I am a Mormon Catholic. Or a Catholic Mormon. Depending on your point of view. I'm just letting you know that I have dual citizenship in two formal religions. So now I'm sure you know where I stand on the issue of same sex marriage.
I'm against it.
BUT before your knickers get totally tangled up, I'll attempt to explain myself. And I'll completely understand it if you don't agree with me. My youngest daughter is gay and I can feel her eyes rolling into the back of her head from here.
It isn't fair that a married couple has more rights to be viewed as a couple than a gay couple. A couple that is committed to each other enough to want to become entangled in all their dealings, financial and other, should be offered the opportunity to do so. I think it's a tragedy that my daughter's partner, who should know her better than I do, would not be able to tell medical personnel what her wishes would be. The medical community would have to wait for my husband and me to travel from Utah to Ohio to make these decisions for her. Granted, because I'm completely aware with how close my daughter is to her partner, I would consult with partner and enact the decisions that she makes, but it's just an unfair practice. And, yes, daughter and partner could go to a lawyer and have several different types of legal documents drawn up to help everyone understand their relationship and who daughter wants making this type of decision for her, but that's a lot of time and money. And it would be pretty much a waste of time and money if I decided to be vindictive mom and fought those documents in court.
What a waste of time, energy and effort to attempt to legally formalize what is a very close, personal relationship.
First off, I think that our country needs to come up with a Civil Union something or other. The Civil Union would be the legal agreement between two committed people that allows them all the rights and privileges afforded to legally married couples today. Rights of survivorship and health insurance and buying a home together and sharing all debts and all that jazz.
Then the churches can take over marriages. Because in my belief system, marriage is ordained by God for the union of a man and a woman. So it stands to reason that if I believe that God said we should be married, the church should be the place to get married. But this marriage business is between the couple and God and the state should stay out of this ceremony.
I know that in several places in Europe, couples must get "married" by some government official in one ceremony and then, if the couple chooses, they can have another ceremony in a church or a field or castle or wherever to solemnize their vows in front of God and family and friends. I truly think that this is the way to go.
It appears that my biggest stumbling block is the insistence to call a union a marriage. I really want marriage to stay between a man and a woman. But I believe that anyone who desires to be united with a partner "until death do we part" should be allowed that opportunity.
