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Sanctity of...divorce?

I guess we should have seen this coming.

Massachusetts, at least early on, let out-of-state gay couples get married there practically for the asking. But the rules governing divorce are stricter. Out-of-state couples could go back to Massachusetts to get divorced, but they would have to live there for a year to establish residency first.

And since no other state recognizes same-sex marriages, gays and lesbians can't get divorced in their home states either. It is even more troublesome in the many states which have amended their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage.

Interestingly, it appears that in both Vermont (which recognizes civil unions) and Massachusetts, divorce rates are much lower for gay couples than straight couples, probably because many gay couples have been together for a very long time without being married. But in the few cases where divorce is sought, state court judges need some sort of solution. The Rhode Island legislature is working on legislation to give judges the power to grant divorces to same-sex couples without sanctioning gay marriage.

And yet some would rather create a legal nightmare than give an inch in the culture war. "Whatever name they want to give to it, it is a recognition of same-sex unions," said the Rev. Bernard Healey, a lobbyist for Catholic Diocese of Providence. Yes, divorce is a sacred institution that should be celebrated as God intended it - between Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

This doesn't make any sense. The Catholic Church isn't a big fan of gays or divorce. Why not link the two?

Full post as published by Supreme Dicta on April 18, 2008 (boomark / email).