California Court Decision on Gay Marriages

ban basketball · 05-19-2008, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Spider

But while a wedding is usually a religious occasion, it is always a civil contract. The two are usually merged into one ceremony, but they are very different things. A couple can get a civil divorce which is not recognized by the Church, and a couple getting only a religious divorce is still legally married.

I know. My statement was only to show that the "sacredness" of it is not absolute.

Spider · 05-19-2008, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by ban basketball

I know. My statement was only to show that the "sacredness" of it is not absolute.

Sacredness is a religious concept. It has absolutely nothing to do with government granting gays the right to marriage.

(I don't mean to be a pain in the ass - I understand your point)

sgallan · 05-19-2008, 02:45 PM

I don't mean to be a pain in the ass

As if....

Spider · 05-19-2008, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by sgallan

I don't mean to be a pain in the ass

As if....

Some things just come naturally.

Tight-Waist · 05-19-2008, 04:14 PM

Spider is correct.

People can, and have had, private marriages for ages. No government entity prevents this nor should it. These marriages can also be enhanced with other legal agreements and commitments that make them very similar to government approved marriages.

But there is no legal right to state sanctioned gay marriage just as there is no legal right to a polygamist marriage or even a straight marriage for that matter. That is NOT to say it would or would not be good public policy to allow gay marriages, but there is nothing in the constution, including the equal protection clause, that guarantees the right to gay marriage anymore than it does polygamist marriage.

Let me say once again, I am NOT making a value judgement on gay marriage, polygamist marriage or even a straight marriage for that matter but to point out just as government decides who is eligble to drive, who is eligble to practice law, who is eligible to enter into contracts, they decide who is eligible to marry.

UGLY · 05-19-2008, 06:23 PM

Tight Waist is right the state does not have to issue a marriage certificate to anyone. It is not an express right to get married and the law does forbid certain marriages like inter family marriages.

ban basketball · 05-19-2008, 06:27 PM

As long as we all agree, then maybe our society ought to look into trying to eliminate the ludicrous argument that marriage is a sacred institution that ought to be off limits to same sex couples.

When we argue religion, we are arguing sacred.

UGLY · 05-19-2008, 10:07 PM

I could agree with that. Simply because I do not hold my marriage more important because it is endorsed by the state. My marriage is a union I made between my Wife and God and really the government doesn't mean anything to me other than the tax break.

California Court Decision on Gay Marriages

Politics & Religion