Healthy societies around the world throughout history have given marriage between a man and a woman special legal protection because of the recognition that it is the one institution that ensures the society's stable future through the orderly procreation and upbringing of children.
Today, 72 percent of black children, 53 percent of Hispanic children and 36 percent of white children are born outside of marriage. The decline in marriage and the rise in illegitimacy are prime factors in crime, poverty and social decay. We should be more concerned about that than about gay rights and free contraceptives.
As traditional marriage breaks down, so does society.
The consequences of fatherless homes are staggering. In such homes there is no role model who gets up every morning, shaves and gets dressed and goes to work, coming home to have dinner with his family.
There is no male role model to restrain a young man's masculine impulses and guide him into adulthood.
It is simply impossible to understate the socially catastrophic consequences of America's crisis of illegitimacy. The traditional family is still the best department of health, education and welfare ever invented.
Benedict Frederick Jr., Pasadena