"Virtually every opinion poll shows that the American people are deeply worried about the state of the family. They have good reason to be worried—even, I would say, frightened. Compared to a generation ago, American Families today are much less stable; marriage is far less central; divorce, out-of-wedlock births, and cohabitation are vastly more common; and children are more vulnerable and neglected, less well-off and less valued. Public attitudes toward marriage, sexual ethics, ad child rearing have radically altered for the worse.

In sum, them family has suffered a blow that has no historical precedent—and one that has enormous ramifications for American society."