A marriage or not?


Defining acceptable marriages
A couple of things on marriage popped up in the headlines recently,

First was this bit from California.

A judge ordered an Orange County man to continue paying $1,250 a month in alimony to his former wife — even though she's in a registered domestic partnership with another woman.

State marriage laws say that alimony ends when a former spouse remarries. So Ron Garber thought he was off the hook for the payments when he learned his ex-wife, Melinda Kirkwood, registered her new relationship under the state's domestic partnership law.

But an Orange County judge decided that a registered partnership is cohabitation, not marriage, and that Garber must keep writing checks to his ex-spouse.

The case, which Garber said he plans to appeal, highlights gaps between the legal status of domestic partners and married couples, an issue the California Supreme Court is considering as it ponders whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.

And then there was this bit from Virginia.

Getting divorced in Virginia may be more difficult if a conservative advocacy group gets its way.

Family Foundation, which led the push to ban same-sex marriage in Virginia, has formed a commission that will recommend public policies that could preserve traditional marriages.

Foundation executive director Victoria Cobb says the commission includes academics as well as religious leaders. It first met July 12 and will hold another closed meeting in September.

Attorney General Bob McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling have appointed representatives to the commission. A spokesman for Governor Tim Kaine says the governor likely will do the same.

Cobb says says the panel won't try to curb all divorce, but they hope to "provide speed bumps."

A friend of mine has a good point. Government has no business defining "marriage" which after all is a religious sacrament.

Personally I don't think it is anyone's business except those involved. As long as everyone is a consenting adult and there is no coercion, then it is basically a matter of contract law between individuals.

These moral laws always complicate things because not everyone has the same morals. Same sex partners? Why not? Group marriages? Why not? Year marriages? Why not?

Every objection I have ever seen is based on religious issues.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Tue - July 24, 2007 at 12:51 PM  Tag


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