Originally Posted by raymor

and until recently it was illegal, the marriage contract was binding like any other and if you wanted to ditch your spouse you had to show cause.

From at least 2000 years ago until the 1970s, the commitment was taken seriously and divorce was allowed only if the other person was unfaithful or certain other reasons.

So right or wrong, the sanctity viewpoint is consistent.

I'm not taking a position for or against gay marriage, but the people who talk about the sanctity of marriage are consistent in that they feel that in marriage "they become one flesh". So they say divorce, like amputation, is to be avoided whenever possible, though sometimes it's necessary.