“We know the statistics,” said President Obama, “that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime; nine times more likely to drop out of schools and 20 times more likely to end up in prison. They are more likely to have behavioral problems, or run away from home, or become teenage parents themselves.”

It is the belief of many that when the government stepped in during the 1960s with an explosive welfare program an increase of out-of-wedlock births resulted. In 1985, the Los Angeles Times asked whether poor women often have children to get additional benefits. The answer was that 64% said yes. Where have all the fathers gone? In 1960 approximate 5% of children grew up without a father in the household. By 1980 it was 18% and by 2000 it had risen to 33%. At the present time it is 41%. For African/Americans it was 25% in 1965 and 73% today. For Hispanics out of wedlock births are 53%.

I recently watched on TV a man interviewed who had 22 children with 14 different women. Every state a women with two children will make more money on welfare than she could earn at a minimum wage job.

It is alarming what we are doing to the next generation. I was born to parents having gone through the great depression of the 1930s. They never had all of the conveniences that we enjoy today. Most did not have radios, telephones, TVs or dependable cars. A few still used horses as a means of transportation. Living during that time people had become dependent upon God and most seemed to realize the importance of being loyal and honest. Generally people were dependable, hard working and were willing to help each other when a need occurred.

What I see today is nothing like it was 75 years or more ago. Society’s principles and values have changed. It was a rarity to hear about gang activity. What young people do today was not even thought about years ago. For a teenage to have a child out of wedlock was a disgrace. Years ago, if a teen became pregnant the baby’s father was expected to marry her. If he didn’t, the dad showed up at his door with a shotgun and they had a shotgun wedding. Sometimes it was the boy’s father that carried the shotgun pointed at his son.

I did some research and learned that much of our problems in America today come from homes without fathers.

The following is what I learned:

• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average.
• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.
• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)
• 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes –14 times the average. (Justice & Behavior, Vol. 14, p. 403-26)
• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average. (National Principals Association Report)

Father Factor in Education – Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are 40% less likely to repeat a grade in school.
• Children with Fathers who are involved are 70% less likely to drop out of school.
• Children with Fathers who are involved are more likely to get A’s in school.
• Children with Fathers who are involved are more likely to enjoy school and engage in extracurricular activities.

Father Factor in Incarceration – Even after controlling for income, youths in father-absent households still had significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in mother-father families. Youths who never had a father in the household experienced the highest odds. A 2002 Department of Justice survey of 7,000 inmates revealed that 39% of jail inmates lived in mother-only households. Approximately forty-six percent of jail inmates in 2002 had a previously incarcerated family member. One-fifth experienced a father in prison or jail.

Should father’s day be for any male who has fathered a child then refused to accept the responsibility to raise them? I realize you cannot legislate morality but isn’t there something that can be done to stop this beside abortion? Couldn’t dead-beat dads be sentenced to a six-month boot camp? At least we can change Father’s Day to A Day for Responsible Fathers Only!

I Corinthians 6:9 – 10 – “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” KJV

Those who say they are Christians but persist in these practices, with no remorse, will not inherit the kingdom of God.