Family and Religion
Cultivate an environment in which the permanent institutions of family and religion can flourish and fulfill their role in maintaining ordered liberty in America. Learn More... Statement of Purpose The married family plays an important part in promoting economic opportunity: children raised by never-married mothers are seven times more likely to be poor when compared to children raised in intact married families. Meanwhile, religious institutions and individuals form the backbone of America’s thriving civil society, providing for the welfare of individuals more effectively than government programs. Yet the role of these institutions in maintaining ordered liberty is poorly understood, and policy and social developments have factored in undermining their important contributions.

Liberals propose to expand government intervention in family life and to curtail religious influence in the public square. Our goal is to build support for policy changes that strengthen marriage and the family and advance a robust understanding of religious liberty and the role of religion in society. The Heritage Foundation’s approach on family and religion emphasizes the empirical evidence about these permanent institutions’ contribution to the common good. Our objective is to convey the indispensable role of family and religion in our American order and in our conservative philosophy. We seek to shape a healthy public discourse that appreciates the historic and continuing significance of religion and moral virtue in American civic life. We aim to strengthen and expand the current pro-family constituency and to unite religious and economic conservatives more effectively. The DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society will work closely with other Heritage departments to apply these principles across policy areas from economics, to health care, to international issues.
Featured Research

Government for the Good of the People: Ten Questions about Freedom, Virtue, and the Role of Government

Today's political debates are often muddied by misconceptions of the role of government and its responsibility to American citizens. What are the limits of good government? How can the virtues necessary for freedom flourish? Sustaining ordered liberty depends on good answers to these questions.

Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability

By extolling freedom of religion in the schools, President Bill Clinton has raised the level of debate on the importance of religion to American life. The time is ripe for a deeper dialogue on the contribution of religion to the welfare of the nation.

Latest Research

The Iranian Elections and Public Diplomacy 2.0: A Tale of Untapped Potential

June 19, 2009

As demonstrated by the activities coinciding with Obama’s speech, the U.S. government has seized on the possibilities of cutting-edge communication.

Stronger Welfare Work Requirements Can Help Ailing State Budgets

June 19, 2009

Although the elimination of a state TANF program would not have the disastrous effect that some might expect, there are other less controversial ways for states to save substantial funds within their welfare programs.

A Free and Just Society

April 23, 2009

The institutions of civil society are important because they are neither created nor controlled by the state. While public funding requires accountability and some services require training, skills, and a professional approach, this is entirely within the capability of the voluntary sector. Government should not be allowed to seduce community groups into becoming its mouthpiece or an extension of itself.

Proposed Decrease in Charitable Tax Deduction Crowds Out Civil Society

April 10, 2009

President Barack Obama’s proposal to raise taxes and reduce charitable deductions for the wealthy mistakenly suggests that government bureaucracy can deploy citizens’ resources more effectively than nonprofit civil society organizations can. It moves the dial of social responsibility one more notch in the direction of the state at the expense of local institutions that serve the poor more personally and efficiently.

Renewing Conservatism: Lessons from Britain

April 9, 2009

Emphasizing social policy means rediscovering the conservatism of Edmund Burke. There will be no sustainable reduction in the size of the state if civil society doesn’t become stronger, nurturing self-sufficient and vigorous citizens; no possibility of light-touch regulation if certain moral values are absent from our culture; and no competitive economy if families don’t encourage their children to learn and excel.

Change views on marriage

June 30, 2009

From reality show stars like Jon and Kate Gosselin to politicians to the folks next door--what we thought were the most solid of marriages are falling apart.

Using God as father's guide

June 16, 2009

The facts are brutally painful -- More than 25 million children in America live in homes where fathers are absent. Millions more have experienced emotional wounds so deep at the hands of their dads it seems as if they can never break free from the bondage of suffering and bitterness.

Reliable dads deserve respect

June 9, 2009

Recently I saw a MasterCard commercial in which a preteen son arrogantly "teaches" the father environmental lessons while grocery shopping. Right.

To whom honor is due

May 26, 2009

Everybody loves a hero. But pop culture spends so much time worshipping athletes and Hollywood stars that many of our children don't know a true hero from an impostor.

Fighting admen for teens' minds

May 19, 2009

Today's adolescents spend an estimated $200 billion a year of their own money. They are the most affluent generation of young people in the history of the world, which also makes them the most marketed to.

Sex-ed texting threat to teens

May 12, 2009

There's yet another organized effort by sex "experts" to indoctrinate your children into their worldview without your permission or knowledge. Different from "sexting," where pre-teens and teens electronically send and receive semi-nude or nude photos of themselves, "sex texting" is promoted and run by adults.

DC Voters: Let Us Vote on Marriage

06/22/2009

Last Wednesday, several DC voters filed a lawsuit (PDF) asking the DC Superior Court to allow DC residents to vote on whether same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions should be recognized in the District. The lawsuit followed a ruling from the DC Board of Elections and Ethics that DC residents should not be allowed to vote   Read More...

