Sad as this story is, I'm glad that pastors are taking up the issue of their participation on the part of the civil state in wedding ceremonies. I've argued here and elsewhere that the only sure way of establishing the line between the Christian and state definition of what constitutes a marriage is to opt-out of our civic roles as agents of the state. In effect, it separates 'matrimony' from 'marriage' allowing the church to effect the former and the state to register the latter. This is the way it works in much of the world and it is the way things should work here in North America as well.
Pastors opposed to same-sex marriage vow not to participate in any civil ceremonies | Crux
Pastors opposed to same-sex marriage vow not to participate in any civil ceremonies | Crux
https://canonlawblog.wordpress.com/2014/11/18/rusty-renos-bad-penny/....This canonist has an opposing view about the Pledge which merits consideration
ReplyDeleteI agree. Many European countries, France especially, do just that. The couple has a civil ceremony and then a religious ceremony. On a practical level in doing so in NA may cause many people to skip the religious ceremony as they consider themselves already married. Also i Catholic theology the couple marries themselves. The cleric is only there as a representative of the Church.
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