Contact: Mike McManus, 301-469-5873, Marriage Savers
MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 21 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a speech at 'Family Preservation Day' at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 19, Marriage Savers President Mike McManus, charged, 'Presidential candidates say they support `Family Values.' Why not ask them, `Do you support reforms that could slash America?s divorce rate in half? None would cost the Federal Government a penny. In fact they could cut the federal deficit by $40 billion. Here are three steps to cut the divorce rate that a new President could take:
1. Replace No Fault Divorce with Mutual Consent Divorce
All states actually encourage divorce due to 'No Fault Divorce' which allows one spouse to file for divorce. It is called 'No Fault' because no major fault must be alleged, such as adultery or abuse. No Fault should be called Unilateral Divorce. However, what was entered into by two people can be ended by one unilaterally. This is tragic if children are involved. Children of divorce are three times as likely as those from intact homes to be expelled from school or to get pregnant, five times as apt to live in poverty or to commit suicide, 12 times as apt to be jailed.
No Fault swept the nation in the 1970s. Religious leaders either were mute or ineffectual in fighting it. The result: one divorce for every two marriages every year since 1973. Jesus said, 'What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.' Since 1970, America has put asunder 39 million marriages shattering 36 million children. 'Presidential candidates ought to be asked if they support a federal law to replace state No Fault laws with Mutual Consent, if children are involved and no major faults are alleged. Government has an interest in the future of children, and they'd be best served if their mother and father worked out their differences,' McManus asserted.
2. Require Shared Parenting
If parents agree to a divorce they should have equal access to the children 'Joint Custody or Shared Parenting. Sole custody virtually removes one parent from the lives of their children. However, of the six states which passed the strongest Joint Custody laws, five also enjoyed the largest drops in the divorce rate: Montana, Kansas, Connecticut, Idaho and Alaska. Why? If a parent knows he/she will have to interact with the other parent, there is less incentive to divorce. "A federal law that required Mutual Consent and Shared Parenting could cut divorce rates in half that could save $40 billion of the $150 billion cost of broken families," McManus estimated.
3. Set Aside 2% to 5% of State Welfare Surpluses To Strengthen Marriage.
When Welfare Reform was passed in 1996, the $16 billion federal payment was frozen even if welfare rolls fell. They did drop 61%, giving states an annual welfare surplus of $9.8 billion. The law mandates states to reduce 'out-of-wedlock births,' and to 'increase two-parent families.' However, both have gotten worse since 1996 Ohio set aside 1% of its surplus, $12 million, to strengthen marriage. McManus urges that candidates for President be asked, 'Would you pass a law requiring all states to set aside 2-5% to promote marriage' Cities with 114 Community Marriage Policies signed by clergy saw a 17.5% drop in divorce in seven years and some fell 50%. Cohabitation also fell by a third in CMP cities vs. similar cities over a decade. Marriage rates are also rising."
For a transcript of Mike McManus remarks, visit the following website www.marriagesavers.org. An actual video of the speech will be posted within a couple of days.
