Family and Marriage
The Anscombe Society believes that the intact, stable family is the
most fundamental unit of society. We hold that the intact family
consists of a man and woman, bound together by marriage, along with
whatever children they may have. We define marriage as the
exclusive and monogamous union between a man and a woman grounded in a
commitment to mutual love and aid, with the intent to remain so
committed until death. In most societies, this commitment is recognized
by the state and by social custom.
We believe that the family provides the social support necessary for a
stable society. The intact, healthy family offers the best
environment for raising children, providing them with the love, support,
and education necessary for success in adult life. The family,
therefore, is the best institution for nurturing and rearing future
generations, preparing them for the responsibilities that they will need
to lead society later on.
The Anscombe Society believes that the institution of marriage is
integral to the existence of the family. We believe that marriage
is a social as well as personal good, contributing to the health and
happiness of both spouses and their children. Scientific evidence
from a variety of fields as well as human experience have shown that any
deviation from this norm is harmful, even if sometimes unpreventable—as
in the case of death. It is still more harmful when this variation
challenges the institution of marriage itself, as in the cases of
same-sex unions and casual divorce. The Anscombe Society
recognizes the new social and political conditions which cause these
challenges, but looks to further a holistic understanding of marriage
that respects its traditional role in society.