Santorum Booed in New Hampshire While Discussing Gay Marriage

[quaker bill]

32. Why does government license marriage?

Why does it require a permit? If you look back far enough, there were considerably more regulations about who could be married to whom and who could officiate (sign the forms).

Coming from England, only those ordained by the Church of England could officiate. Early on in the Colonies, several had "established religions" where only those ordained in the official "established" church could officiate at a wedding. Even today in most places the state is looking for someone officially recognized or ordained to officiate. Since most Quakers on the east and west coasts don't "ordain" anyone an exception is made where we can use a committee. So I, as the Clerk of my Meeting would sign in the blank for "minister", though, in fact I am an ecologist.

Back in the day, the state did this to raise money. Ministers would only marry contributing members of the congregation, the tithe was a tax, a portion of which went to government, and the license required a fee.

About the only things handled by current licensing is proof that the parties are of age to consent and of mixed gender. Being under age of consent is already handled as statutory rape. So the only remaining purpose for licensing is to assure mixed gender.

My suggestion woud be to get the state entirely out of the business and allow consenting adults to form whatever relationships suit them.