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Marriage under growing threat

Church and family groups expressed fear for children growing up in broken homes yesterday after figures revealed a soaring divorce rate, a fall in the number of marriages and the highest ever number of children born out of wedlock.

The introduction of "quickie" divorce laws led to a 19 per cent rise in the number of divorces last year, to more than 13,000. Meanwhile, the number of people marrying fell by three per cent and the proportion of children born to unmarried parents peaked at 48 per cent.

Church and family groups said the figures reflected an "unhealthy society" that was having an increasingly negative effect on children.

However, the Executive insisted the sudden rise in divorce was solely due to the law change and insisted the institution of marriage remained safe.

Joseph Devine, the Roman Cathilic bishop of Motherwell, said the figures showed a disintegration of the family. "Clearly, recent legislation making divorce easier and quicker has had an impact. But so long as government fails to attach the importance it should to the institutions of marriage and the traditional family, society, and children in particular, will pay the price."

Morag Mylne, convener of the Church of Scotland church and society council, said a breakdown in the sanctity of marriage would damage society. "If marriage is not embraced and recognised, that is something that naturally concerns the Church and should concern all of society," she said.

Daniel Boucher, of Christian Group Care, feared Scotland would be one of the few countries in Europe with more than half of children born out of wedlock. "Unless government takes proper steps to invest in marriage, the rate will go over 50 per cent and the state will reap the consequences in 10 to 15 years' time."

Full story at The Scotsman.