“Now, since the family and human society at large spring from marriage, these men will on no account allow matrimony to be the subject of the jurisdiction of the Church. Nay, they endeavor to deprive it of all holiness, and so bring it within the contracted sphere of those rights which, having been instituted by man, are ruled and administered by the civil jurisprudence of the community. Wherefore it necessarily follows that they attribute all power over marriage to civil rulers, and allow none whatever to the Church; and, when the Church exercises any such power, they think that she acts either by favor of the civil authority or to its injury. Now is the time, they say, for the heads of the State to vindicate their rights unflinchingly, and to do their best to settle all that relates to marriage according as to them seems good.”
—Pope Leo XIII, 1880
He warned about the danger of the state defining marriage 130+ years ago. To the state, it simply is whatever judges, pols, or the voting majority think it can be at any one time.
Freegards, thanks for all the pings on FR
So the Pope was supporting Mormon and Islamic polygamy in America in 1880, that is interesting.
Great point. Thanks for your post