BEN DUBOW

Running the Way

The Sanctity & Societal Importance of Marriage

I had the privilege of attending my cousin’s wedding this past weekend. It was a great weekend, fun celebration and beautiful service — I love both Ethan and Katie and think they are great together. Both of them wanted a secular/civil wedding — …

I had the privilege of attending my cousin’s wedding this past weekend.  It was a great weekend, fun celebration and beautiful service — I love both Ethan and Katie and think they are great together.

Both of them wanted a secular/civil wedding — no religion.  They asked a close friend to officiate.  To be honest with you, most secular/civil weddings I attend I find lack any sense of gravitas, sanctity or beauty.  It is a challenge to bring language with depth to a secular event like a marriage.  But this was one of the most beautiful, deep and significant wedding ceremonies — religious or otherwise — that I have seen.  It was really quite beautiful.

The officiant, during his opening remarks, quoted this:

“Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. For those who choose to marry, and for their children, marriage provides an abundance of legal, financial, and social benefits. In return it imposes weighty legal, financial, and social obligations.” (link)

I think that is quite a powerful statement.  

Any thoughts?  

One response

  1. Ben Dubow Avatar
    Ben Dubow

    What I thought was interesting about this quotation is that it came from the MA Judicial Supreme Court’s ruling in Goodridge v. Dept of Public Health ruling that disallowing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Here is the fuller quotation:?"Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. For those who choose to marry, and for their children, marriage provides an abundance of legal, financial, and social benefits. In return it imposes weighty legal, financial, and social obligations. The question before us is whether, consistent with the Massachusetts Constitution, the Commonwealth may deny the protections, benefits, and obligations conferred by civil marriage to two individuals of the same sex who wish to marry. We conclude that it may not. The Massachusetts Constitution affirms the dignity and equality of all individuals. It forbids the creation of second-class citizens. In reaching our conclusion we have given full deference to the arguments made by the Commonwealth. But it has failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason for denying civil marriage to same-sex couples."

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