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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- Opinion
Does Marriage Make You Happier? What a New Study Found
“Those who marry are more satisfied than those who remain single,” claims a new study by the National Bureau of Economic Research. But does marriage itself influence happiness? Or is it just that happier people are more likely to wed? This study gives support to the idea that marriage itself contributes to happiness. (In other…Leslie Ford -
- News
‘It’s a Two-Way Street’: What Americans Think About Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty
A new Associated Press-GFK poll shows that more Americans favor legalizing same-sex marriage, but a majority believe businesses that provide wedding services shouldn’t have to participate in a same-sex marriage if they have a religious objection. According to the poll, 44 percent of Americans favor legalizing same-sex marriage, 39 percent oppose it, and 15 percent…Kate Scanlon -
- News
This Daughter of a Gay Parent Thinks Traditional Marriage Should Be Protected
In an open letter to Justice Anthony Kennedy, the daughter of a same-sex couple writes that the Supreme Court should “protect marriage.” Katy Faust, who serves on the Academic and Testimonial Councils of the International Children’s Rights Institute, writes that the interests of children are best protected by preserving marriage as a union between one…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Support Family-Friendly, Economically-Wise Policies—Not Transportation Pork or Dependency
Is Obama’s new federally-funded infrastructure package the key to strengthening our nation’s families? That’s the argument of W. Bradford Wilcox of the American Enterprise Institute and Robert Lehrman of the Urban Institute in their essay “How to Revive the American Dream in Blue-Collar America.” It’s a misguided policy prescription, the fruit of a commitment to…Ryan T. Anderson -
- Opinion
Re-Open the Doors of Opportunity: Restore Marriage and the Family
In his State of the Union address, President Obama talked about how to deal with what he frames as unjust income disparity in our nation. Among his responses were proposals to raise taxes on higher income brackets to benefit those with lower incomes. The President once again ignored the role that marriage plays in opening…Collette Caprara -
- Opinion
What’s the Real Story on Marriage and Family Trends? Here Are 11 Findings
What’s the story on American marriages and families from 2014? Here is a list of just some of the findings: 1. Americans Still Like Marriage A full 67 percent of Americans disagree with the idea that marriage is outdated, according to a 2014 report from the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture….Rachel Sheffield -
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Pope Francis: Redefinition of Marriage Is Threat to Family
Fresh off his controversial comments about free speech concerning the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Pope Francis turned his attention to family issues. “The family is threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage,” says @Pontifex In Manila, capital of the Philippines and the country’s second largest…Ben Smith -
- Opinion
Is the Next Roe v. Wade Coming? Supreme Court to Hear Marriage Case
Today the Supreme Court of the United States announced that it would rule on the constitutional status of state marriage laws. It granted certiorari and consolidated four cases coming out of Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. The Supreme Court should uphold these laws and respect the constitutional authority of citizens and their elected officials to…Ryan T. Anderson -
- News
Could Millennials Change Their Views on Same-Sex Marriage? What Ryan Anderson Thinks.
Have conservatives lost millennials in the marriage debate? A pro-traditional marriage panel speaking on issues of life, marriage and religious liberty was challenged with that question yesterday at Heritage Action’s 2015 Conservative Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. Ryan Anderson, who researches and writes about marriage and religious liberty at The Heritage Foundation, argued that the…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
The Surprising Speech on Marriage From the Creator of ‘The Affair’
It was just like Hollywood to create and flaunt a show around the premise of an affair—and then actually call the show “The Affair.” But, after winning the award for best TV drama at the Golden Globes last night, the show’s co-creator Sarah Treem had something refreshing to say about the institution of marriage. She…Ericka Andersen -
- News
Jeb Bush: We Need to ‘Show Respect’ for Both Supporters, Opponents of Same-Sex Marriage
Florida Republicans Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio – both potential presidential candidates – offered their reaction to their state’s recent decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, after a federal district judge ruled that it was unconstitutional for county clerks to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Earlier this week, Bush issued a statement…Kate Scanlon -
- News
Is Porn to Blame for the Declining Marriage Rate?
A recent study suggests there is a significant culprit in the decline of marriage rates among young adults—pornography. According to the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), the rise of easily accessible and free pornographic content on the Internet and the declining marriage rate isn’t necessarily just a coincidence. The group concluded that porn “is negatively associated…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
In One Chart: What If a Typical Family Spent Money Like the Federal Government
The federal government has a spending problem. The national debt is tipping $18 trillion–and growing. But what if an American family spent the way the United States does? Check out the chart below for a (scary) perspective.Kelsey Lucas -
- Opinion
What Christmas Means to My Immigrant Family
I’m not much of a sentimental guy, but I have to admit I get pretty sentimental at Christmas. It is a special time in my family, not least because of eventful Christmases that my parents, who are no longer with us, experienced in their lives. I’ve written about those Christmases on previous occasions, such as…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
Tim Scott: Why Marriage Matters for Fighting Poverty
After 50 years of the War on Poverty with little results, it’s time for a new path forward. In a speech at the 2014 Heritage Antipoverty Forum, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., described his vision to lift more Americans out of poverty. Scott’s speech emphasized an often-overlooked factor contributing to opportunity: marriage. He spoke of the…Leslie Ford -
- Opinion
What Americans Really Think About Relationships, Cohabitation and Marriage
What do Americans think about marriage and relationships? And do these attitudes line up with what research shows is best for relationships? A new, nationally representative survey of Americans ages 18-60 by the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture helps answer this question. What Americans Say about Cohabitation The Austin Institute survey…Rachel Sheffield -
- Opinion
Why the Supreme Court Might Agree to Hear a Same-Sex Marriage Case After All
Last month, the Supreme Court surprised the national news media by refusing to hear any of the seven same-sex marriage cases that had been pending. Following that denial of review, the status of same-sex marriage appears to be based on an odd sort of federalism. If you live in a region of the country governed…Andrew Kloster -
- Opinion
In 2 Charts: Why the ‘War on Poverty’ Should Be Renamed the ‘War on Marriage’
"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage." Sort of. I grew up singing the "K-I-S-S-I-N-G" jingle with my elementary school friends during recess. Now many of those same friends have the baby in the baby carriage and a boyfriend. They aren't alone. >>>REPORT: How Welfare Undermines Marriage According…Kelsey Lucas -
- News
Family Gets Relief From Obamacare’s Mandatory ‘Abortion Fee,’ but Pro-Lifers Aren’t Rejoicing Just Yet
A pro-life family won’t be forced by Obamacare to pay for others’ abortions through a “secret fee” after all. Barth and Abbie Bracy, who have four children, filed a lawsuit earlier this year against government officials, arguing that they failed to offer health insurance plans that didn’t cover elective abortions. The Connecticut couple voluntarily dismissed…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
‘We Do Not Quit in This Family’: Vietnam War Draftee Retires After 42 Years in Army
The last continuously serving Vietnam War draftee, who remained on active duty for 42 years, has retired. According to the Army Times, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ralph Rigby served since he was drafted to fight in Vietnam at 19. According to the Times, when Rigby was drafted, he joked about moving to Canada. His mother was…Kate Scanlon