Every family in America is an irreplaceable stitch in the fabric of social order. When one stitch frays, the fabric is weakened. When several stitches fray, the fabric tears. And when most of the stitches fray, the fabric disintegrates.

The sound of stitches fraying is heard every day: An anguished wife discovers her husband's adultery; a teenage girl looking for love gets pregnant; another father leaves home.

Many of these rips are muffled-not even worth a sound bite on your local evening news. Other rips sound more like screams-big news of family heartache.