finally, the smart resolution to the "gay marriage" debate!

[winterbadger]

...a specific idea now making the rounds on Beacon Hill, a bill that would take the state out of the marriage business by creating civil unions for heterosexual and homosexual couples alike.

Under the proposal, the state would issue licenses for civil unions, with identical rights and benefits, for both heterosexual and homosexual couples, while churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions would perform marriage ceremonies. Clergy members could officiate at the marriage of any couple they choose. That system would let religious groups that object to gay marriage refuse to perform the ceremony.

The article goes on to suggest its unlikely the bill will go anywhere, but at least some legislators are on theball!

Comments

[rigelkitty.livejournal.com]

This would rock. I don't want a religious hand-stamp, anyway. But they're right, it'll never fly - it's a big benefit for the church to be tied to the state via marriage. It allows the church a huge political lever over any and all matters concerning family issues. If marriage was separated from the state, the church would have no power to stop the state from legitimizing any sort of union they didn't agree with. Since the state covers everyone in the US and the catholic church only covers a percentage of the population, they'd lose their control over the lives of non-catholics. And since the majority rule of upper-level politicos are elderly god-fearing conservatives at the moment, they'll kill it before it gets off the ground.

[kathygnome.livejournal.com]

I can't count how many years I've suggested this. Get the state out of the marriage business entirely.