Thursday, December 04, 2003
Will gay "marriage" destroy civilisation?
The decision by the Supreme court in the US state of Massachusetts to allow homosexuals a civil marriage has far-reaching implications.
From a purely legal perspective, the ruling raises huge questions, which may take years for the courts to sort out.
Many commentators see the decision as a prime example of judicial activism.
It is also suggested that the result was a foregone conclusion, as the Chief Justice of the court is a close friend of the lawyer who brought the case.
Religious activists say the Massachusetts decision is monumental�and may be cause for civil revolt.
Focus on the Family Chairman James Dobson expressed outrage at the decision and says it signals a systematic dismantling of the nation's understanding of marriage. "The dire ramifications of what is happening in the United States and other Western nations cannot be overstated," Dobson said. "For millennia, traditional marriage -- the union of one man and one woman -- has been celebrated by every culture on Earth as the cornerstone of society. But now, we have this activist court that is arrogant enough to say that those thousands of years of culture are simply wrong.
Interestingly, not all homosexuals are in favour of gay marriage. Paul Nathanson, a homosexual, argues with research colleague Katherine Young that recognising civil unions will destroy marriage. In this, they seem to agree with Dobson et al.
The decision by the Supreme court in the US state of Massachusetts to allow homosexuals a civil marriage has far-reaching implications.
From a purely legal perspective, the ruling raises huge questions, which may take years for the courts to sort out.
Many commentators see the decision as a prime example of judicial activism.
It is also suggested that the result was a foregone conclusion, as the Chief Justice of the court is a close friend of the lawyer who brought the case.
Religious activists say the Massachusetts decision is monumental�and may be cause for civil revolt.
Focus on the Family Chairman James Dobson expressed outrage at the decision and says it signals a systematic dismantling of the nation's understanding of marriage. "The dire ramifications of what is happening in the United States and other Western nations cannot be overstated," Dobson said. "For millennia, traditional marriage -- the union of one man and one woman -- has been celebrated by every culture on Earth as the cornerstone of society. But now, we have this activist court that is arrogant enough to say that those thousands of years of culture are simply wrong.
Interestingly, not all homosexuals are in favour of gay marriage. Paul Nathanson, a homosexual, argues with research colleague Katherine Young that recognising civil unions will destroy marriage. In this, they seem to agree with Dobson et al.
