Gay activists hit Hiram Monserrate on his home turf Tuesday by crashing the state senator's Christmas party and protesting his stance on gay marriage. Monserrate,...
The real problem in the U.S. is that clergy are endowed with the power of the state to administer civil contracts (marriages). Yes, people in the U.S. have to obtain licenses from the state, but the actual contract can be administered by any priest, rabbi, minister, etc.
I've been living in Argentina for the last five years. Anyone who wants to get married here (including the gay couple that was recently granted approval by a recent court decision in Buenos Aires) has to stand in front of a judge at the Registro Civil (Civil Registry). If any couple then wishes to have an additional sacred ceremony, that is, of course, their right. However, from the point of view of the state, only the contract administered by the judge is legally recognized.
Allowing clergy to administer civil contracts gives them the impression that they somehow "own" the definition of marriage. They do not. Marriage is, from the point of view of the State, first and last, a civil contract. All of the rights and responsibilities attached are legally binding, not spiritually. No priest, rabbi or minister has the legal power to grant a divorce, so why should they legally be allowed to marry people?
If religion were taken out the discussion, we might finally be able to have a "civil" conversation regarding gay marriage.
hp_blogger_K.J. Dwyer: The real problem in the U.S. is that clergy are
Can we at least get a Civil Unions bill? That might have majority support. Gay marriage is probably still, sadly, 10 years away from being legal even in New York.
Awake-and-Sing: Can we at least get a Civil Unions bill? That
I beginning to think that Tom Duane and the LGBT lobby are incompetent. How could Duane walk around town saying that he has the votes, when in fact he had not locked in ANY Republican votes? LGBT activists need to target Democrats and Republicans that voted against this bill, particularly if they represent communities that in which there is a gay and/or liberal progressive presence. They need to make it clear to such Democrats and Republicans alike that unless they get their support, the gay community will no longer shovel money to their re-election campaigns, to the DNC and to Obama's re-election. Enough is enough.
fdavidm: I beginning to think that Tom Duane and the LGBT
I've been living in Argentina for the last five years. Anyone who wants to get married here (including the gay couple that was recently granted approval by a recent court decision in Buenos Aires) has to stand in front of a judge at the Registro Civil (Civil Registry). If any couple then wishes to have an additional sacred ceremony, that is, of course, their right. However, from the point of view of the state, only the contract administered by the judge is legally recognized.
Allowing clergy to administer civil contracts gives them the impression that they somehow "own" the definition of marriage. They do not. Marriage is, from the point of view of the State, first and last, a civil contract. All of the rights and responsibilities attached are legally binding, not spiritually. No priest, rabbi or minister has the legal power to grant a divorce, so why should they legally be allowed to marry people?
If religion were taken out the discussion, we might finally be able to have a "civil" conversation regarding gay marriage.
The NYS Legislature is a bunch of LIARS. Wusses and cheats.
They lie to anybody and everybody!
Those legislators proved their
incompetence and untrustworthiness last summer
with their ALBANY MESS.
The ALBANY MESS continues, they still LIE, PROCRASTINATE, DO NOTHING.
NYS Legislators must be VOTED OUT before they DESTROY NY STATE!