[wagglebee]

Early in the 13th century the Catholic Church began to require Banns of Marriage prior to a wedding. These banns were really an early form of marriage license and, in the 13th century at least, the Catholic Church WAS the government as far as marriage was concerned.

The practice of banns was left largely untouched by Protestant reformers and the Anglicans actually codified them into law.

The absurd notion that government has no business in marriage is simply a libertarian ruse to support same-sex "marriage" while pretending to oppose it. The libertarians do this with the entire leftist agenda.

[little jeremiah]

Absolutely.

And marriage even prior to the Catholic Church was “legally” recognized by whatever form of government in every civilization in the world worthy of the name civilization, especially in regards to legal offspring and inheritance. The Libertarian Party’s stand is indeed a ruse; I’ve read their party platform over the years, and they have supported the entire gamut of the homo-agenda for years. What to speak of open borders and “free flow of people”, no holds barred (at all!) pornography and other issues that are hardcore leftist-anarchist.