Same-Sex Marriages

Re “No End to Dissent,” July 3:

As Larry Stammer reported, some churches are backing next March’s California ballot measure to deny legal recognition to same-sex marriages if gay and lesbian couples are ever allowed to marry in other states.

Since religions already have absolute power to determine for whom they will perform marriages, it is unnecessary and extremely unjust to also allow them to dictate who should qualify for a civil marriage. I am a Christian but not Mormon, Catholic or Baptist and I deeply resent the power these churches have exerted in mounting financial and political campaigns to define and limit civil marriage for my children and grandchildren, gay or non-gay. Will they next seek to determine our children’s right to drink coffee or seek divorce according to their “moral” beliefs?

There is no justification for government to deny the civil right of an adult to freely enter into a contract to share the responsibilities of marriage.

We still enjoy our marriage after 51 years and we believe that all couples, opposite or same gender, are entitled to this right to happiness.

CHUCK and LIZ ARMSTRONG

Pacific Palisades

*

Your article describes all the problems gays and lesbians have in being accepted as fully human by many church denominations. The United Church of Christ some time ago declared itself to be an “open and affirming” denomination, meaning that it recognizes gays, lesbians and bisexual human beings as full members in the denomination without discrimination.

My church, First Congregational Church of Pasadena, UCC, voted to become an open and affirming congregation seven years ago, and recently voted to bless same-gender unions. Gays and lesbian members are fully included into the life of our church.

ROBERT E. NOFER

Pasadena

*

Recent reports indicate that supporters of the Knight initiative, to ban the recognition of same-gender marriages, will spend as much as $10 million to persuade the public to vote for the initiative. The media also reported that a study by Rutgers University indicates that Americans are less likely than ever to marry (July 2). In fact, the marriage rate has dipped 43% in the past four decades. In addition, the divorce rate has soared more than 30% since 1970. Under these circumstances it seems the $10 million could be better spent fixing the problems afflicting traditional marriages, rather than prohibiting some people from marrying.

Initiative backers say same-gender marriages must be prohibited because they threaten traditional marriage. Same-gender marriage is illegal and yet the institution of marriage is in shambles.

RICK MILLS

Long Beach