Marriage amendment/Ban marriage: thoughts clarified
I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. I believe marriage is between two women. I believe marriage is between two men. I believe marriage is between two women and two men. Essentially, I believe is marriage is between any legally consenting persons and their god(s). Marriage is a religious institution. I believe that churches should have the authority to define marriage, and perform ceremonies only for those unions they sanction. I believe the state should stay out of it, except to grant the legal status of civil union to those parties the church has married.
I believe the state should recognize and perform civil union for the purpose of streamlining legal and financial procedures such as inheritance and divorce. I believe civil union is between any legally consenting persons and their government. I do not believe that the government should prohibit any union based on morality; the only reason to prohibit the union is the coersion or lack of informed consent of any party to the union.
These are my thoughts at the moment. I welcome your comments and challenges, as long as they are a sincere attempt to engage in dialogue, not flaming.