World Family Policy Center Newsletter

1. Study says divorce risk likely runs in families

By Elaine Jarvik

Deseret Morning News

June 28, 2005

The likelihood of divorce gets passed down from one generation to another, according to a new book by a University of Utah researcher.

A child of divorced parents is twice as likely to grow up to get divorced — and three times more likely if he marries another child of divorce, according to 30 years worth of national data analyzed by Nicholas H. Wolfinger in his just-published book "Understanding the Divorce Cycle: The Children of Divorce in Their Own Marriages."

The divorce cycle, he says, "can be thought of as a cascade. Ending a marriage starts a cycle that threatens to affect increasing numbers of people over time, a sobering thought in an era when half of all new marriages fail."

"Divorce transmission" is highest if the parents end a marriage after little or no conflict rather than after a tense, explosive marriage, he says. "Parental divorce after a lot of conflict shows children that divorce is the last result; it teaches them resolve. Divorce without conflict teaches them no such thing."

Every marriage has tough spots, says Wolfinger. "But usually what happens is that couples realize they have an investment in it," emotionally, financially and otherwise. Coming from a divorced family, on the other hand, "makes you think those problems can't be solved and the best solution is to cut your losses and run."

But the news isn't all depressing, says Wolfinger, an assistant professor in the university's department of family and consumer studies. National data from 1973 to 1994 show that the intergenerational spread of divorce has actually slowed.

To read entire article:

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600144720,00.html

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2. Board reaches pact on sex education

By Jon Ward

The Washington Times

June 28, 2005

The Montgomery County Board of Education has reached an agreement that binds them to include members of a conservative parents group and a group of former homosexuals in redesigning a new sex-education curriculum.

The board began talks with Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum (CRC) and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) after a federal judge halted the course in May, just days before it was to be taught.

CRC and PFOX said the course had promoted homosexuality and promiscuity while disparaging religious views that say homosexuality is immoral.

The county had argued that the course taught scientific facts about homosexuality and transgenderism and would decrease harassment and bullying experienced by homosexual students.

The agreement, signed at a board meeting last night in Rockville, does not make any guarantees about content, however, and the board rejected requests by PFOX and CRC that the perspective of former homosexuals be included in the curriculum.

"I'm quasi-satisfied," said Michelle Turner, CRC president. "I don't like the way the board has gone about this."

CRC attorney John Garza said his group signed to have peace with the board.

"It's a good agreement," he said. "It will hopefully lead to a successful new curriculum next year. But we won't know how good it is until we see what the new curriculum looks like."

To read entire article:

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20050627-115757-9298r.htm

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3. Canada 'can permit gay marriage'

BBC News

June 29, 005

Canada's Supreme Court has told the government it can legalise gay marriage without violating the constitution.

The move comes hours after New Zealand's parliament voted to recognise civil unions between gay couples.

The non-binding legal opinion followed two days of Supreme Court hearings in October in which judges heard arguments from both sides in the debate.

The province of Alberta and religious groups had argued that marriage was a union between a man and a woman.

But the court declared that Ottawa had the authority to rule on marriage.

Prime Minister Paul Martin said his Liberal government would bring in gay marriage legislation in the new year.

He said MPs would be able to vote according to conscience, but cabinet ministers had to back the bill.

"I do not believe you can have two classes of citizens," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

Opposition Conservative leader Stephen Harper vowed to oppose the move, saying: "My position will be to preserve the traditional definition of marriage in the law."

To read entire article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4082819.stm

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4. Spain's Gay-Marriage Foes Present Petition

By DANIEL WOOLLS

Associated Press

June 29, 2005

MADRID, Spain (AP) - A Catholic lay group opposed to gay marriage presented lawmakers Wednesday with a petition bearing 600,000 signatures, a day before Parliament was expected to legalize same-sex unions in Spain.

The Spanish Family Forum said the signatures were in addition to half a million others presented last month to press the Socialist government to call a referendum on whether Spain should institute gay marriage.

``We are asking for a referendum, and then we'll know what Spaniards really want,'' said Luis Carbonel, president of a group that is part of the forum.

The organization also wants conservative Spanish lawmakers opposed to gay marriage to file a lawsuit seeking to have it declared unconstitutional on grounds that marriage can only be the union of a man and a woman.

To read entire article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5107174,00.html

Follow-up Article: Parliament makes gay 'marriage' legal

By Mar Roman

Associated Press

July 1, 2005

MADRID -- Spain became the third country to legalize same-sex "marriage" yesterday in a parliament vote that left homosexual activists blowing kisses to lawmakers and the powerful Catholic Church issuing calls for defiance.

