Paul Finkelman
Jean Dudley wrote:
On Mar 15, 2005, at 1:02 PM, James Maule wrote:
Civil birth registration and baptisms/christenings are separate. So, too, are death registrations and funerals/memorial services. Why not separation of marriage and whatever one wants to call state sanctioning of pairing?
Jim Maule
Three words: "Separate but equal".
Marriage is both religious and civil. In contemporary usage, it denotes those who have undergone either civil or religious ceremonies to solemnize their relationship. What you are proposing is a shift away from marriage as a civil right as well as a religious ceremony.
Of course, the current model is to my right; Vermont has "civil unions" as well as marriage. While mixed-gender couples are allowed to have civil unions, same-sex couples are not allowed to have marriages. Further, I'm not sure federal government will recognize civil unions in place of marriage. If they do, I'd be willing to bet they don't extend federal marriage rights to gay couples who have joined civilly.
Jean Dudley http://jeansvoice.blogspot.com Future Law Student
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