Texas Governor Signs 'Defense of Marriage Act' Into Law

TBO News ^ | May 28, 2003 | Kelley Shannon

[cake_crumb]

The 37th state to enact such a law? How will the left blame that on Rick Santorum??

[Luis Gonzalez]

"...marriage is a union sanctioned by God..."

When you get married at the Court House, it is snactioned by The State.

Eliminate the ability of the State to perform God's sacred ceremony, and the issue goes away.

[freeeee]

as much as I hate to burst your bubble, marriage is a union sanctioned by God

It should be between the couple and God, but the issue of a marriage license makes it a sanction of the state. And the state doesn't get to make those distinctions.

So if a gay couple tells you they're married, you, your priest, your entire church can say, "No you're not." The government doesn't have that luxury.

Do you not think incestuous relationships might follow?

Lack of a license won't stop that.

How about bestial relationships? And how about pederastic relationships?

Animals and minors lack capacity and can't enter contracts. A government marriage license is a contract, so they can't marry no matter what.

[Houmatt]

So, what's your point?

[freeeee]

Defense of marriage is to defend the definition.

If the state defines marriage, it will define it in ways you won't like. It already is.

[Luis Gonzalez]

It's quite clear actually.

The House of God is where religiously sanctioned ceremonies are protected, that's where marriages are performed in accordance to religious beliefs. In civil unions, these marriages are performed by civil servants, and adhere to State law, as such, they can be targeted by homosexuals because they are not protected by the First Amendment.

In effect, you want the State to perform a religious ceremony.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"If the state defines marriage, it will define it in ways you won't like."

Exactly.

[ffusco]

The concept of marriage is threatened, by destoying the literal meaning of the words. A marriage is not any 2 people who choose to live together, though I don't suggest that Gay couples have less love in their hearts.

[ffusco]

Exactly.

[Paul C. Jesup]

(sarcasm) How can a act protect marriage if it makes no mention of divorse.

[ffusco]

I don't think marriages fail because divorce is too easy. These people took marriage too lightly at the get go. If divorce had more stigma, fewewr people would choose to marry for fear of being trapped.

[Houmatt]

In effect, you want the State to perform a religious ceremony.

They already do. It's what Justices of The Peace do. (I should know. I was married by one.)

It sounds like you cater to the "separation of church and state" myth.

[ffusco]

People were married in loving monogamous relationships looooong before Christianity's stamp of approval, and civil unions.

[freeeee]

A marriage is not any 2 people who choose to live together

What, in your opinion makes two people married?

[Luis Gonzalez]

I adhere to the First Amendment.

Don't you?

[ffusco]

People choose to marry.
A ritual like a Church wedding announces the Union before God, and sanctifies it. Marriage is a scarement, but it is not neccessar to be Married.
Likewise a Civil ceremony is a declaration to the state that you have entered into a business partnership and the state recognizes it.

But marriage is always a personal agreement between 2 people-historically always men and women. I see no reason to change it.

[mathluv]

I will email Gov Perry to thank him for this.

[Luis Gonzalez]

BTW, you entered into a civil union, that's the ceremony Justices of the Peace conduct.

[Destructor]

"So it's OK for a government to tell you how to run your religion? Marriage, after all, is predominantly a religious ceremony."

"You guys really didn't think this through all the way, did you."

What does religion have to do with this? We're taking about the State of Texas recognizing the legal status of same sex marriages. This has nothing to do with the government dictating the tenets of a religion, and everything to do with gays having greater access to AIDS related health care services as a result of the legal marriage status in the eyes of the law.

Just out of curiousity exactly what "religion" openly condones homosexuality?

[freeeee]

Good answer.