[Lurker]

Why should my marriage be 'licensed' by the State at all?

Quite frankly it's none of their damned business. No State should be charging a fee or 'legally' recognizing any relationship between consenting adults.

There's no Constitutional basis for that anywhere.

Anyone who wants to marry in any Church should be free to do so without having to pay one thin dime to the State.

Get the State entirely OUT of the business of 'recognizing' any interpersonal relationship between consenting adults.

Period.

L

[Mad Dawgg]

"Get the State entirely OUT of the business of 'recognizing' any interpersonal relationship between consenting adults."

I always said its none of the State's Biz. If people want a legal document denoting who gets what in case of death or breakup of the partnership, they can seek such with a lawyer.

Then if one wants to be married via their Church AND have the legalities of survivorship etc. they go to their Church for the religious aspect and the lawyers for the legal aspect.

That way it get the dang Government out of the religious side of it altogether.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I am open to this argument. There is no need for civil marriage as long as the State will defend the rights of dependent children to the the support and nurturance of their natural parents (which the State is not doing now, anyhow, so it's a null point.)

There's a case to be made for the POV that the various churches can take care of the sacramental or ceremonial aspects of marriage, and private contract could take care of the rest.

Class: discuss.