How can a gov't that denies the existence of Catholicism makes rules and govern sacraments like Marriage?

Question

The first amendmant seperates church and state, and says that no law will be made pertaining to religion. How then, can the governmant issue Marriage license and choose if Catholicism should allow gays to marry?

Answer 1

The Catholic Church governs sacramental marriages.

Civil governments govern civil marriages.

By the way, the United States government not only accepts the existence of Catholicism, it also has exchanged ambassadors with the Holy See (Vatican City): http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/55444.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Marriage license issued by government is census and civil registry's record. Marriages performed in churches or any place in the city or county still have to apply for license from the city officials. This has nothing to do with the church but has many things to do with society's protection laws on couples who a made a vow to share conjugal ownership of properties and custody over children. It is a society's civil law. Catholics are concerned only on the Sacraments decreed by religion. Some cities allowed marriage of gay couples but they do not make a choice as to whether the Catholics or other Christian churches will allow it or not.

Answer 3

It is a very common misconception that the amendmant "separates" church and state. Actually, it prevents the federal govenment from establishing a state religion, as had happened in England, France and many other countries. The newly forming country included colonies with very diverse religious backgrounds and each group, fearing a majority could be formed in another camp with a few shiploads of immigrants, wanted to secure their own religious freedom. Note, this is at the national level only - states have the power to do this, unless specifically forbidden by their own laws.

Marriage is a legal contract as well as a religious covenant (or whatever your denomination chooses to call it). Marriage must be performed by an authorized person for it to be legally binding. You cannot ask your 7-year-old sister to marry you, for instance, otherwise too many elementary school romances would be legally binding and many high school students would be tripple devorcees.
The state recognizes and authorizes certain types of people to perform weddings: ship's captains, county clerks and judges, justices of the peace. Because a predominance of couples wish to have their marriage blessed or solemnized or sealed or whatever by their clergy, clergymen are authorized to perform marriages (sort of killing two bird with one stone). You will notice, however, that at Church weddings, the bride and groom end up meeting with the clergyman after the religious ceremony "to do some paperwork" - only the paperwork counts for legal purposes. As far as the government is concerned, all they had to do was sign and have the witnesses sign and have the clergyman send it in. The govenment does not proscribe or interfere with any other ceremony the bride and groom wish to use.

Answer 4

Though I agree the government should stay out of the marriage business and leave it to churches, the constitution does not say the government will make no laws about religion.

Answer 5

You have to distinguish between a religious marriage and a legal marriage. The government can only create a legal marriage. It obviously cannot force a church to honor that marriage from a religious perspective.

Legal marriages do serve a purpose, however. For instance, in many cases, in order to cover somebody on your health insurance, there needs to be a legal marriage in place. (It depends on the contact between the employer and the HMO.)

Answer 6

Civil marriage laws have nothing to do with ones religious affiliation

Answer 7

Is marriage a Catholic only thing? I never knew that.

Answer 8

Not everyone is a Catholic. Not everyone knows their beliefs or teachings or even cares.