More reading on the connection between the Garden of Eden and the Cave in Bethlehem is fascinating.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_15081989_redemptoris-custos_en.html

I agree with you as a catholic, but from a state’s view polygamy should not matter. But if you go further like abortion and death penalty should be illegal because from a clearly ethical point a view not religious. People or children should not die at the hands of society. Society can only punish people and protect the innocent. America is here to help pursue life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Instead we show death, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, but today we have government in our business or religious factions telling the government what to do. Society is the government not religion. If society wants same sex marriage or polygamy then the society has the right to implement it. Its not for the few to tell the many what to do, but the many to tell the few what they should follow. That is why we live in a democracy (republic). Remember 25% of Americans are catholic non-practicing and practicing can vote not to mention other Christians, why are they not voting? Maybe because as I mentioned separation of church and state we left England because of persecution of many types of religions. We should not do the same if Mormons and there religion want polygamy we should not dedicate our position in the matter. We should follow the teachings of our own faith.

Catholic Chump
http://www.a–optic.com

Civil Unions lead to poligamy. The first couple interviewed upon recieve thier license said they plan on getting other licenses, this is poligamy and thier is no way to stop it.

Marriage is a sacrament that is defined by the church to be between a man and a women. Our society is correct and incorrect in some aspects of this issue. Strictly observing this from an American the state has not right to force marriage or even define marriage unless to really define a civil union. I do believe that marriage is a holy sacrament that god made between man and woman. Given that I also believe as a U.S. Citizen that civil union should have all the rights that a married couple has in the eyes of the government. I am saying that neither state should dictate church doctrine nor church should dictate state matters. We can also observe the fairness of allowing Civil Unions to have all the rights of marriage while protecting the sanguinity of marriage. It is unfair for the state to reward people that are in a religious institution being either catholic or any other religion while not provide equal treatment that do not follow. In general, I do not agree with same sex marriage, but do agree with same sex civil union. I do not believe the state can define marriage since it is not a religious institution. Thus, protecting the idea of marriage, by separating both civil union and marriage to were the institutions can choose those definitions.

Catholic Chump
Http://www.a–optic.com

I was legally married in the state of Pennsylvania, by a protestant minister. I was married(convalidated) by the Catholic Church some years later. When was I married? In many states men and women obtain “common law” spousal status after two years or cohabitation and filing tax together. When were they married?

The answer in my mind to eliminate the idea of marriage from the “state”. Calling civil unions a marriage is really to insult the spiritual sacrament some people choose to make. We should ask for our spiritual customs to be respected. I doubt they want the connotations of our meanings anyway. Perhaps then less Christians and Catholics will be confused about the validity of civil unions to their spiritual alignments.

I agree that the phenomenon of the state gaining a preeminent role in licensing and issuing permits for marriage doesn’t make much sense from the sacramental point of view.

On the other hand, the Marriage Tribunals of so many dioceses which investigate petitions to grant statements of nullity find that many Catholics have not been entering into marriages sacramentally either.

Like the chicken and the egg — which came first?

Interesting comments posted as well.

Don’s showing the connection between the Garden of Eden and the Cave in Bethlehem is fascinating.

Hanley18106′s comment that contracepting Catholics have a difficult time articulating a coherent defense of marriage strikes a chord as well.