It may be that the economic depression contributes significantly to the need for two incomes in many families, but it is also important to consider the couple's own decisions. For example, to buy a house on which the mortgage requires two incomes is a matter of choice. To buy expensive furniture on credit is another choice. To be making car payments on two late-model cars is another choice. Very intelligent people can make stupid choices.

Our Founding President said that religion and morality are indispensable supports to prosperity in a democracy. Commentary on the problems of Detroit would be more meaningful if they also included data about race the ratio of out-of-wedlock births. Here in Cincinnati the liberals are doing their best to give us another Detroit. A high percentage of out-of-wedlock births results in a population in need of a high level of social services and also gives us a high percentages of young men who are raised in fatherless families, find "family" in gangs, turn to crime, and thus drive out many of those who previously provided the taxes sufficient for a normal level of social services.

The election of Pope Francis guarantees the continuation of orthodox teaching, but we have had that during all the years of social dissolution. What is needed is a systematic effort to make sure that young people are given ample opportunity before marriage to hear, understand, and embrace the truth about love, sex, and marriage. IMO Pope Francis will need to require the world's bishops to require all engaged couples to attend the right kind of courses as preparation for marriage. That means that they will learn not only about systematic NFP and the permanence of marriage but also about ecological breastfeeding and the meaning of the marriage act as a renewal of the marriage covenant. And the bishops will need to require that those who teach pre-marriage and other courses are themselves believers who practice what the Church teaches.