Did you miss the news? It is likely that this kind of news was not widely published since it does not support the “progressive” view of the family.
For the first time, more than 100 legal and family scholars have signed a collective document declaring that family law should do a better job protecting marriage for the benefit of society and children and noting that the “family-diversity model” has failed.
The signatories said they come together “to affirm seven great truths about marriage and the law.”
The first truth, they say, is that “marriage and family law is fundamentally oriented towards creating and protecting the next generation.”
The second truth is that marriage protects children. “The primary way that marriage protects children is by increasing the likelihood that a child will know and be known by, love and be loved by, his or her mother and father in a single family union,” they say.
Thirdly, “marriage is first and foremost a social institution, created and sustained by civil society.” While the law sometimes creates institutions, sometimes the law recognizes an institution that pre-exists law and which it cannot meaningfully create. No laws, and no set of lawyers, legislators, or judges, can summon a social institution like marriage into being merely by legal fiat,” the signatories write. “Marriage and family therefore can never be reduced to a legal construct, a mere creature of the state.””
Fourth, the law’s understanding of marriage is powerful.
Fifth, marriage is irreplaceable social good, which impacts on the well-being of society and children.
Sixth, a high divorce rate, unmarried childbearing, as well as violent or high-conflict marriages, hurt children.
And finally, a good society cares about the suffering of children.
The truth is simple and self evident.
