[bvw]

Dr Wade F. Horn, the assistant secretary of health and human services for children and families:

"This initiative will not force anyone to get or stay married. The last thing we'd want is to increase the rate of domestic violence against women."

In other words, in the most obvious reading of Dr. Horn's own words: "Marriage, in and of itself, increases domestic violence against women."

Not exactly the attitude to have going into a program designed to encourage marriages. Sorry, Mr. Bush, until that mindset is changed a FedGov program to encourage marriage may ruin more than it helps. It's like having the State Department pursue our national interest in foreign policy.

[texasflower]

What he is saying is that no one will be forced to get married or stay married IN AN ABUSIVE SITUATION.

It does NOT say marriage causes abuse.

Perhaps reading comprehension will be the next thing needed in this country.

[texasflower]

"Administration officials said their goal was "healthy marriage," not marriage for its own sake.

"We know this is a sensitive area," Dr. Horn said. "We don't want to come in with a heavy hand. All services will be voluntary. We want to help couples, especially low-income couples, manage conflict in healthy ways. We know how to teach problem-solving, negotiation and listening skills. This initiative will not force anyone to get or stay married. The last thing we'd want is to increase the rate of domestic violence against women."

[rwfromkansas]

What nonsense.....you don't have the ability to comprehend what you read. He wasn't saying marriage leads to domestic violence.

By definition, domestic violence involves married couples and a household. BAD MARRIAGES that are forced could lead to more domestic violence. That is what he is saying, not that marriage itself does that.