Does Separation of Church and State have anything to do w/ Gay Marriage?

ouragon

Separation of Church and State was established in the original Constitution (1787). It is the philosophy that accounts for many of the laws in the US. Much of the objection to Gay Marriage is religious in nature, so that exclusively should not account for the prohibition of Gay Marriage.

Yes, you are somewhat correct. Not that marriage is a religious act, because it's a civil, not religious act. However, people's religious beliefs don't make law in the US. Actual law must be decided about this issue.

The Constitution gives Equal Protection to all, and eventually if this issue is brought before the Supreme Court (US), I think Gay Marriage will be upheld due to Equal Protection.

BabeHeart

If religion is used in making the legal decision to allow or disallow gay marriage, then separation of church and state is violated.

The legality of gay marriage should be based on its merits (or not) alone, and not what any religion says about the issue.

jimdotedu

Marriage is considered to be both a civil and religious ceremony. Some countries require separate events.

In the case of Religious ceremony, I support the right of church leaders to ban gay marriage.

In the case of civil leaders, NO -- married gays should be afforded all the rights, privileges, AND obligations of straight marriages.

So the short answer is YES there is a difference between civil law and church law concerning gay marriage.

Cambria

It didn't come about because of the gay marriage issue or anything, but it does often get brought into it, because if the only reasons people can give against gay marriage are religious reasons, then given the separation of church and state, those reasons should be considered when making laws.

Don

I'm sure they do...as 'church' seems to think they should 'guide' the state...and they've thought that for centuries... Maybe 'that's' why all of the past governments have failed...

Gaby

No it has nothing to do with it. Separation of church and state is just making sure that religion has nothing to do with government and governmental decisions

myrrdin_810

in america, that principle is enshrined in the first amendment to the constitution which reads in part:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

most people interpret this to mean a "wall of separation" while others read it strictly to mean that the gov't has no authority to create or adopt an official religion for the nation.

it gets murkier after that, because it's unrealistic to expect people to check their religious faith at the door when they participate in civic life. on the other hand, just because a majority feel a certain way about something does not give them the authority to interfere with the rights of people with whom they disagree or of whom they disapprove.

this gets especially nasty when gay marriage is brought up, because of the passions it evokes on all sides. i try not to get emotional about it. from my perspective, your right to throw a punch ends where my nose begins. no one has ever been able to make a rational, logical, well-reasoned argument to me about HOW allowing the two men up the street have a ceremony and granting them the same societal benefits as marriage will in any way pose a threat to the stability of my marriage or in any way intefere with any of my rights as a citizen and a human being.

i was perfectly capable of ruining my marriage all by myself. the only person who helped things along was my now-ex-wife. the two prancing nancies up the street had nothing to do with it.

let them marry and be as miserable as every other couple in america. :D

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