We need fathers

And this column from Rich Lowy tells why, using data from the National Fatherhood Initiative. Contrary to the arguments of the pro-gay-marriage crowd, statistics show that children who grow up in father-absent homes are more likely to suffer from child abuse, poverty, low academic achievement, drug use, emotional and behavioral problems, and suicide.

Here is but one key paragraph:

The rates of out-of-wedlock births and divorce have leveled off recently. But cohabitation — no substitute for marriage — has continued to climb. Children of cohabiting parents are closer in their indicators of well-being to the children of single parents than they are to children of two-parent families. Three-quarters of cohabiting parents split up before their children reach age 16.

So, promoting involved fatherhood means promoting marriage.

Don't believe otherwise — fathers matter, now more than ever.