[markomalley]

I wonder how long it will take the homosexual lobby and their lawyers to tackle that issue here in the states? Once it gets to 20 states that have legalized sodomite unions? 30?

[NYer]

One possible outcome could even be a complete separation of church and civil weddings, such as happens in France where coupes are married in the town hall with a separate service in churches, he said.

snip

The problem, he said, is that under a system in place since 1895, Catholic priests act as an “authorised person” to marry couples in place of a registrar.

Given the decline in church weddings, this may be the path to reinvigorating the Sacrament of Matrimony. People often gravitate towards an event that separates them from the masses. Essentially, adopting the French model may prove to be a blessing.

[Average Al]

Interesting idea. I wonder how the lawyers would deal with the churches ministers and priests just “observing” marriages between church members rather than “conducting” or “performing” legal marriages?

[txrefugee]

Why not have God-approved covenant marriages performed by the church, and ungodly marriages performed by the godless state?

[McGavin999]

The thing is, they can force "the state" to comply, but they can never force acceptance. It's like children playing house. Everyone may smile and say they accept, but privately they are winking and nodding behind their backs.

I think having a state wedding and then a private religios ceramony is the answer

[kjo]

The government is now turning on the Christian churches. Catholic hospitals are being forced to supply birth control, soon ministers and priests who refuse to conduct weddings according to state mandates will face “hate” speech laws.

It’s coming and it’s coming fast. Fascism.

[Venturer]

Just another problem brought to you by the rug munchers and butt bangers,

Be sure to thank them.

[Gay State Conservative]

Disgraceful but not surprising.However I think that,in practice,this would be easily overcome.The Catholic couple would be married in a church by a priest but the priest makes it a point to structure the ceremony in such a way as that it’s recognized by *God* as a marriage but not by the Government.Then,at some point they go down to the nearest justice of the peace (one who has the authority to conduct ceremonies recognized by the State) and have a 3 minute ceremony there.

[Ransomed]

George Weigal has already called for this. I think father Z has mentioned it before as well. The state’s definition of marriage is just going to keep changing further by including new impossibilities, long after ‘gay marriage’ becomes accepted.

Doesn’t help as far the state punishing the Church for not buying into ‘gay marriage’, but maybe it would help teach that what the Church means by marriage and the state means is different.

Freegards

[Travis McGee]

They can pervert the language, the culture and the law, but they can never have one of these.

[Stark_GOP]

First, there is no such thing as a same-sex marriage. The very definition of marriage makes this impossible.
Second, marriage is religious. Its origin is religious. Government saw what a great idea marriage is so it was recognized and codified in law.
If the people demanding ‘separation of church and state’ were honest then all marriage licenses would have to be voided, since marriage is originally a religious covenant.
Government can recognize marriage. Government cannot define marriage.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

I wonder if Muslim clerics will be performing gay Muslim weddings?

[Antoninus]

Frankly, I am less and less interested in anything the state has to say on moral issues. If the Church says I’m married, that’s sufficient for me. When the state refuses to conform to Natural Law, it becomes illegitimate.