a series on covenant marriage<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\nFor Catholics and theologically conservative Christians, there is no difference between a covenant marriage and the standard form. \u00a0In either case, the marriage is sealed as a promise between both spouses but also as a promise between the couple and God. Although the couple could release each other from the\u00a0commitment\u00a0they have made to each other, the marriage cannot be dissolved unless God, through his human agents, releases them from their commitment to Him (presumably in the form of an annulment).<\/p>\n
To embrace covenant marriage implies that Christians who have standard marriages are only held to the lesser standard of state law, rather than religious law. \u00a0From a Christian point of view, state law is entirely irrelevant to proper conduct.<\/p>\n
It would be impossible for the Christian conception of marriage to be enshrined in federal law. \u00a0No atheists (or pretty much anyone but Christians and possibly Jews) could be free to marry, since a lack of belief in the Christian God could constitute an impediment to marriage, since an atheist could not knowingly and deliberately consent to a Christian marriage and remain an atheist in most cases. \u00a0Allowing only perfect Christian marriages to be recognized by law would diminish the positive effects of civil marriage.<\/p>\n
If Christians can\u2019t have control of civil marriage, they\u2019re better off not yoking themselves to that institution to begin with. \u00a0As it stands, civil marriages will allow Catholic divorc\u00e9es to remarry without annulments. \u00a0For\u00a0Christians, civil marriages should be treated as an entirely bureaucratic matter like filling out a 1040 form or writing a will. \u00a0They are a way of interacting with the\u00a0government, not a recognition of your\u00a0commitment\u00a0to your\u00a0spouse.<\/p>\n
Covenant marriage and modifications to the civil marriage code in general, should be intended for those who don\u2019t have as strong a tradition or institution for marriage outside of civil marriage. \u00a0If covenant marriage is to be of use to anyone, it needs to be of use to atheists and secularists. \u00a0And this weekend, I\u2019ll finally get around to explaining what purpose it serves for people like me.<\/p>\n
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