Comments on: Same Sex Marriage in Minnesota

By: Dougie_D

Dougie_D — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:04:56 +0000

Has anyone checked to see if Michelle Bachmann is in town? I thought I saw her at Sportmart buying some shrubbery colored camo.

By: noodleman

noodleman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:06:43 +0000

Tom, there is a separation. The only legal marriage document that the state recognizes — and which is considered a legally binding contract — is the marriage license. A church wedding, in and of itself, is not legally binding without a state-issued marriage license.

I was married by a Hennepin County judge. We later had a church blessing (not a full-blown church wedding) because of our parents’ religious devotions. (When we divorced, her religion was of more consequence to her than mine. She was Catholic.)

I think religion-as-state went out the window in Europe after World War I. How could one keep a deep faith in the face of losing so many millions of young men on the battlefield — upwards of 25%? As a result more secular, and liberal, authority came into being.

By: Tom Bartel

Tom Bartel — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:08:53 +0000

I was once a witness at a French wedding. The ceremony required two parts. Since the couple wanted to be married in the church, they were, by a priest. Then we all walked down the street to the municipal building where the civil part of the ceremony was performed. It was the first that made them married in the eyes of the church, the second in the eyes of the state. I was told that the church part was not necessary. Why does our cherished “separation of church and state” not extend to marriage in this country. As many courts have said, an honest reading of the Constitution would not prohibit a civil union of a same sex couple. Let’s just put the term marriage aside for the purposes of the state and say we’re all in a civil union. If the church wants to call it marriage, let them.

As for the benefits question, if we weren’t the only industrialized country in the world without national health care, that would be moot.

By: jeffk

jeffk — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:52:44 +0000

What a great opportunity to make us more economically competitive and do the right thing at the same time. Perhaps having to decide between the economic advantages and their bigotry will make conservatives’ heads explode. Or more likely, we won’t be so lucky and they’ll simply deny the benefit, thus restoring things to order.

By: kwatt

kwatt — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:55:44 +0000

Can we get a moderator who knows how to type?

By: Max Sparber

Max Sparber — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:12:21 +0000

It’s hard to MnSpeak and RedTube at the same time.

By: aliecat

aliecat — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:42:40 +0000

I think Max is doing more than drinking while he types….

By: jane

jane — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:21:08 +0000

wories should be worries!

By: amckeown

amckeown — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:14:16 +0000

It’s like game!

Is putting gay marrige into…

Marriage is spelled wrong.

By: aliecat

aliecat — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:59:05 +0000

That’s it, Max, your fired…

Damn it…now I’m fired!