> On May 23, 8:54 am, "Kweeg" wrote:
>
>> So I always wondered why is the state involved in religious matters (ie
>> marriage) as some of the religious types that go on about "the sanctity
>> of
>> marriage..." The state should just call *any* civil union performed in
>> front
>> of a justice of the peace exactly that, a "Civil Union" for *any* couple
>> standing before them. If that same couple wants to get "married" they
>> would
>> have to go to what ever religious organisation of their choice. (or in
>> some
>> cases the religion's choice)
>
> Even though I recognize that the issue of gay marriage troubles some
> conservative Christians, I do think that for the government to tell,
> say, a Unitarian minister that he is forbidden to officiate at the
> wedding of two men would be a violation of the First Amendment.
Agreed (although the "First Amendment" is a US thing)
> But as to your example, it's simple enough. The State *has* been
> involved in religious matters up to its neck until very recently. It's
> still pretty much a universal expectation that people who have sex,
> and have children, should get married first - and so, as soon as it
> was *legal* to be an atheist, either there were civil weddings, or
> atheists would have gotten stoned to death.
I know the reason the wording was not changed in Canada was that it's the
provinces that have jurisdiction when it comes to marriages and it would
have taken all of them agreeing to it, whereas the federal government could
push a changed definition of "marriage" through as a Charter of Rights thing
and the provinces would (do) have to abide by it.
Speaking of church and state, an interesting point in the Bouchard-Taylor
commission's report, (on the state of so-called reasonable accommodation of
religious and cultural beliefs in Quebec) suggested removing the crucifix
from the house of provincial legislature (white French descended Quebecois
are *very* Catholic, most boys first name is Joseph and girls Mary, really
I'm not maken' this up!) Of course Quebec's "national" assembly voted
unanimously to reject the commission's recommendation to remove the crucifix
hanging over the Speaker's chair...
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/05/22/qc-accommodation.html
--
Qapla'
Kweeg
Ten of Canadian Clubs in the Eeeevil Trek Cabal
"Half a gallon a'scotch!" Scotty (Spectre of the Gun)
1,079,252,848.8 km/h, not just a good idea, it's the law.
"So say we all!"
