The Watcher

February 17, 2005

Same Sex Marriages

It’s funny how rabid people have become on this topic. Now, in theory, I’m a good Catholic, although I doubt the Pope would entirely enjoy a debate with me on certain Church policies, but it’s as good a religion as any and it’s been around a long time, good and bad, and I’m not planning on throwing it away any time soon. Now, that having been said, that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to risk being excommunicated or whatever because I do disagree with the people in my congregation who are fanatically opposed to same sex marriages.

Allow me to clarify. I do NOT believe that any religious organization should be obliged to go against its deepest beliefs for any reason. BUT, that doesn’t mean that couples of the same gender should be banned from civil ceremonies granting them the same benefits, side-effects, restrictions and so on as heterosexual couples. And if they happen to belong to a church which allows same gender marriages, by all means, they should take advantage of the opportunity.

The current arguments against same sex marriage is that it will somehow undermine society and destroy traditional families, et cetera and so forth ad nauseam. Well, mine is not a traditional family since I am divorced (although to the Church I am still single, since I was never married in the Church–we were wed at City Hall in Toronto and divorced in Nova Scotia) and my daughter is a single mother and we’re all together in my big old house. I fail to understand how letting Bob and Larry get married will undermine my family or cause their neighbour to run out and marry five more women, since polygamy is the next move on the board, according to one of our politicians, who is an idiot. Oh, right. He’s a politician. Never mind.

Last Monday, Rick Mercer (one of Canada’s comedic geniuses, in my opinion) did a brilliant satire on traditional definitions of family, including the idea that traditionally marriage is for a man and a woman of the same race. Ahem. Yes. He also went on to say that traditionally women were their husband’s property (which was true until more recently than you want to believe–my mother stood in court in the ’60’s and argued that point with the judge “I am not his chattel and neither are my children!” Go, Mum.), and that traditionally women were not considered ‘persons’ under the law and like that. It seems to me, too, that it wasn’t that long ago that African Americans/Canadians were not considered ‘persons’ nor were Native people, and isn’t tradition a wonderful thing? Shall we bring all those traditional definitions back? No? Hmmm.

My stand on same sex marriages is fairly obvious, I think, and nicely illustrated in “Angels Among Us” in which I used reverse society to make readers consider their stand on homosexuality. That good old “what if–?” scenario. I don’t really care what the Bible has to say about it–you can find verses to back up any stand you care to make if you try hard enough–and in any case, the Creator didn’t put me here to judge other people or to stand in the way of their rights and happiness. If a man or woman loves another human being enough to want to spend the rest of their human lives together, then by all means, they should have all the legal rights AND obligations that go with it. Can’t have one without the other. There are good and bad things about marriage and any couple should be aware of them all and prepared to accept them or not get married.

I’ll be back later to look at the religious side of this. Heh.

Sunshine Wolf

February 18, 2005

Seems that people are choosing to focus on the use of the word “marriage” to describe these same sex relationships as objectionable instead of focusing on the real issue which is that they object to the relationships no matter what they’re called. Personally, I totally and 100% agree with your point of view. But then…..you knew I would!

Me Explorer

Hear hear!!! And a hug.

Red Wolf

Mns

ha, i love the attitude of your mum 🙂

The Efficient Oak

🙂

Little Bird

RYN: Yes, you are! 🙂

gel

Very well said!

Timmy

Careful, some people are still leary of interracial dating. I know, silly people.

amen to that.

hedgehog

February 19, 2005

Great entry and many of your points are exactly how I feel – and what the ‘fanatics’ refuse to accept. I live in a part of the world where same-sex marriage has been legal for almost 2 years and we are not going to hell in a handbasket. If the folks who wish to “preserve the sanctity fo marraige” really want to do so, make divorce illegal 🙂

raeven

Fabulous entry.. and your Mom.. well, she taught you well.

RNBiker

Yeah I agree too.

I’m going to be writing an entry along these lines sometime soon. I hate to keep beating a dead horse, but the topic has come into the collective OD forefront again, and I feel the need to clarify my views on it.

Gilraen Tinehtele

hooha!

crystal butterfly

I like your mom

jule

February 20, 2005

glad i came over here and read this…. you were standing up and talking! i share your views as well. i am not here to judge others. just not my job. and since i don’t know what kind of shoes god wears, i can’t have a religious opinion about it. i’ve added your watcher diary to my favorites….. you talk more here i think. *grins*

Dolor Angelicus

February 21, 2005

Jesus never mentions homosexuality. His big gripe is about divorce. Funny how so many of the people who think that gay marriage will destroy society think that divorce should still be legal. ^_^

this is an old topic and one that you and I would never see eye to eye on…although I respect you and your opinion…I wouldn’t care to allow it…I was once a catholic also but even then knew not only the churches views(although priests were engaged in it) and the views of God…your noter above needs to brush up on Jesus’s views and the Bibles before they make a statement like He never said any

thing about it…He had plenty to say…people choose not to read or hear…the pope and the catholic church have made huge mistakes when this occured within the church…and it all came to light just like the bible says: “all evil will be brought to light” the stain will forever stand on her name…the great whore from babylon.

Willow

well said

I’m a catholic and I think you are absolutely right. As far as I am concerned families are families and where you make and find them, and love and committment belong to everyone. No one, I hope, peaks into my bedroom and I don’t concern myself with anyone elses bedroom. People should grow up and let our societies develop and evolve when they harm no one.

Esor

February 25, 2005

hehe, well and truly spoken 🙂

WandererOnAQuest

February 26, 2005

Yeah!

Elle: 2

March 16, 2005

Im all for live and let live. I really dont see what the problem is – and like you said – what is the alternative to progression? Going back to the good old days, when everyone was nothing unless you were white, rich and male? It all stems from fear and ignorance. Two things Id happily see abolished. And I am fully aware that my intolerance of the intolerant makes me as bad 🙂

Ainekate

April 2, 2005

Yep, very well said! I too am a Catholic, but have had my differences with the Church. I’ve always thought that Jesus wouldn’t be against two people who love each other no matter what their sex. There’s so much violence and awfulness in the world today, why are we picking on people who love each other enough to get married? I also agree with To be Me said, a lot of it comes from fear ignorance.

Lael

April 10, 2005

Back again I think not sure lol things around here get hetic being married and all having pleanty of those ermm adult moments lol Lael