"Pro-marriage, pro-fatherhood is necessary for a healthy society at large."

Ryan Messmore is the William E. Simon fellow in religion and a free society at The Heritage Foundation. This Father's Day weekend, Messmore talked about just why fathers are so important.

Why have we had a father problem over the past few decades?

There are a lot of factors that have contributed - changes in views towards sex and marriage.

But political views have played into this as well.

The impact of fathers not being in home isn't reported like it should be in the media.

A pro-family, pro-father, pro-marriage message is the most potent factor in overcoming child poverty.

It's just astounding that this goes unreported...on the left.

Children living in intact families tend to fare better on cognitive achievement and behavioral outcomes. Fathers have a positive impact on behavior and intelligence.

Growing up, we take our cues...by watching our moms and our dads.

Just think about why every young boy wants to grow up and have the job they see their dad do.

It's having books in the home and having your children see you read.

We take our cues, we watch carefully everything our parents do.

Adolescents with more involved fathers tend to exhibit lower levels of behavioral problems. Why is it that fathers are so important to this?

I think this boils downs to some basic, fundamental differences between men and women.

We are benefited by having a nurturing, loving mom.

We're also benefited by having a father in the home.

It's so important to have a good father role model in the home, not only for the well-being of the children, not only for the well-being of the family...this is an issue of the well-being of society.

Pro-marriage, pro-fatherhood is necessary for a healthy society at large.

Why are worship and wedlock so important in raising kids?

In the absence of a married father and mother in the home, being involved in a local faith community can cover for a lot of that.

Those who are motivated to worship, tend to understand God's design for the family, for the importance of fatherhood.

The Church not only offers a vision of family, a vision of marriage, it offers resources for the family.

All those benefits are passed down to the children.

Three things a dad should start doing if he wants to have great kids.

Number one, I would say love their wives well. That sends incredible signals to the children.

Number two, spend time with your kids, read with your kids.

Number three...go to familyfacts.org and see how important fathers are.