Get state out of marriage business

A recent Fence Post had a letter from Paul Murray proposing that marriage is a religious act and state-sponsored marriages should be abolished. Where Mr. Murray goes down a dead-end street is expecting the Illinois legislature to do an intelligent thing like getting the state out of the marriage business. Illinois may pass a gay marriage bill soon, but the issue is heading to the Supreme Court, which will make the final decision. If marriage were relegated to religious institutions only, the controversy caused by state enforcement would disappear. Here’s a similar view with the rationale to justify getting the state out of the marriage business.

Richard Gylling

Palatine