Family and Marriage News
Coverage of family life, marriage, parenting, and cultural issues shaping households across America, with clear reporting and thoughtful analysis.
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- News
NY Farmers Fined $13K For Declining to Host a Same-Sex Marriage End Their Legal Fight
Cynthia and Robert Gifford, the owners of a small farm in upstate New York who were ordered to pay $13,000 for refusing to host a same-sex wedding ceremony, chose to end their legal battle with the state of New York on Tuesday. Of the decision, their lawyer, James Trainor, told The Daily Signal the lawsuit…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Why Family-Friendly Movies Are Gaining Ground in Hollywood
Moviegoers may think of the Oscars as the ultimate awards ceremony, but if you are interested in the best family-friendly movies and televisions shows of the past year, then you’ll want to check out the Movieguide Awards, airing this week on ReelzTV and listed here. I attended the awards event and spoke with Movieguide founder…Genevieve Wood -
- Opinion
The Economic Value of Marriage
In honor of National Marriage Week, consider this question: Does marriage impact the economic well-being of societies? One of the most important answers to the solution of poverty lies not in government programs, but in the institution of marriage. For the past 50 years, our country has been losing the war against poverty. More than…Elisabeth Zenger -
- Opinion
Love and Marriage: The Secret to a Lasting Relationship
This is National Marriage Week, and it is fitting that the week ends with Valentine’s Day. After all, commitment of marriage vows provides the foundation for the lasting love that is heralded in the holiday greeting cards. Sadly, throughout the past 50 years, marriage rates have plummeted, while the rates of cohabitation among couples have…Collette Caprara -
- Opinion
How Marriage Helps Kids
Marriage is especially important for children. Fifty years of social science has shown that kids do better on a wide range of outcomes when they grow up in homes with their married biological parents. Unfortunately for children being born in America today, marriage is becoming rarer. According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2015 Index of Culture…Melody Wood -
- News
Christian Family Sues Over ‘Islamic Indoctrination’ Homework
A Maryland couple are suing their county school system, the school board, and their daughter’s high school principal over what they claim was “Islamic indoctrination and propaganda” in a world history class. John Kevin Wood and his wife, Melissa, say they are Christians and were upset to learn their 16-year-old daughter brought home homework that characterized Muslims…Kristiana Mork -
- News
How This Governor Upheld Religious Freedom in Issuing Marriage Licenses
Acting to resolve a conflict between personal conscience and political duty on the subject of same-sex marriage, Kentucky’s new governor decided that marriage licenses don’t have to bear the name of the county clerk whose office issues the license. Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, announced his executive order last week along with four others. “To ensure that the sincerely…Leah Jessen -
- Opinion
LGBT Activists Fight State Law That Protects Believers Against Gay Marriage
Historically, Democrats and Republicans have agreed that religious liberty is a core American value that should be protected whenever possible. Yet over the past decade, this consensus has come under increasing assault from the left. A recent manifestation of this hostility to people of faith is a Dec. 9 lawsuit challenging a North Carolina statute…Mark David Hall -
- News
Freedom Is a ‘2-Way Street’: Heritage Scholar Talks About What Marriage Means at LGBT Event
Do special rights for some get in the way of civil liberties for others? A prominent voice for the historic view of marriage, Ryan T. Anderson, agreed to disagree while speaking at a summit Thursday in Washington, D.C., addressing issues of importance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual activists. “What we want here is equality under the law,…Leah Jessen -
- News
Bermuda Hotel Cancels Heritage Scholar’s Speeches on Same-Sex Marriage for Being ‘Anti-Diversity’
A Bermuda hotel canceled two events this week because the organizers believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman. Ryan T. Anderson, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, was scheduled to speak on marriage at public forums Tuesday and Wednesday at the hotel in Pembroke Parish, Bermuda. But the hotel canceled the…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
In Australia, Catholic Bishops Face Court Action, Huge Fines Over Traditional Views on Marriage
Australians have always viewed America’s litigious culture with suspicion. Our “no worries mate” approach to life means we tend not to rush off to court at the drop of a hat. So last week when a state government commissioner ruled that the nation’s Catholic bishops may have broken the law in distributing their booklet “Don’t…Lyle Shelton -
- Opinion
Can Opposing Same-Sex Marriage Get You Fired at Marquette University?
MADISON, Wis.—John McAdams remains in professional limbo at his Jesuit school. The long-time Marquette University political science professor at the center of one of the most controversial academic freedom cases in higher education continues to wait for a faculty hearing committee’s decision on his professional fate. Marquette has said it intends to fire McAdams because of his blog post a…M.D. Kittle -
- Opinion
Michael Landon Jr.’s Heartfelt Quest to Revive TV’s ‘Family Experience’
At its height, Hollywood perfected the art of storytelling for television and the world was better for it. Writers spent years honing their craft to help produce programs and entertainment that would stand the test of time. These writers wove together stories, characters, and dialogue that reflected our own experiences and at the same time…Christy Stutzman -
- News
This Music Awards Show Honors ‘Faith, Family, and Country’
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—This past August, during an acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West announced his plan to run for president of the United States in 2020. The admission, widely reported by media outlets, was perhaps not entirely shocking in 2015, when awards shows frequently resemble either popularity contests or spectacles. (As the…Madaline Donnelly -
- Opinion
How Marriage, Strong Families Contribute to Economic Growth
Is there a connection between strong families and a thriving economy? A new study, “Strong Families, Prosperous States,” takes a step toward answering the question. “Despite the clear economic gains associated with strong families at the individual level, economists across the ideological spectrum have failed to investigate whether strong families increase economic growth,” co-authors Brad Wilcox,…Rachel Sheffield -
- Opinion
How the Mets’ Daniel Murphy Has Made Sure to Put Family First
On Wednesday, Daniel Murphy continued his march through the postseason and made headlines by setting a record for hitting a home run in six consecutive postseason games, winning the National League Championship Series (NLCS) Most Valuable Player award, and helping the New York Mets complete its sweep of the Chicago Cubs to send the team to…Todd Thurman -
- News
Florida Family Policy Council Calls on Gov. Rick Scott to Defund Planned Parenthood
The Florida Family Policy Council has launched a campaign to defund Planned Parenthood in the state. In an interview with The Daily signal, John Stemberger, the president and general counsel for the Florida Family Policy Council, said that the statewide campaign is an effort to call on Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to fully defund Planned Parenthood…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
How the Left Has Sabotaged Marriage and Family
On June 26, 2015, four of the Supreme Court’s liberals joined Justice Anthony Kennedy in discovering a new right to same-sex marriage in the U.S. Constitution, one thereby imposed upon all 50 states. In response, of course, liberals were jubilant. Their leader, the one who promised to fundamentally transform America, responded by literally illuminating the…Paul Kengor -
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The Case of Former Atlanta Fire Chief Fired Over Marriage Views Goes to Court
Former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran lived the American dream. That is, until he was fired from his childhood dream job for writing a book during his own private time. Cochran’s book, published in 2013 and called “Who Told You That You Were Naked?,” expresses a biblical view on marriage and addresses homosexuality from his…Leah Jessen -
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What’s After Failure? Former NFL Quarterback Jeff Kemp Talks Faith, Family, and Comebacks
“I got my big chance to be a starting quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks, and in one half of play against the 49ers, my old team, I stunk it up,” says Jeff Kemp, unfazed by the callused heartache he now accepts as mere fact. “I got booed, we got booed, and I got benched. I…Madaline Donnelly