Is anyone else wondering what the big stink is about?
I read somewhere on another site... "Gay couples should be able to get married, but they shouldn't be allowed to call it a marriage". --Are they serious?
Sadly, they were. Their reasoning was that marriage was a union sanctified by both church and state. Whereas a gay union would only be sanctified by the state.
So, forgive me for being slightly confused on this. I was not married by a church. My marriage was performed by a Justice of the Peace because it was an inter-faith marriage; I am Pagan, and my husband is Roman Catholic. So, since we weren't married in a church or by a priest, does that mean we can't say we are married? We have to call it a "Civil Union" just because a church won't recognize it?
Who cares whether or not a church recognizes the union or not? That's why pastors and priests have the right to refuse to marry any couple - even heterosexual couples. And there are more and more churches inviting homosexuals to join in their faith. Does their recognition deem whether or not these couples could enjoy tax benefits? Or not get screwed should one of them die? Should it?
I don't think so. I think it's sad that we would fight so vehemently against allowing these couples to come together in a legally sanctified way; but to say that they couldn't call their union a marriage?
How ridiculous are we going to get with this whole issue?
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I just wish we could stop all this hate! It is really wrong!
Take Care,
Nikki
:) Check out my post:
http://www.progressiveu.org/232338-battle-of-the-sexes-especially-for-engineers
http://www.progressiveu.org/235117-military-appreciation
http://www.progressiveu.org/001148-remakes-keep-or-toss
Sadly, this argument isn't new. I remember before the election, we were voting on Referendum I, and the people who were advertising it said 'it's not marriage, it's basic legal rights', or something to that effect, essentially to get people to vote for it. I can't remember the exact specifications of the referendum, though I do remember it being in conjunction with something else that would specify civil unions, or something to that effect. Meh.
~C
Visit my blog.
I guess I'm in the same boat as you. I'm Pagan, my husband is Baptist. I guess we've been deluding ourselves thinking that our union was a marriage these past 3 years. Man, he'll be totally bummed to hear that.
I've said it before and I'll say it again... the Christian faith does not have a monopoly on marriage people. Marriage was around long before Christianity and will be around long after Christianity is swept away by whatever religion will eventually replace it.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
This really doesn't make alot of sense to me either because if churches are willing to invite gay men and women into their churches. Why can't they be married in a church?
I honestly hope that by the time my best friend is ready to get married that he will be able to marry the man he loves because I would hate to see him heart broken. And Fanaile Essence, you make a good point would someone classify your marriage as a marriage or just a civil union. Honestly I think if you were married by a preist or justice of the peace or who ever is qualified to marry you, that you are married and it doesn't matter about religion or whatever.
You definitely do not have a civil union. A civil union is a special thing given out mostly to gay people in certain states. You are fully and legally married but it isn't recognized by the Catholic Church, I know that. Just like how divorce isn't recognized in the Catholic Church until you get an annulment thing which I think is bologna.
I personally think that a lot of people support same-sex civil unions because of religious beliefs or other prejudices, saying that they should be allowed because they are not on a level playing field with marriage. They pick "union" because it implies that the partnership will not be recognized by a religious organization. But civil unions don't have most of the rights that marriages do, just like you said! People need to be more informed.
~Violinstef