JACKEL said:
imo u cant seperate marriage from religious things cece.
That's your opinion Jackel - The governments of Europe do not agree.
In each of the member states (and particularly, in the Netherlands and the UK) there is no need whatsoever for a marriage to be approved of or blessed by a church.
In both countries, as in all Western nations, marriages can be carried out by a member of the clergy, but are not legal unless they are also registered with the state. You may believe that a couple are married when they say "I do" within a church - this is not correct. They are not legally married until the correct paperwork is filed with the Register of births, Marriages and deaths (UK name)
Many people can, and do, choose to marry legally by registering their union, but without ANY church blessing.
Oh, and for the record? Civil unions of non catholics are recognised by the Vatican since the Vatican II Council in 1965. Two catholics who marry in the civil ceremony, but do not take part in a nupital mass may be excommunicated from the church, but even the church accepts that people who marry in a civil ceremony are legally married. Most of the other major churches have recognised civil marriages as well.
Jackel, you have said that your religion says that marriage is only for men and women - I have asked you to tell me where in the bible it says this, and you have kept silent. Have you looked?
W.
PS> Are the rules of P & S actually being enforced, or has the debate sunk to the level of farce? I have posted supporting evidence for almost all of my posts (and can do so for the others), whilst pointless posts like Pete's (with no substance, no supporting evidence and frankly, nothing more than a personal attack) are allowed to remain unchecked?