[Destro]

Clergy are already "invested" by the State to perform marriage that the state recognizes. All I am saying is that they should be the only ones with that ability.

[nopardons]

Then what would happen to atheists or couple from two different religions, who can't find a member of the clergy to marry them?

And historically speaking, " THE STATE" has been involved in marriage, from the beginnings of nationhood. Rome was, ancient Israel was,as were most others you'd care to name.

This is far more complex thing, than you're willing to admit.

[GoLightly]

Right, which is how we got where we are. People wanted the marriages performed by their clergy to get recognition by the state. The states set up the rules & as new things came onto the scene (Mormons), they put limits on which marriages they would recognize & at the same time, made some forms illegal. Federal law trumped state law & removed the power over marriage from the clegy in the process. Traditional churches didn't squawk, cuz they weren't affected by it & in fact, most prolly saw it as a good thing.

Throw in some later things, child support enforcement & jurisdiction of "marital property" sitting in a place outside of a state's jurisdiction at the time of a divorce. Family law judges "needed" to have their rulings recognized & enforcable in other states. Federal power over marriage became codified.

It's time for traditional churches to make a stand & to stop recognizing the states power over them on this issue or eventually they will be forced to perform marriages against their faith.