Originally Posted by mikesouth

I love this whole marriage thing because in my mind it is a huge example of unintended consequences. I think DWB was spot on in that ideally it shouldn't be of concern to anyone but the persons involved.

But THIS is a prime example of what happens when the religious folks push to get the government to legislate religious institutions into law. The minute it becomes law it is no longer a religious institution, it is a government institution and it is open to political whim and most importantly on this one, constitutional review.

The government simply cannot treat people differently

Had the ?church? kept it?s marriage as a religious institution and not allowed the government to legislate it in any way then the first amendment protection of freedom of religion prevails.