Coleus, do you think having the gubberment involved in marriage has hurt marriage or helped marriage? Sometimes I think that the only reason “same sex marriage” (which can’t exist) is an issue is because we have relied on and trusted the gubberment to define marriage. Of course the gubberment eventually screwed it up...that’s gubberment’s nature. Marriage is a Sacrament, why should the Church have to get gubberment’s say so to perform a Sacrament? You are a heck of a lot smarter than me, what am I missing?
Freegards
The idea of getting the state out of the marriage contract is an interesting, but very flawed, idea.
The main reasons for the State being involved in marriage are
1. To raise up new productive citizens, you need a stable family group. This is the norm for all ages, and works better than any other arrangement. Most States have seen this.
2. Probate. When you die, your stuff is going to your spouse or your kids. If you don’t have a marriage license, the difficulties in getting the State to let the non legally married spouse have anything is enormous. And well should be. Otherwise when a rich man died, he would have “wives” all over the place clamoring for a piece of the pie (or visa versa).