Same-sex marriages/Proposition 8

I am saddened by the lack of understanding that people have about this issue. So many seem to react to it, rather than to think the matter through, and then make a choice based upon their religious belief system and what is best for the country. I hear a lot of people talk about "equal rights" and "fairness" when it comes to this subject. Those are generally reactions to the topic, political and social bandwagons that people jump on to be heard or to feel like they are helping an "oppressed" minority. They don't really think about the legal, social, and religious ramifications of legalizing same-sex marriages.

I was reading a comment this morning in the Deseret News about this topic. I wrote a response to it, although it didn't allow me as much room as I wanted. Here is the comment, then I will post my response.

Comment:

I am so glad I left Utah. No church or government has a right to say who someone should love. Gay marriage will not hurt the institution of marriage. On the contrary, it will give all people the rights that those of us who are not gay have.
This is a matter of equality. It truly is about equal rights, not just marriage. As someone once told me, "You spent $50 to get a marriage license, we spent $1,500 to have an attorney draw up powers of attorney to protect our relationship."
Shame on the LDS Church for giving misleading information to its members and the public at large through this and other newspapers.

My response:

"Gay marriage will not hurt the institution of marriage" How wrong you are, Christina. Marriage between a man and a woman is a beautiful institution whereby a couple comes together to participate in the bringing forth of God's spirit children, something only a man and a woman can do. Marriage between two men or two women cannot accomplish that, so what would be the purpose? You try and sidestep that question by saying that this is really about "equal rights." You should know, Christina that by jumping on that bandwagon you have weakened your own argument. There are no rights without responsibilites, and since a gay couple cannot have the responsibility of having children, why do they need the right of marriage? Social status? Acceptance? Being married will not accomplish those things, only being good people and citizens will do that. And don't tell me that they can adopt children as a responsibility. A person doesn't need to be married to adopt children. I wish I had more room to write further, but know this: To allow marriage between two men or women cheapens the institution of marriage.

So what are the legal, social and religious ramifications of allowing same sex marriages? Well, let's take Proposistion 8. If Proposition 8 does not pass, then same-sex marriages will remain legal in the state. What does this mean legally for religious institutions? Clergy are legally able to perform marriages, but what if a same-sex couple wants to be married by a clergyman, or inside a church, or both? Chances are the church/clergyman would refuse such a request, which would put them in direct opposition to the law. What would the state do then? Would the same-sex couple be allowed to sue the church/clergyman? Would the state be forced to take action against the organization of whatever church it is because they would be in violation of the law? And, if so, does not that action violate one of the very founding ideas upon which this country is built? I can see the potential headlines now: "State shuts down church for refusing to marry same-sex couple!" Viewed this way, this California law allowing same-sex marriages is the beginning of an attack up America herself, though i'm sure these reactionaries who support it have not thought that far ahead.

What about the social ramifications? The family, composed of father, mother, and children, is the basic unit of society. It is through the family that children are born, raised, educated, are taught morals, principles of work, and good citizenship. If you take the standard family away, then upon whom does the responsibility fall? The schools, the states, and the nation. Without going into detail, I think that those are a poor substitute for a family. Also, as this happens over generations, then eventually those who have not been properly taught, who don't know how to work, etc, will outnumber those who do. What happens then? I think we are seeing some of fruits of that in our country now, with those who want to legalize same-sex marriage, not to mention the financial crises that has been caused by many dishonest people. I realize that is a generalization, but if the majority of people in the business and financial worlds were more interested in integrity than in interest, perhaps this crisis would not have happened at all.

What about the religious ramifications? I must begin by saying that my world view is completely filtered through the lens of christian religious teaching, and I do not apologize for it. It is my belief that the United States of America was founded by God upon principles of christian thought and behavior and if we choose to leave those principles, or vote them out, then we will reap the whirlwind. The truth of the doctrine that God has given to man concerning marriage cannot be changed simply because people vote it to change. We are not in this life to change God's doctrine, but to learn to accept it and to live by it. If we do so, we will reap the rewards promised to his faithful servants in the scriptures. If we do not, we risk cutting ourselves off from Him and from His spirit, at which time we are left to our own knowledge and strength. Furthermore, if the United States is founded upon christian principles, what will happen to the country when we depart from those principles? How long can America last? I don't know the answer, but I don't think it would be long.

This has been quite a long post. Perhaps I have rambled some, but it has cleared my thoughts.