Catholics, Divorce!

I saw an article in The Daily Journal, the newspaper for the legal community, discussing whether the State should remain in the business of getting people married, instead simply having civil unions regardless of the sexual orientation of the, er, "unionists." Marriage, then, would be something handled by religious authorities (I suppose in that case, secular humanists would form some sort of "clergy" to handle their folks).

But what if the State did not? States got into the marriage business for the protection of women, child, and chattel - since, at one time, all three were somewhat considered the same - and I do not see that attitude, even if unncessary, changing.

Presently, California awaits the decision of our state Supreme Court as to whether the constitutional amendment brought about by Prop 8 remains in place. Before the month of June, when caterers run amok and wedding planners think murderous thought of bridezillas, we should know whether homosexuals can marry each other.

The Church, of course, is opposed to that. Let the Unitarians and liberal Epicopalians handle that, you won't see the wedding of Steve and Bob in a Catholic church. And for a devout Catholic, the church wedding - or validation after the fact - is the true marriage.

So let's have a protest. Let Catholics divorce - civilly - without the loss of the Sacraments.

Think about it. If the State is engaged in allowing conduct that the Church holds as being wrongful, would not Catholics have a moral imperative to not engage likewise and seek their marriages elsewhere - that elsewhere being the Church? I know that right now priests must see a civil marriage license before performing the ceremony - although I know of a priest back east who quietly marries elderly couples who don't want to live in sin but don't want to lose their Social Security benefits, either - but what if the Bishops changed that. And so to the States that allow gay marriages, we, as Catholics, say "no thanks - we'll do our own." If the State wants to redefine marriage at a civil level, we'll act to preserve it at the religious level.

This would mean, however, that the State and the federal government will not recognize the marital status for tax reasons. That may not be all that bad for some couples. My Husband estimated that if he and I filed as single people, our combined tax liability is far less than what we have now as married, filing jointly.

And, of course, human nature being what it is, there is the possibility of a "divorce" occurring some years after one has already been obtained civilly - but that's where some language in the "first" divorce decree can make sure that if the "religiously married" couple split, their affairs will be handled adequately.

I have to think about this . . .