Executive Summary

Over the last 50 years, our society has undergone huge demographic shifts with regards to the family. In the year 2000, nearly half of all Americans lived in a home where the head of household was unmarried; in the 1950s, 78 percent lived with a married head of household. Family size has also decreased, as families increasingly choose to have fewer children, or parents choose to go it alone, without another adult. There is no doubt that the “traditional" organization of family around a nuclear unit has changed and our nation is dealing with the consequences.

Some religious institutions and leaders voice concerns about the decline of marriage, as they see marriage as a covenant with God that promotes stable family relationships. One assumption, and concern, is that parents who choose to break their family bonds are, in essence, breaking their relationship with God. There are others who embrace, or at least accept, these changes and see this acceptance as central to sustaining their religious communities. Clearly, this debate polarizes our society, as some Americans are trying to mend what they see as cracks in the foundation of our society while others are seeking to move toward greater openness and tolerance.

Methodology

This report based on a Greenberg Quinlan Rosner survey for Religion & Ethics Newsweekly of 1130 adults 18 and over (801 weighted). The survey fielded July 25 - August 7, 2005 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

Key Findings

• Americans view family as something quite personal - most parents would prefer the government stay away from matters of the home and family.
• “Moral values" tend to reflect concerns about personal behavior and the ability to inculcate those values in their children, rather than issues like abortion and gay marriage.
• Although Americans hold to a traditional definition of marriage, Americans are much more split on gay adoption.