| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Pop Kulcher" |
| Date: |
11 Jul 2003 10:48:59 PM |
| Object: |
Re: Same-sex marriage vs. society's ideal |
BlackWater <bw@barrk.net> wrote
Clearly, religious and 'civil' marriages are going to have
to become seperate entities. Nobody is legally married unless
it's done by the State. Religious 'marriage' will simply
become a ceremonial affair, not binding, or bound, by law.
That would be fine -- the whole concept of a civil marriage is rather
absurd if you think about it (we don't give government recognition to,
say, Baptisms or Bar Mitzvahs, so why the special treatment of the
sacrament of marriage?). But, as a practical matter, it won't go
away. Civil marriage has too many benefits -- personally, it made my
life easier when I get married that so many things followed
automatically under law (i.e. inheritance rights, spousal benefits,
etc.), and I'd hate to have to contract for each and every one of
those things. Since there is no rational reason to give me & my wife
those things, but not the gay couple next door, the only sensible
option is to grant the same legal rights/liabilities to all adult
couples choosing civil marriage, regardless of sexual orientation.
.
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| User: "Pulver" |
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| Title: Re: Same-sex marriage vs. society's ideal |
12 Jul 2003 01:35:17 PM |
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Pop Kulcher wrote:
BlackWater <bw@barrk.net> wrote
Clearly, religious and 'civil' marriages are going to have
to become seperate entities. Nobody is legally married unless
it's done by the State.
All marriages in the United states are performed by officials licensed by the state to so do. They are
required to fill out the certificate on the marriage license provided by the municipality and register it
at the court house registry. Basically the 'ceremony' involves execution of a verbal 'contract' between
the two parties. All the rest is window dressing.
Religious 'marriage' will simply
become a ceremonial affair, not binding, or bound, by law.
'Religious marriages' are performed by clergy licensed_by_the_state and include certain legal
prerequisites to complete the verbal contract. Yes - all the rest is ceremonial.
That would be fine -- the whole concept of a civil marriage is rather
absurd if you think about it (we don't give government recognition to,
say, Baptisms or Bar Mitzvahs, so why the special treatment of the
sacrament of marriage?). But, as a practical matter, it won't go
away. Civil marriage has too many benefits -- personally, it made my
life easier when I get married that so many things followed
automatically under law (i.e. inheritance rights, spousal benefits,
etc.), and I'd hate to have to contract for each and every one of
those things. Since there is no rational reason to give me & my wife
those things, but not the gay couple next door, the only sensible
option is to grant the same legal rights/liabilities to all adult
couples choosing civil marriage, regardless of sexual orientation.
The drive for same sex marriages is to obtain equal treatment before the law.
In Canada, barring same sex marriages was ruled a violation of civil rights, and so unconstitutional.
.
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