Single-mother homes are common in America, but it has shown to be devastating to children. Those who grow up without a father are more likely to do poorly in school, commit crimes, and abuse alcohol and drugs, among other things.
"Fathers were designed by God to really be the head of the household," says Terris Todd, program manager for Civil Society and the American Dialogue at The Heritage Foundation. "Fathers do three things: Fathers will affirm, they will provide, and they will protect, because that's really what God does for us. But if you remove the father, then you remove the head. So it's kind of like the scripture says: If you smite the shepherd, the sheep will scatter (Zechariah 13:7)."
In an opinion piece for Fox News, which he wrote from personal experience, he notes the financial and social consequences of welfare checks replacing fathers and warns that black Americans may lose a generation of children to poverty, drug abuse, incarceration, and gun violence unless fathers act now. And with black women representing 36% of the abortions performed in the country, Todd believes having a father in the home would make a life-saving impact.
"I believe those numbers would turn around a great deal, because … that woman, the mother of that child would feel more supported," he submits. "She would feel more faith; she would feel more comforted."
Though the American culture has suffered deep and extensive damage because of fatherlessness, Todd adds that things can still turn around, especially if absent fathers act now, set aside their pride, and "do what's right for the next generation."
