My sociology and anthropology professors emphasized the importance of a stable family for society as well as individuals. Research supports this.
I find it difficult to understand why such intense feelings are ignited by this subject. It is beginning to smack of paranoia.
WHY is marriage "under attack"? What is everybody so frightened about? I can only presume it's the "same sex" marriage business which has set alarm bells ringing and inflated the issue out of all proportion.
I imagine very few people would deny for a moment that the family is a major anchor for society, but it doesn't preclude other relationships or prevent couples of different sexes cohabiting. (Economically, too, if every single person were to marry, there'd be an overall drop in the tax take, surely?)
The trumpeting about the institute of marriage being perfect - or that's the message - is dubious. It is riddled with faults which we all accept. What is the divorce rate in the US today? How many wives have to seek refuge after being battered by their "loving" husbands? Nor do children escape maltreatment by bad parents or even sexual interference - from both parents and relatives.
We have to bear in mind that some individuals are just not psychologically suited to marriage for any one of a hundred different reasons. Let's keep a sense of proportion - unless you really want to impose uniformity in which case you might as well do away with the concept of democracy.