Gay Marriage....what do folks think of this? http://news.yahoo.com/s/po/20090318/ts_po/end_all_marriages_1?

It'll work, as long as the Federal Government would give those federal benefits to couples in any union sanctioned by the states. And, that would also mean that people could get married in the Church (religiously), but in order to be recognized by the state/federal government as legal, they would have to get a civil union.

I'm for it. Give the term marriage & the rules that regulate marriage to that SPECIFIC religion or church, which has to be performed by a church of the couple's denomination. But, would this be good enough for some people, since there ARE religions who indeed perform & honor same sex marriages? Because my wife & I were married by a preacher in a religious ceremony. Therefore, according to the article, we would STILL be married. Would this be good enough for folks who claim that marriage is a religious ceremony, since the definition of marriage is according to THAT religion's laws?

I told my wife I don't care if they call state/civil ceremonies "crap on a hot tin roof", as long as ALL couples who are in those state sanctioned unions are treated equally & given all the benefits afforded by the federal government of those state sanctioned unions (currently, only "marriage").

I guess we can wait & see.

Why not?!

Marriage is kind of meaningless anyway. Look at the divorce rate. And consider that the majority of married persons view their marriage in a purely civil and legal nature. Most married couples I know are not devoutly religious. In fact, most of them are not that spiritually minded at all. So why all the fuss about marriage - which is supposed to be this great sacramental and spiritual thing?

If God wants you to be together, and wants to confirm your commitment to each other, He will do so in his own way. And as for the big public show of marriage - it's just that! A show! Its a cash grab for merchants and the government! Hardly something Jesus would have been in to. I know Jesus once attended a wedding, but my guess if that he would say that a public ceremony, a legal document, and the OK given by a priest or minister is totally unnecessary to make a commitment to someone.

I think its a great idea.

There already are several religious denominations that are pro-gay marriage, that already perform same-sex weddings. So gay or lesbian couples wouldn't have to give up their use of the word "marriage" if they got married by a GLBT-friendly church or synagogue. Or not, if they only wanted the civil ceremony.

And of course, hetero couples would continue to be free to have whatever religious marriage ceremony they wanted. Or none at all if they only wanted a civil ceremony.

Sounds like a win-win situation for everyone.

In Canada we call it marriage. And we've even gotten around to re-writing divorce law, too!!!

Now, in the USA, you have in the constitution the seperatioin of church and state. Nice theory, but the Moral Minority have never read the constitution. And that is why things like Iraq, and Jim Crow, and Prop 8, and Waco and Oklahoma City, and.... you get the picture!!!

Makes sense to me. The government should treat all couples equally. If hetero couples get tax breaks, then James and I should get them too.

I don't care what their churches do/don't do about it, or if they call it a civil union or marriage or a gay rutabaga. That doesn't change the fact that James and I are married per the only 3 people that count: him, me, and God.

Interesting suggestion. Equal rights for all.

Bugger that!

Their idea of Equality seems to restrict more than it does liberate.

Whatever floats your boat --