OPINION — One of the most widely read books of all time is “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” It’s a historical work, written in 1788 by Edward Gibbon, an English historian and member of Parliament.
It covers the history of the Roman Empire, Europe and the Catholic Church from the second century to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It sets forth five basic reasons why that great civilization withered and died. They were:
• The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society.