A recent survey by the Pew Centre and Time magazine entitled The Decline of Marriage and Rise of New Families highlights changing US attitudes to marriage and family. The poll shows declining support for marriage, but on the other hand it is constructed in such as way as to maximise support for family diversity ideology.

Indeed, what is most notable about the survey is the question that respondents were not asked; namely which family structure (traditional marriage, cohabitation, lone parents or same-sex parents) is best for children.

Instead, respondents were asked whether they were worried about the growth of alternative family structures. That way of constructing the issue invites people to say no and therefore only a minority said the trends toward more cohabitation without marriage (43 per cent), more unmarried couples raising children (43 per cent), more gay couples raising children (43 per cent) were bad for society.

However, the data does show some scepticism about certain trends in family structure. Seven-in-ten (69 per cent) say the trend toward more single women having children is bad for society, and 61 per cent say that a child needs both a mother and father to grow up happily.

Respondents were also asked whether marriage was becoming obsolete. Nearly four-in-ten survey respondents (39 per cent) said that it was; in 1978 when TIME magazine posed this question to registered voters, just 28 per cent agreed.

Those most likely to agree include those who are themselves part of alternative family structures (62 per of cohabiting parents) as well as those most likely to be troubled by current trends (42 per cent of self-described conservatives).

In 2007, The Iona Institute commissioned a poll asking Irish people what they thought about marriage and alternative family structures. In our case, however, the emphasis of the questions was firmly on what was best for children in terms of family.

We asked people whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: “In most cases, the absence of a father from the home is likely to harm a child emotionally or developmentally.” Fifty four per cent of people agreed with people, while 29 per cent disagreed.

We went on to ask whether people agreed with the following statement “I believe it is better if the parents of a child are married.” Fifty two per cent agreed, while 29 per cent disagreed.

Fewer people were less convinced that the State should specially privilege marriage. Still, a plurality, 45 per cent, agreed with the statement “While all families should be given some support by the State, the State should nonetheless continue to support marriage over other family forms.” A significant minority though, 34 per cent, disagreed.

However, clear majorities agreed that “The State should support policies that encourage mothers and fathers to stay together” (56 per cent) and “Marital and family breakdown are harmful to society”(58 per cent), with 27 per cent disagreeing with both of those statements.

The importance of marriage for society is actually unarguable if we’re objective about it. Dainius Kreivys, the Lithuanian Minister of the Economy, put it well when he said recently: “If traditional family values were stronger in our society, we would have a much stronger economy, not to mention a more mature society…

“Nobody can deny that successful families more often produce responsible citizens who later also become outstanding professionals.

“Economically, that means better qualified specialists, people who create added value in the economy, people who support themselves, create jobs, maintain a family and pay taxes; people who do not live off welfare benefits.”

Can you imagine our Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, saying anything remotely like that?