Same Sex Marriage

In some countries a couple wishing to marry must go through a civil ceremony in addition to the religious rites.  The rationale is that since marriage is recognized by the state, the state should make it official.

In the U.S. we have a different arrangement.  It is not necessary for a couple who marries in a church, temple, or mosque to repeat the ceremony.  The state recognizes the religious service as binding.  On the other hand, the couple may have a civil ceremony without involvement by any religious authority.

What New York did was legalize marriage between two people of the same sex.  It did not say that religious leaders will be forced to do this, although the Unitarians probably will and the UCC and certain liberal rabbis may also. I’m also pretty sure that you won’t see these ceremonies performed in mosques, Catholic churches, or Mormon temples--at least not for a few years.

So why the opposition?  Nobody is forced to do anything.  Religious leaders may still refuse to perform same sex marriage ceremonies.  I fail to see why those same religious leaders should feel any need to oppose a civil ceremony in which two gay people marry.  Like so many things in this country, I don’t get it.