Church Recognizes British Judge for Promoting Family Values
Contributed By By Malcolm P. Adcock, Europe Area Public Affairs
Sir Paul Coleridge, third from right, recipient of Family Values Award, poses with, from left, Craig Whittaker, MP; Fiona Bruce, MP; Lady Coleridge; David Rutley, MP; and Elder Clifford T. Herbertson, Area Seventy.
Article Highlights
- The Church awarded Sir Paul Coleridge the Family Values Award for his work in promoting marriage and family.
- Award recipient Sir Paul Coleridge aims to increase marriage and reduce divorce.
- Family breakdowns cost British taxpayers around £46 million each year.
“The stability and future of our society depends on family values. Such values need not only to be defended; in a large degree they need to be restored. The family is at the center of a civil and good society.” —Elder Clifford T. Herbertson, Area Seventy.
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Sir Paul Coleridge, founder and chairman of the Marriage Foundation, received the Family Values Award from the Church at a celebratory event held at the United Kingdom’s Houses of Parliament on December 11.
Sir Paul was recognized for his commitment to promote and strengthen marriage and family life across the United Kingdom. He was commended “for his remarkable work in support of the family.”
On receiving the award, Sir Paul said that he was accepting it on behalf of the Marriage Foundation and felt it “extremely encouraging” to have outside support from other groups such as the Church.
“We need to support this great institution that’s falling down,” he said. “Our driving motivation is to do something because of the effect of family breakdown on children, whose lives are completely blighted by having to experience the horror of such breakdown.”
Describing cohabitation as “inherently an unstable social arrangement,” Sir Paul added that “our big aim is to increase the rate of marriage and to reduce the rate of divorce, promoting marriage is our first aim.”
The Church presents Family Values Awards annually to individuals in the public eye whose work and influence have a significant impact on family life within United Kingdom society.
Elder Clifford T. Herbertson, an Area Seventy, said, “The stability and future of our society depends on family values. Such values need not only to be defended; in a large degree they need to be restored. The family is at the center of a civil and good society.”
The Marriage Foundation recently drew attention to the statistic that family breakdowns cost an estimated £46 million each year to British taxpayers. The cost is due to the greater likelihood that separating parents require additional financial support—including welfare benefits and housing—as well as other support and interventions arising from health problems and domestic violence, in comparison with couple parents.
United Kingdom Houses of Parliament building, located in downtown London. Photo by Meghan Giboin.
Sir Paul Coleridge was appointed a High Court judge in 2000 after 30 years as a family law specialist barrister.
Family Values Awards were first presented by the Church in the United Kingdom 12 years ago. Previous award recipients have comprised United Kingdom cabinet ministers, people of influence in the third sector, and senior faith leaders.
David Rutley, a member of Parliament from Macclesfield, hosted the luncheon at the House of Commons. This year’s awards event was also attended by Craig Whittaker, member of Parliament for Calder Valley, and Fiona Bruce, member of Parliament who represents Congleton.
