The Family, the State, the Nation, and the World

Family North Carolina Magazine—July/August 2009

By R. Matthew Lytle, Ph.D.

As this magazine goes to press, we are actively watching several bills in the General Assembly. While 2009–2010 is a new legislative session, many of the bills we are following are more of the same. With the coming of each new legislative biennium, we can predict with remarkable accuracy the kind of bills that will be brought forth and which family-related issues will be under attack. This session is no different.

One of the family issues that is attacked constantly is Abstinence-until-marriage (AUM) education. Ever since it was enacted in 1995, many lawmakers have sought to change the legislation that sets up AUM as the expected standard for North Carolina’s sex-ed programs. With each progressive year, the battle to remove AUM as the expected standard and replace it with comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) intensifies. In response to this attack on AUM, Alysse ElHage consults the latest social science data and lists 10 reasons why North Carolina should keep AUM education in its public schools.

Of course, not every bill we follow represents an attack on family values. Lawmakers introduce quite a bit of legislation each session designed to strengthen and uphold the family. Many such bills, like the Marriage Amendment bill or Unborn Victims of Violence Act never get their chance to be heard on the floor, languishing instead in committee graveyards until they are dead. Many pro-family bills did not make it past the May 14 crossover deadline and are therefore no longer eligible for consideration this session. HB 168/S210-“Choose Life” Special Plate did not make it out of committee before crossover, but are still considered alive because they are bills related to revenue. Alysse ElHage discusses the current fight to give North Carolinians the opportunity to buy a license plate that speaks out for life and the double standard that exists in the General Assembly when it comes to which plates are considered.

Family North Carolina, as the name suggests, usually covers issues directly related to North Carolina. Because of this, our feature article may seem out of place, since it deals with United Nations’ treaties. As the feature article points out, two particular treaties on women’s and children’s rights have worldwide implications, and North Carolina would not be spared. We have been following this issue for years, but this is the first time there has been serious talk about the U.S. Senate approving these treaties. In June, we had the opportunity to co-release a report with the Family Research Council about these dangerous treaties. The feature is an edited version of that report by Patrick Fagan, Ph.D.; William Saunders, J.D.; and Michael Fragoso. It argues that if the United States were to sign these treaties, it could face such issues as legalized prostitution and increased abortion access. The overall effect would be to undermine the natural family, which is the bedrock of any productive society.

Dovetailing nicely with our feature is Brittany Farrell’s article demonstrating how the natural family that worships together contributes more to society and has fewer socio-economic problems compared to other kinds of families. These families are more satisfied with life, have fewer disciplinary and legal problems, have better performing children academically, etc. By analyzing social science research conducted by national pro-family organizations, Brittany argues that the family that stays together and worships together is better for society, and that society has a vested interest in protecting the natural family.

A family with a father and a mother who are married really is in the best interest of not only the family itself, but also state, national, and even worldwide societies. When people attack this first institution, they are attacking their own future, and the future of their children. Because the family is so important to civilization, we continue to advocate traditional family values at every opportunity. We hope that after reading this issue, you will have a better understanding of how important an intact family is, and why it is important to be concerned about state, national, and international laws that either seek to strengthen or to destroy the family.

R. Matthew Lytle is director of research for the North Carolina Family Policy Council and editor of Family North Carolina.