[GoLightly]

If the clergy did as I said, all of the divorce lawyers in the country would discover religion.

Your idea is good, cept it would be challenged & prolly lose under the first ammendment. Also, keep in mind there are already some gay activist churches. As long as you recognize any kind of licensing right by the state, you'll find yourself right back where we are right now.

[Destro]

Mormon churches can't marry more than the current couple. Polygamy/bigamy are outlawed by the federal govt and local govts are they not? Utah is no longer a territory - and Mormonisim was founded in upstate New York. So why can the govt regulate the number involved in a marriage but not the sex of the married?

The classic era Athenians were pro homosexual - even considered homosexual relationships better then heterosexual ones - and they were pretty libertarian in their rulings on many issue (not all) but they strictly regulated marriage - even passing penalties on single men. Marriage can be regulated by the state and it can be shown regulated heterosexual marriage and hetero marriage only - is as old as democracy.

Religions can not create institutions that are contrary to the laws of the land. If they could Muslims could marry more then one wife as could Mormons.

So license religous authorities that meet such defenition for tax purposes to perform marriage and never allow city or state or federal officials - office clerks - judges - mayors - to marry people of the any sex.

What's next? The mayor's office can circumcise and baptise children?