Perhaps I can lend a little bit of perspective here. I was married in the Philippines; despite the rather extensive influence of the Catholic Church there, marriage consists of two separate and unrelated ceremonies. First there is what is called a "civil ceremony," generally done before a judge, mayor or similar official. After this, if you so choose, you can then get married in a church; ironically, there is no marriage license requirement because you must have first completed the civil ceremony. In other words, the legal and religious components are completely separate. Once the civil ceremony is complete, the state has no further interest: get marrried in the church of your choice, or not. As others have mentioned, this seems to get to the actual root of our problem in this country: there is an unfortunate overlap between the civil and religious definitions of marriage.
cjf Christopher J. Feola President nextPression, Inc. www.nextPression.com _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of peggy miller Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:51 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [FRIAM] Obama, Proposition 8 In response to Phil Henshaw, briefly, I believe there still remains a place for civil marriage -- that marriage has taken on a non-religious place in most people's hearts, sort of like Christmas trees and Christmas carols. It speaks of love, devotion, fidelity between two consenting adults, and should be something any two adults can partake in civilly. Love between two people should be able to celebrate and exist under a civil union, legally undertaken. ... and that union, historically, is called marriage. and I think gay male couples can also sort of choose the husband / wife roles to some degree -- though hopefully all couples, gay or straight, are beginning to edge into a shared mixture of both -- so does that mean that a straight couple who don't want to assume husband and wife roles are not able to be married -- maybe not under Webster .. So .. I have argued myself towards your position, rather than mine!! A new definition may be called for here. Peggy No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.2/1783 - Release Date: 11/12/2008 10:01 AM
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