I read April Goodwin’s column and Steve Skutnik’s letter on same-gender marriages. I applaud the talented students you attract.

As a Christian, I have strong, moral opinions and ideals, but I understand the difference between my beliefs and U.S. law.

I defend any religion’s right to order their communal life by their faith, but I equally defend against any attempt to impose their moral law on all Americans. Ms. Goodwin’s article shed’s light on this wisdom well.

Mr. Skutnik’s letter takes this logic to its next step. Church and government have been in bed together on marriage for a long time, but it does not hold up to the scrutiny of the Constitution.

As a priest, I think it odd that the government licenses me to record marriages. True Christian marriage should have nothing to do with licensing by any state. People in support of civil marriage often cry “we’ve got to support families.”

Well then let’s enact laws to protect people raising children. But what seniors or others who cannot have children? Should we have a fertility test before marriage? Should couples without children have the same tax and inheritance benefits?

Civil marriage is not about families, it is about licensing heterosexual sex. If it was about children, no one would object to limiting rights and responsibilities to those who raise children. Let’s find ways for the government to support civil contracts of economic relationships with rights and responsibilities that provide stability to individual lives and communities.

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Rev. Curtis Metzger

Honolulu