FOREWORD: THE FRONTIERS OF LAW, RELIGION, AND MARRIAGE

Black children make up 32% of those in foster care today, yet they are only 15% of the population under the age of eighteen.2 Margaret Brinig, law professor at the University of Notre Dame, makes the argument that courts need to consider children's religious views, even when they conflict with those of their parents.3 "But the legal system does not have a good way of handling such conflicts," she writes.4 Even if it did, "do children's independent religious beliefs matter?" Brinig asks.5 Her answer is yes. Yet today, more than 40% of marriages wind up in divorce.19 Out-ofwedlock births have reached an all-time high.20 The most recent data show that more than a third of this nation's children are born to unwed mothers.21 Among African Americans, the figure is close to 70%, compared to only about 20% when I was born fifty-three years ago.23 And that number is no about 20% when I was born fifty-three years £ longer driven solely by teenage pregnancy rates.