WEST GERMANY: Defender of the Family

Franz-Josef Wurmeling, a booming, bright-eyed Berliner, is one of those well-meaning souls who feel compelled to share their righteousness with less fortunate neighbors. Herr Doktor Wurmeling is West Germany's first Minister for Family Affairs, the official champion of a higher birth rate, a lower divorce rate, more authority for the German husband. A zealous Roman Catholic husband and father (five children), he deplores short skirts, long embraces, plunging necklines. "My ministry," explains Wurmeling, "is the patron saint and guardian of the family."

Franz-Josef Wurmeling's ministry is exceedingly small (only 15 employees), but in the five months since Chancellor Konrad...