August 11 , 2005 – Volume 3, Issue 30

New Report Shows Divorce Rates are Down, Cohabitation on the Rise

The National Marriage Project's 2005 "State of Our Unions" report indicates that the number of divorces in the United States is declining, but the number of couples cohabiting before marriage continues to rise. Meanwhile, the number of children born to unwed mothers has reached an all-time high of nearly 35-percent.

"These statistics are troubling, because researchers know that children usually struggle when they are raised without the influence of both parents," said MFF Executive Director Brad Snavely. "Couples who live together often think they are testing the waters before committing to marriage, but in reality, almost half of them will never get married, and if they do, they are much more likely to experience divorce."

To view the "State of Our Unions" report, click here. To read more from Focus on the Family, click here.

Dr. Wade Horn Comments on "State of Our Unions"

Dr. Wade Horn, the assistant secretary for children and families at the Department of Health and Human Services, commented recently on the state of marriage. Dr. Horn is responsible for overseeing the President's Healthy Marriage Initiative - a key component of the administration's welfare reform goals.

Dr. Horn makes the argument that the President's Marriage Initiative is especially important in light of the disturbing trends found in the recent "State of Our Unions" report. "The initiative's goal is to help couples who choose marriage for themselves gain greater access, on a voluntary basis, to services where they can develop the skills and knowledge necessary to form and sustain a healthy marriage," he writes. He goes on to explain that the President's initiatives can be accomplished with no increase in the overall budget.

To read Dr. Horn's article in its entirety, click here.

Teens Want More Family Time

Today's teens want to be more challenged in school and would like to spend more time with their families, according to a new survey from the Horatio Alger Association.

"Family members count most," pollster Peter Hart told Family News in Focus. "Family members are indeed the role model for young people, and it's a fact that nobody should ever forget and nobody should feel they have grown less important."

To read more, click here.

Chart of the Week

Number (in Millions) of Cohabiting, Unmarried, Adult Couples of the Opposite Sex, by Year, United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P20-537; America's Families and Living Arrangements: March 2000; and U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Division, Current Population Survey, 2004, Annual Social and Economic Supplement (http:www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2004).

Justice Sunday II - August 14, 2005

On Sunday, August 14, Family Research Council (FRC) in conjunction with Focus on the Family and many other like-minded groups will broadcast "Justice Sunday II - God Save the United States and This Honorable Court" from Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville. The broadcast is designed to call people of faith to action to help stop judicial activism on courts nationwide, including the Supreme Court.

The broadcast is being simulcast on the Sky Angel network and is also viewable on the web at www.justicesunday.com. A DVD of the event will also be available by the end of the month. For more information, visit FRC's website, www.frc.org.

Thank You For Your Support

Like many non-profit organizations, donations to the work of Michigan Family Forum decrease during the summer months. Unfortunately, our monthly obligations remain the same year-round, and we find it difficult to meet all of our needs during this time of year.

If you believe in what Michigan Family Forum is doing - working daily to promote marriage and strengthen the family - would you consider supporting our work financially? We would be so blessed by your generosity. For information on how to donate, click here.