Comments on: Marriage should fall under the First Amendment http://morgamic.com/2008/11/06/marriage-should-fall-under-the-first-amendment/ stuff and things, according to Mike Morgan Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:10:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sullivat http://morgamic.com/2008/11/06/marriage-should-fall-under-the-first-amendment/comment-page-1/#comment-175918 sullivat Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:58:24 +0000 http://morgamic.com/2008/11/06/marriage-should-fall-under-the-first-amendment/#comment-175918 Hear hear. I really hoped that the country would start becoming more progressive with the election of Obama. It's one step forward, one step back. Still a big step forward, though :D Hear hear. I really hoped that the country would start becoming more progressive with the election of Obama. It’s one step forward, one step back. Still a big step forward, though :D

]]> By: Fred Wenzel http://morgamic.com/2008/11/06/marriage-should-fall-under-the-first-amendment/comment-page-1/#comment-175910 Fred Wenzel Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:50:33 +0000 http://morgamic.com/2008/11/06/marriage-should-fall-under-the-first-amendment/#comment-175910 Interesting that you mention Germany. An even more clear example for laicism is France, where church and state are much more clearly divided than there. That being said, it took Germany until 2001 to make a law for civil unions. Even after that, a civil union does not equal a marriage in some senses, for example when it comes to income tax, and the right to adopt children. Changes in that direction are still being heavily discussed and are far from generally accepted. Three states even fought the law in question at the constitutional court but lost. Nonetheless, most of Europe (except Poland) have civil union laws now; Ireland, Italy and Greece discuss it. One of the strongest and most influential opponents there is the Catholic church. Interesting that you mention Germany. An even more clear example for laicism is France, where church and state are much more clearly divided than there.

That being said, it took Germany until 2001 to make a law for civil unions. Even after that, a civil union does not equal a marriage in some senses, for example when it comes to income tax, and the right to adopt children. Changes in that direction are still being heavily discussed and are far from generally accepted. Three states even fought the law in question at the constitutional court but lost.

Nonetheless, most of Europe (except Poland) have civil union laws now; Ireland, Italy and Greece discuss it. One of the strongest and most influential opponents there is the Catholic church.

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