The new law increases the chances of happiness for "our neighbors, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives," said Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The 350-seat Congress of Deputies, by a vote of 187-147 with four abstentions, approved the measure to give homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexual ones, including the right to adopt children.

After the tally was announced, activists watching from the spectator section of the ornate chamber cried, cheered, hugged each other, waved to lawmakers and blew them kisses.

"This is a disgrace," shouted several members of the conservative opposition Popular Party, which vehemently opposed the bill. Those in favor stood and clapped.

To read entire article:

http://www.washtimes.com/world/20050701-124119-1673r.htm

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5. A church's struggle over gay marriage

By Jane Lampman

The Christian Science Monitor

July 1, 2005

As a federal constitutional amendment on marriage garners growing public support, one American Protestant church could soon go against the grain.

During its national synod, which begins Friday in Atlanta, the United Church of Christ (UCC) will debate three marriage resolutions - one backing "full marriage equality" for same-sex couples, one defining marriage as between a man and a woman, and a third proposing further study of the issue.

No one is predicting the outcome, but the UCC - a union of Congregational and Evangelical and Reformed churches - has long been a precedent-setting denomination. It is proud of its historic "firsts," which include being the first denomination to ordain an African-American (in 1785), the first to ordain a woman (1853), and the first to ordain an openly gay man (1972).

Other mainline Christian churches are struggling this summer over ordination of gays and the blessing of same-sex unions. If the UCC takes another bold leap, it will be partly because of its organization, members say. The denomination may take strong positions, but individual churches can choose whether or not to follow them.

To read entire article:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0701/p02s01-ussc.html

Related Article: United Church of Christ backs gay marriage

USA Today

July 5, 2005

ATLANTA (AP) — The United Church of Christ's rule-making body voted overwhelmingly Monday to approve a resolution that endorses same-sex marriage, making it the largest Christian denomination to do so.

The vote is not binding on individual churches, but could cause some congregations to leave the fold.

Roughly 80% of the representatives on the church's 884-member General Synod voted to approve the resolution Monday, a day after a smaller committee recommended it.

The Rev. John H. Thomas, president of the United Church of Christ, said with the vote on Independence Day, the rule-making body "acted courageously to declare freedom."

The resolution calls on member churches of the liberal denomination of 1.3 million to consider wedding policies "that do not discriminate against couples based on gender."

To read entire article:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-04-united-church_x.htm

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6. Abortion Advocates Say Wal-Mart Should Stock Morning After Pills

by Steven Ertelt

LifeNews.com Editor

June 30, 2005

Bentonville, AR (LifeNews.com) -- The world's largest retail chain is coming under fire from abortion advocates because it does not stock the morning after pill at any of its 3,000 locations. Wal-Mart operates more pharmacies in the United States than any other chain, but it will not stock the Plan B drugs, which sometime cause an abortion.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jacquie Young told the Associated Press that the retailer doesn't carry the morning after pills for "business reasons." She declined to elaborate, but previous Wal-Mart representatives have said the decision is in response to customer concerns.

"We don't carry a lot of products," she added.

That upsets abortion advocates like Ted Miller of NARAL.

"For many rural women, Wal-Mart is their only pharmacy," Miller says. "That's what makes Wal-Mart's refusal to carry emergency contraception so disconcerting."

NARAL and Planned Parenthood are targeting Wal-Mart and other pharmacy chains with a lobbying campaign seeking to get them to stock the drugs and to post a sign saying all legal prescriptions will be honored.

To read entire article:

http://www.lifenews.com/nat1409.html

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COMING EVENTS

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Sixth World Family Policy Forum

July 11 - 13, 2005

Provo, Utah

Sponsored by the World Family Policy Center, Brigham Young University. The theme for this year’s Forum is “Building on Doha: Marriage and Parenting in the Third Millennium.” Participation and attendance at the Forum is by invitation only. For further information, contact Emily Parks 801-422-8549 or e-mail wfpf@byu.edu.

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Note: The preceding article excerpts are highlights of current events and

do not necessarily represent the views of the World Family Policy Center

or Brigham Young University.

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Newsletter created and distributed by:

World Family Policy Center

J. Reuben Clark Law School

Brigham Young University

Managing Director: Richard Wilkins

Executive Director: A. Scott Loveless

Newsletter Editors: Joy S. Lundberg and Gary B. Lundberg

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