Marriage in America: Separating the legal from the religious
April 17, 2006
3:40 pm
Vasken
Musings
Tags: church, civil union, government, heterosexual, homosexual, legal, marriage, religious, secular, state, tax
NB: The following was originally posted in response to an article on Anti-Strib.blogspot.com.
Actually, I would debate the statement that marriage is a religious institution, and that a civil union is its legal equivalent. As long as the word ‘marriage’ is used to describe a contract between a man and a women in which the government recognizes the two as a single entity for tax purposes, and extends privileges to couples that are not offered to single people living together, marriage must be a legal institution. Since separation of church and state is necessary to the functioning of our republic, it must be recognized that this distinction exists: the religious institution of marriage, entered into by many millions in this country in various houses of worship, is separate and in addition to the legal contract into which couples enter in their town hall or local government office. I support equal legal privileges for both heterosexual and homosexual couples, and I would have no problem calling that a ‘civil union,’ so long as when I go down to town hall myself, and enter into the same contract with my girlfriend as a heterosexual man, it is also termed a ‘civil union.’ Then, if we choose to be married in a church representing one of our two faiths, we can receive that designation in accordance with the tenets of that faith, which preclude homosexuality. In other words, I have no desire to force homosexuality into the religious sphere, but I also do not want to see religion used as a tool to affect our purposefully secular government.
Wandering Pig Effer :
Date: April 18, 2006 @ 2:46 pm
http://pigeffer.com/?p=5
Wandering Pig Effer :
Date: April 19, 2006 @ 12:49 pm
I don’t understand what the fuss is all about. Wait, yes I do. It’s about prejudice, hatred, bigotry, all carried out under the guise of religious morality. In recent years, the issue of gay rights, especially the right to marry, has exploded in this country. Liberal states such as Hawaii and Vermont have considered trumping the government by allowing such marriages, but have fallen short of this goal. What we have instead in Vermont is the legalization of “civil unions”, which are a mockery of the rights that the heterosexuals of this country are allowed.
http://www.beyrent.net/drupal/?q=node/2
Wandering Pig Effer :
Date: April 19, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
When discussing whether or not homosexuals ought to be able to marry, the argument invariably turns to the institution of marriage, if it can be said that such a thing exists in the United States. A lot of people feel that by allowing same-sex marriages, the institution of marriage will further weaken, and thus destroy the family. To counter some of those arguments and fears, marriage must first be defined, which serves as the purpose of this writing.
http://www.beyrent.net/drupal/?q=node/4