What’s Next: Bible Study Edition

05/28/2009

Do you host a regular get-together with friends to watch your favorite college sports team? (Go Jackets!) What about a ladies dessert pot-luck or a monthly poker night with a small group of co-workers? If you are in the habit of such gatherings, you may want to hear how your rights to host friends at your house are   Read More...

Obama Tries to Have it Both Ways on Abortion

05/18/2009

Today, the national media are lauding President Obama for seeking “common ground” on the abortion issue during his commencement speech yesterday at the University of Notre Dame. In an article entitled “Obama a Champion at Notre Dame,” Washington Post columnist Eboo Patel called the speech a “near perfect demonstration of public leadership in an environment   Read More...

Awareness of Same-Sex Threat to Religious Liberty Growing

05/07/2009

As state recognition of same-sex marriage spreads,  awareness is rising about the threat it poses to religious liberty. On Wednesday, the governor of Maine signed a bill creating government recognition of same-sex relationships. Lawmakers in New Hampshire have also moved forward on legislation that would redefine marriage, though it is not certain whether the governor of   Read More...

What Wasn’t Heard at the ‘Mobilization to End Poverty’

05/04/2009

Earlier this week about 1000 people came to DC for the “Mobilization to End Poverty” conference sponsored by the Christian organization Sojourners. It’s encouraging to see people of all ages come together from across the country out of common concern for the poor. Those gathered at the conference heard a lot of good material.   Read More...

Percent of High School Students Who Ever Had Sexual Intercourse. 1991-2007

Percent of High School Students Who Ever Had Sexual Intercourse. 1991-2007
  • Percent of High School Students Who Ever Had Sexual Intercourse. 1991-2007
  • Americans Cherish the 'One' in Our 'Many'
  • Dad gets busy even off the clock
  • Health Care Plan 'Crowds Out' Family Coverage
  • Teens Who Wait Stay in School Longer
  • All of Mom's Hard Work Adds Up
  • SCHIP: No Child Left Off Welfare
Required Reading:

Why Religion Matters Even More:
The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability

Over the past decade, considerable research has emerged that demonstrates the benefits of religious practice within society.[1] Religious practice promotes the well-being of individuals, families, and the community.
Of particular note are the studies that indicate the benefits of religion to the poor.[2] Regular attendance at religious services is linked to healthy, stable family life, strong marriages, and well-behaved children. The practice of religion also leads to a reduction in the incidence of domestic abuse, crime, substance abuse, and addiction. In addition, religious practice leads to an increase in physical and mental health, longevity, and education attainment. Moreover, these effects are intergenerational, as grandparents and parents pass on the benefits to the next generations.

Latest News on Family and Religion

Religion and Civil Society Fellowship

Are you a seminary student studying to become a pastor or priest, or a grad student studying religion and public life? Would you benefit from a semester in our nation’s capital exploring the intersection of faith, government, and civil society? The Religion and Civil Society Fellowship provides an opportunity for select seminary students to work alongside Heritage Foundation experts while researching the implications of religious faith for a healthy social order.
Religion Civil Society Fellowship

undefined Religion's significance in the United States is clear but so is the challenge of measuring the impact of religious practice on American life.
 What measurable effects does religious practice have on other aspects of life, such as civic engagement, health outcomes, or family dynamics? How do researchers explain these relationships? "Religious Practice in America: What the Research Says" is an annual conference series dedicated to sharing high-quality social science data and analysis addressing these questions and to exploring next steps for research that will inform American public discussion, hosted by The Heritage Foundation, with research partners the Baylor Institute for the Studies of Religion, and Child Trends. The 2008 conference "Religious Practice and Health: What the Research Says" was held December 3, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Leading researchers in the field presented their findings about the role of religious practice in health and mental health outcomes. Explore this website to learn more about the conference agenda , speakers, and archives

View the Archive of the Religious Practice in America conference





familyfacts.orgFamilyFacts.org provides credible data, research and talking points for policymakers, journalists, scholars and the general public. Developed by The Heritage Foundation's DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, FamilyFacts.org catalogs social science findings on the family, society and religion gleaned from peer-reviewed journals, books and government surveys. From marriage and parenting to religion and sexuality, FamilyFacts.org puts thousands of social science findings related to the family at your fingertips.

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The Economy Hits Home This booklet "What makes the economy grow?" is the first in a series designed to show how free market policies and a limited, constitutional role for government are the ideal conditions for creating a family-friendly society.

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Heritage Experts on Family and Religion

Media Information Line: (202) 675-1761

Jennifer

Jennifer A. Marshall

Director, Domestic Policy Studies

Ryan

Ryan Messmore

William E. Simon Fellow, Domestic Policy Studies , DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society

Robert

Robert Rector

Senior Research Fellow , Domestic Policy