Why the government shouldn’t be involved? Oh I don’t know, maybe I’ve gotten a little too caught up in the whole pursuit of happiness thing we have going on in this country. As I have stated before I am personally against it, 100 percent but is it really the role of government? I don’t think so.So, what is anybody going to do about it? This country was founded on strong Christian principles. Look at the change in your pocket, it has “In God We Trust” on it.
The government has practical reasons for being involved in marriage. Can you provide specific reasons why the government should not be involved?
Peace,
Ed
I understand and respect what you’re saying Joe and I agree with some of the things you say.Your sentiment is one that I’ve seen many times before. I understand and respect the sentiment behind it, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Here’s why.
First, the Church makes no distinction between “civil unions” and “marriage”. Just look at the Vatican Congregations for the Doctrine of Faith’s document Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons. They make no such distinction. They say that any legal recognition of a homosexual union is contrary to the moral law.
Second, marriage is a divinely instituted reality that pre-exists the Church. When Jesus came along marriage was elevated to the level of sacrament. But it exists apart from the Church. People of any religion and no religion can validly get married.
Third, marriage is foundational to civil society. Therefore, the state has a vested interest in protecting it. The state cannot simply “bow out” of recognizing marriage anymore than it can bow out of recognizing gravity. I understand the impulse to have the government get out of our business. But marriage is not just a private thing. The state has a duty to recognize and defend it.
The idea to have the state “get out of the marriage business” is short-sighted and would have profoundly harmful ramifications. This is really the “foot in the door” technique to the normalization of same sex relationships. If the State gets out of it (whether it gets out completely or resorts to a secular “civil union” thing), then they have succeeded in placing genuine marriage and same sex unions on an even playing field. That’s their primary goal.
Not all people are Christians, in case you didn’t know…Want to start off by saying I personally believe that homosexuality is wrong and gay marriage is wrong but I hold the position that government shouldn’t even involve itself in marriage. Marriage should be an issue left to the church. I don’t support government involvement in any marriage. Just wanted to hear what some fellow Catholics think.
God Bless
Or religious, either. Governments therefore can issue marriage licenses but it cannot define what marriage is since marriage is what it is/has always been, and so is not open to redefinition to suit anyone’s likes or dislikes.Not all people are Christians, in case you didn’t know…
Thanks for the enlightenmentNot all people are Christians, in case you didn’t know…
Why the government cannot define what marriage is? To whom the authority to define what marriage is?Or religious, either. Governments therefore can issue marriage licenses but it cannot define what marriage is since marriage is what it is/has always been, and so is not open to redefinition to suit anyone’s likes or dislikes.
Welcome.Thanks for the enlightenment
Thank you for your years of service. We owe you a great debt.I understand and respect what you’re saying Joe and I agree with some of the things you say.
I guess I’m coming from a different point of view because I served in the military 5 years and did a couple of tours in the middle east and worked with all kinds of different people from many different walks of life. We were representing freedom. It’s just…a hard line to draw. When government should or shouldn’t be involved. You see these people in the middle east and the government is shoving religion down all of their throats.
Please don’t think for a second that I endorse homosexuality in any way because I don’t. I try to be the best Catholic I can. I just want our country to stand for freedom and be the best it can
But what freedom are you referring to? A law exists recognizing marriage as between a man and a woman because that is what marriage is and always has been. A specific minority now wants something completely new to be a part of that, and for everyone to change the law to fit their personal desires. This isn’t about equality - it is about selfishness.Please don’t think for a second that I endorse homosexuality in any way because I don’t. I try to be the best Catholic I can. I just want our country to stand for freedom and be the best it can
Marriage was given recognition and promoted by the government (the people) because it is best for the common good and a peaceful society.Want to start off by saying I personally believe that homosexuality is wrong and gay marriage is wrong but I hold the position that government shouldn’t even involve itself in marriage. Marriage should be an issue left to the church. I don’t support government involvement in any marriage. Just wanted to hear what some fellow Catholics think.
God Bless
Government cannot define that which it did not create. Marriage and the nuclear family are as old as the human race. No government any time any where defined it as such–it just is because it is natural to us as human beings to form this bond. This is why the Church recognizes natural marriage–because even it does not have the authority to redefine marriage outside its membership.Why the government cannot define what marriage is? To whom the authority to define what marriage is?
That isn’t correct. The courts dispose of family matters all the time between unmarried persons, including property rights and child custody. The laws are slightly different than with a marriage, but they still handle those issues. And would continue to do so if state recognized marriages were done away with.Along with Joe 5859’s great points, if government gets out of marriage then it cannot issue marriage licenses, nor judge the disposition of family matters, such as the custody of children and property rights.
Of course, the issue is how these issues would be handled between married people if the government had no part in marriage. :tiphat:That isn’t correct. The courts dispose of family matters all the time between unmarried persons, including property rights and child custody. The laws are slightly different than with a marriage, but they still handle those issues. And would continue to do so if state recognized marriages were done away with.
In legal manners, governments give definitions to whatever they want, this is not necessarly related to what is “natural”, some governments changed the previous definitions of rape to include both sexes.Government cannot define that which it did not create. Marriage and the nuclear family are as old as the human race. No government any time any where defined it as such–it just is because it is natural to us as human beings to form this bond. This is why the Church recognizes natural marriage–because even it does not have the authority to redefine marriage outside its membership.
So, you don’t think that government should tie children to their parents and their parents to each other?… I don’t support government involvement in any marriage. Just wanted to hear what some fellow Catholics think.
God Bless
No, they simply included both sexes. Rape is rape no matter who does it to whom.In legal manners, governments give definitions to whatever they want, this is not necessarly related to what is “natural”, some governments changed the previous definitions of rape to include both sexes.