The problem with this issue is there really is no safe ground to compromise on this issue.
Whether or not homosexuals can legally get a "common-law marriage"- the marriage will not be given equality to the religious "rite" anyway. If that's what you're hoping for, it probably won't happen: homosexual marriage will still be held somewhere in between heterosexual common-law marriage and interracial marriage on the religious list of faux pas[SIC]. Plus, many religions do not accept federal funding anyway- about the only way to pressure them is to take away their non-profit tax exemptions- and even liberal Democrats are hesitant to do this because of the many social programs that churches help to sponsor outside of their anti-abortion, anti-homo goals.
I believe that it should be okay to grant common-law marriages to homosexuals, but it should be up to the state legislatures (not the courts) to determine where and when this will take place. Whether or not homosexuals can legally get "married" will not change the opinion of others that state laws should be determined by the state legislatures of each state.
I do not like federal judges stating that "if Law A is unconstitutional, then Law B should be immediately implemented"- that is circumventing the responsibility of the state legislature. As it was with integration- it is still up to the state legislatures where and when the law should be changed.
As a Christian (and a friend of several homosexuals- OH MY GOD I AM SUCH AN ANOMALY) it is not my place to either condemn or condone said practices; so I will not.
Whether or not homosexuals can legally get a "common-law marriage"- the marriage will not be given equality to the religious "rite" anyway. If that's what you're hoping for, it probably won't happen: homosexual marriage will still be held somewhere in between heterosexual common-law marriage and interracial marriage on the religious list of faux pas[SIC]. Plus, many religions do not accept federal funding anyway- about the only way to pressure them is to take away their non-profit tax exemptions- and even liberal Democrats are hesitant to do this because of the many social programs that churches help to sponsor outside of their anti-abortion, anti-homo goals.
I believe that it should be okay to grant common-law marriages to homosexuals, but it should be up to the state legislatures (not the courts) to determine where and when this will take place. Whether or not homosexuals can legally get "married" will not change the opinion of others that state laws should be determined by the state legislatures of each state.
I do not like federal judges stating that "if Law A is unconstitutional, then Law B should be immediately implemented"- that is circumventing the responsibility of the state legislature. As it was with integration- it is still up to the state legislatures where and when the law should be changed.
As a Christian (and a friend of several homosexuals- OH MY GOD I AM SUCH AN ANOMALY) it is not my place to either condemn or condone said practices; so I will not.