No Fathers, No Families: Why Young Men Are Giving Up on Marriage

Why are young men giving up on marriage and fatherhood — and what will it take to bring them back?

Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, father of 8, and producer of the new documentary Fathers Wanted, joins Colleen Maxwell on Living a Culture of Life to expose the cultural and economic forces keeping men from becoming husbands and fathers — from pornography and contraception to inflation, housing costs, and marriage penalties.

Terry shares his own family’s powerful story of redemption — how his father Bobby overcame crack addiction and alcoholism going on to build a thriving family of 10 children and 28 grandchildren — and why he believes love requires sacrifice, openness to life, and faith.

He explains why contraception cheapened sex, how no-fault divorce and dating apps undermine lifelong commitment, why the vice economy (porn, marijuana, sports betting, video games) is weakening fathers, and why Christians treating marriage as God commands would transform the country overnight.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about: – Why young men are withdrawing from marriage, fatherhood, work, and college – How pornography (average first exposure at age 10), the sexual revolution, and contraception devalued marriage and family – The link between contraception, abortion, and the culture of death – How inflation, housing costs, $30,000+ marriage penalties, and DEI hiring quotas punish family formation – Why children raised in married, church-going homes thrive — and why fathers and mothers both matter – The Catholic vision of marriage: permanence, sacrifice, and being open to life – How family life deepens faith — and how faith renews the nation – What parents must tell their children about marriage and children as blessings, not burdens

Drawing on insights from Bishop Robert Barron, demographer Lyman Stone, Dr. Pat Fagan, and his Fathers Wanted interviews (including Benny Johnson’s transformation through fatherhood), Terry lays out practical next steps: rein in the vice economy, fight for economic justice for families, and talk to your kids about the beauty and messiness of family life.

Watch the documentary Fathers Wanted: https://www.fatherswanted.org/

Learn more about Terry Schilling and the American Principles Project: American Principles Project — Putting Families First in Public Policy

Subscribe to Living a Culture of Life for more conversations on Catholic teaching, marriage, family life, fatherhood, and the defense of human life. New episodes every Thursday!