DGS49
Diamond Member
I know it's been discussed before here, but with the USSC getting ready to weigh in I though it might be entertaining to take another whack at it.
Throughout the time while this subject has been in the public consciousness, I have never heard anyone else express views that are the same as mine, so here goes.
The "institution of marriage" that is created by any Church is NOT THE SAME as the "institution of marriage" that is created by the State.
Examples:
(1) I get married by a Roman Catholic priest, then get divorced by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under the laws of the Church I am still married. Under the laws of Pennsylvania I am divorced. If I remarry, the Church condemns me for bigamy.
(2) I get married by a justice of the peace. The Catholic Church does not recognize that marriage. My kids are illegitimate. Under the rules of the Church, I am free to divorce and re-marry, if I like.
(3) I get married by a priest. Six weeks later I realize that my wife and I had totally different views on marriage, family, procreation, etc. I go to the Church and have my marriage annulled. According to the Church, I was NEVER MARRIED. According to Pennsylvania I am still married.
The point being...
These are two different institutions, and it shouldn't really matter to the Church what the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania thinks, and vice versa.
The perversity that should be addressed is this: Church priests, ministers, and rabbis should NOT HAVE THE POWER to marry someone in the eyes of the State. Two separate ceremonies should be required, because the couple is entering into two different types of commitments and two different institutions.
Bottom line...
It should not matter to the Church if the State decides to recognize other types of relationships as "marriages." It is none of their business or concern.
The State takes no notice of the SEXUAL ACTIVITY of people who marry (except to the extent that living children come out of it), and the forms and frequency of the sexual activity of married people is totally irrelevant to the State, while it may have grave moral consequence in the Church. But it doesn't matter, does it?
Throughout the time while this subject has been in the public consciousness, I have never heard anyone else express views that are the same as mine, so here goes.
The "institution of marriage" that is created by any Church is NOT THE SAME as the "institution of marriage" that is created by the State.
Examples:
(1) I get married by a Roman Catholic priest, then get divorced by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under the laws of the Church I am still married. Under the laws of Pennsylvania I am divorced. If I remarry, the Church condemns me for bigamy.
(2) I get married by a justice of the peace. The Catholic Church does not recognize that marriage. My kids are illegitimate. Under the rules of the Church, I am free to divorce and re-marry, if I like.
(3) I get married by a priest. Six weeks later I realize that my wife and I had totally different views on marriage, family, procreation, etc. I go to the Church and have my marriage annulled. According to the Church, I was NEVER MARRIED. According to Pennsylvania I am still married.
The point being...
These are two different institutions, and it shouldn't really matter to the Church what the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania thinks, and vice versa.
The perversity that should be addressed is this: Church priests, ministers, and rabbis should NOT HAVE THE POWER to marry someone in the eyes of the State. Two separate ceremonies should be required, because the couple is entering into two different types of commitments and two different institutions.
Bottom line...
It should not matter to the Church if the State decides to recognize other types of relationships as "marriages." It is none of their business or concern.
The State takes no notice of the SEXUAL ACTIVITY of people who marry (except to the extent that living children come out of it), and the forms and frequency of the sexual activity of married people is totally irrelevant to the State, while it may have grave moral consequence in the Church. But it doesn't matter, does it?