New government data (PDF) reveals a continuing trend of
declining marriage rates. More women have never been married,
and cohabitation rates have increased steadily. And more
children are born outside of marriage than ever before.  The
consequences of these trends include lower economic prosperity
for families and an  array of poorer outcomes for children.
Tragically, as marriage declines, even the very physical safety
for women and children is compromised. Research reveals that
both unmarried women (PDF) and children (PDF) living in family
settings other than with their biological, married parents are
at far greater risk of experiencing domestic abuse.  The Bureau
of Justice Statistics reports that never-married women are over
four times as likely to be a victim of domestic violence
compared to married women. (Never-married women are also much
more likely (PDF) to be victims of violent crimes besides
domestic abuse, including rape.)  Additionally, children living
outside of married, biological-parent homes