Marriage still best says bishop

The Bishop of Lichfield has declared that the "great British experiment" to downgrade marriage has failed. The Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill said surveys showed children whose parents were married tended to do better in life.

They were also healthier and involved themselves less in drugs or crime.

In a letter published in the March editions of parish magazines in Lichfield Diocese, the Bishop said: "The great British experiment to downgrade marriage and the family gives no sign of running out of steam.

"The recent British Social Attitudes Survey appears to show that marriage and cohabitation are seen as equally valid by 66 per cent of the population."

But according to Bishop Gledhill the argument does not hold water.

He said: "Teachers, social workers, probation officers and leaders of voluntary youth organisations always tell me that children are deeply affected by trouble at home, and that what affects them worse than anything is the splitting up of their family and dad leaving.

"It may be unfashionable to say so, but everywhere there is the need for us to re-think our public policy about bringing up our children.

"The evidence shows that the experiment to downplay marriage has failed us dreadfully.

"Our children deserve the chance to be brought up by a man and a woman who promise to love each other always."