Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
INTERVIEW: PRO-MARRIAGE POLICY INITIATIVES FROM LYMAN STONE
Dear marriage supporter,
Last week’s interview with Lyman Stone, a senior researcher at the Institute of Family Studies, focused on the decline in birth rates and the pivotal role of marriage as a solution. In today’s compelling follow-up, Lyman delves into the challenges facing marriage rates and suggests transformative policy initiatives to address them. Make sure to watch this invaluable discussion in its entirety here.
Lyman affirms that “marriage rates are declining all around the world”. But one of the most revealing aspects of the conversation highlights pro-marriage policies in countries like Hungary. Lyman states unequivocally that “policy works”, arguing that meaningful legislative changes can increase marriage rates.
Lyman is critical of systems that penalise mothers who wish to raise several children at home. He laments the paradigm shift that means marriage and family are no longer a cornerstone on which people build their lives.
Lyman offers his top policy initiatives, including eliminating marriage penalties in the benefits and tax system.
At C4M, we recognise the profound implications of failing to advocate for real marriage. Informed by extensive evidence, it’s clear that growing up with your married mum and dad fosters the most resilient and well-adjusted next generation. That’s why we call on every political party to elevate the promotion of real marriage to a central position in their manifesto pledges, as this offers the best chance for collective flourishing and enduring prosperity.
If you would like to support us financially, you can do so using the Donate button on our website at c4m.org.uk
Dr Tony Rucinski
facebook.com/coalition4marriage
INTERVIEW: PRO-MARRIAGE POLICY INITIATIVES FROM LYMAN STONE
Dear marriage supporter,
Last week’s interview with Lyman Stone, a senior researcher at the Institute of Family Studies, focused on the decline in birth rates and the pivotal role of marriage as a solution. In today’s compelling follow-up, Lyman delves into the challenges facing marriage rates and suggests transformative policy initiatives to address them. Make sure to watch this invaluable discussion in its entirety here.
Lyman affirms that “marriage rates are declining all around the world”. But one of the most revealing aspects of the conversation highlights pro-marriage policies in countries like Hungary. Lyman states unequivocally that “policy works”, arguing that meaningful legislative changes can increase marriage rates.
Lyman is critical of systems that penalise mothers who wish to raise several children at home. He laments the paradigm shift that means marriage and family are no longer a cornerstone on which people build their lives.
Lyman offers his top policy initiatives, including eliminating marriage penalties in the benefits and tax system.
At C4M, we recognise the profound implications of failing to advocate for real marriage. Informed by extensive evidence, it’s clear that growing up with your married mum and dad fosters the most resilient and well-adjusted next generation. That’s why we call on every political party to elevate the promotion of real marriage to a central position in their manifesto pledges, as this offers the best chance for collective flourishing and enduring prosperity.
If you would like to support us financially, you can do so using the Donate button on our website at c4m.org.uk
Dr Tony Rucinski
facebook.com/coalition4marriage







![Poland Chooses Pro-Family President - Olivier Bault interview with Tony Rucinski
POLAND CHOOSES PRO-FAMILY PRESIDENT
Dear marriage supporter,
Poland has elected a pro-family president, Karol Nawrocki. I chat to Olivier Bault, Communications Director at the Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture, about what this means for marriage and the family. Poland already gives a large income tax break to mothers and fathers of four or more children within set thresholds. Watch our full interview here.
Poland treats marriage as the union of one man and one woman in its Constitution. This gives policymakers a clear anchor for family policy. In our discussion, Olivier explains how this constitutional clarity protects children and strengthens society, and why redefining marriage unravels that clarity.
He sets out what the new President means for marriage policy. Olivier outlines a plan to further increase and extend tax benefits to parents with two or more children, submitted as a Presidential Bill to parliament. Nawrocki will also block progressive legislation proposed by the Government. The Presidency, he explains, carries a veto that the current Sejm – the lower house of Poland’s Parliament – cannot override without three fifths. He says Nawrocki will not sign laws that bring civil partnerships, open to same-sex couples, into law. Olivier explains that the new President’s position is a stalemate with Parliament, but that this is better than capitulation on moral truth.
The battle for the classroom is discussed too. Olivier details a new “health education” class that wraps in sex education with gender-identity content. Parents can opt out by written declaration. His point is plain. Parental rights need defending in law and in practice.
Turning to the UK, the record is a cautionary tale. Parliament broadened legal parenthood routes in 2002 (Adoption and Children Act 2002), created civil partnerships in 2004 (Civil Partnership Act 2004), widened parental routes again in 2008 (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008), and then redefined marriage in 2013 (Marriage [Same Sex Couples] Act 2013). At present, Poland’s constitutional definition and a President with a veto block that sequence.
At C4M our focus is real marriage because it gives children their best start in life, and gives the nation a more hopeful future. Poland shows that law can back the truth about marriage and that policy can reward responsibility. The challenge now is to renew a marriage culture in the UK with clear laws, parental rights and practical support for young couples. That is a positive policy aim, and one that C4M believe is definitely attainable.
If you’re not yet supporting C4M financially but would like to help, please click the donate button at http://www.c4m.org.uk
Dr Tony Rucinski
https://www.facebook.com/coalition4marriage/ Poland Chooses Pro-Family President - Olivier Bault interview with Tony Rucinski](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sWSTJQsgl7Y/mqdefault.jpg)
![PRIDE is wrecking the family - Rev Keith Waters Interview with Tony Rucinski
INTERVIEW: PRIDE IS ‘WRECKING THE FAMILY UNIT’
Dear marriage supporter,
I recently interviewed Keith Waters, a pastor who left his job at a prestigious Cambridge college to shepherd a local church, while also working as a school caretaker. Keith braved disciplinary action from the school for his candid expression of support for man-woman marriage. He goes into both his stance and his triumph, aided by the Christian Legal Centre, in our full discussion here:
Keith shares how he initially enjoyed a “good relationship” with the school, even leading assemblies and RE lessons. However, this changed dramatically after he tweeted his opinion that “Christians should not support or attend” Pride marches as they “are especially harmful for children”. Keith was subjected to disciplinary action after parents complained about the tweet, which he challenged successfully at an employment tribunal. He was even invited by the police to be “retrained in [his] thinking”.
Keith is unequivocal about the broader societal implications, stating that the issue of Pride “is wrecking the family unit” and that allowing same-sex marriage has acted as “a massive catalyst to … aggression” against those who advocate for authentic man-woman unions. He urges supporters to be “bold enough and compassionate enough and wise enough, all at the same time”, and to arm themselves with data that illuminates the benefits of real marriage.
Keith encapsulates the issue by saying, “It all comes back to that central family unit, to marriage”, urging people to stand up and be “willing to put heads above parapets”.
At C4M, we’re keenly aware that courage is a cornerstone of meaningful change. With the strong backing of our supporters, and taking a firm stand for the importance of man-woman marriage together, we can and will make a difference.
If you would like to support us financially, you can do so using the donate button on our website at
http://www.c4m.org.uk
Dr Tony Rucinski
https://www.facebook.com/coalition4marriage/ PRIDE is wrecking the family - Rev Keith Waters Interview with Tony Rucinski](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tUDeVoYfxqA/mqdefault.jpg)

