in protecting the traditional understanding of marriage for the good of society.
The letter was released on the same day the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco heard oral arguments in a case regarding the definition of marriage. The court is considering an appeal of federal Judge Vaughn Walker's August invalidation of California's 2008 voter-approved constitutional amendment that protected the traditional definition of marriage. If the case goes to the U.S. Supreme Court and Walker's ruling stands, then every state could be forced to recognize "marriage" between homosexuals.
Among those joining Land in signing the letter were Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and archbishop of New York; George Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God; Harry Jackson, bishop of the Fellowship of International Churches; and Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
Others endorsing the letter included leaders of the Anglicans, Congregationalists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Wesleyans, General Baptists, Jews, Mormons and Sikhs.
Opponents of "gay marriage" warn that its legalization will negatively affect all of society, impacting everything from the tax-exempt status of religious organizations to the way private businesses are operated to what is taught in elementary schools.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 9/20/14 - Census: 'Gay Marriage' Official, but Fewer Marry
