by Dr. Anderson

Created on: March 06, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

The question fails to address the underlying definitions necessary to understand the full implications and ramifications of answering it simply one way or another.

Firstly, "we" are not compelled to "approve" of anything. So lets move the discussion out of the realm of the touchy-feely emotions and deal concisely with the issue of civil marriage.

Secondly, let us understand that same sex civil marriage is already occurring in many nations AND within the US in Massachusetts. Furthermore, same sex marriage has been occuring in every American state for a very long time under the auspicies of Ecclestiacal Law or Canon; that is to say, the religious laws of various institutions of worship which perform and recognize such ceremonies. Families have attended such ceremonies and recognize same sex partners as wife and wife or husband and husband. Furthermore, the contracts of marriage formally signed by same sex couples and witnessed with notary acts are enforcable under the terms of contract law. HOWEVER, CIVIL LAW appears to be the thrust and crux of the issue here.

What same sex couples are seeking are the Civil Privileges that their elected representatives can provide by passing Civil Statutory Legislation and having it enter into the force and effect of Statutory Law, forcing various arms of the state (which is regulated by the government) to provide same sex couples with benefits equal to those provided to opposite sex couples. This is a reliance on the social welfare state to provide licenses and permits which grant certain privileges. These privileges are removable and changable as are all civil "rights" which rest upon and reside with the will of the government to continue to provide them. These are NOT to be confused with fuandamental, natural rights which are INALIENABLE and unaffected by acts of government or state and reside with the individual regardless of budgetary changes and political winds.

Case in point: Israeli marriages are registered in the church in which the couple gets married. No government enters the picture. Only recently was a government marriage registry established as many interfaith couples were not allowed to marry in churches that did not recognize the faith of their nonmembers as valid. Churches marry you, churches issue you copies of your marriage certificate, and churches benefit as private businesses by the industry that they engage in.

America: Entrepeneurs wishing to set up a private marriage registry will be arrested for

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