Prof. Adrian Thatcher, who teaches applied theology at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, said while he found the tone of many empirical studies on family outcomes to be “polemical, alarmist and conservative,” the results should not be dismissed because of that tone.<\/p>\n
The empirical data shows that it is far better for children to have married parents, he said. Two-parent families have better outcomes for children from better physical and emotional health, to less likelihood of poverty to the lower likelihood that that child will eventually divorce.<\/p>\n
What the churches have been teaching for centuries about marriage being good for children, parents, spouses and society can now be empirically verified, he said.<\/p>\n
Thatcher, the author of several books including Theology and Families, said an exploration of Jesus’ teaching, however, shows he placed the kingdom of heaven above kin.<\/p>\n