To the Editor:

I’ve heard many reasons why same-sex marriage is bad – and I’m still confused. 

The Bible itself contradicts the argument that God required marriage to be “between one man and one woman.” Many men in the Bible had multiple wives. Solomon held the record with 700 wives and 300 concubines. God offered to give David more wives if the ones he had were insufficient.

Talk of marriage as a “holy institution” is comical in Rhode Island. Neither church nor clergy is required to “join persons in marriage.” A long list of authorized people (at RIGL 15-3-5) includes judges, magistrates, clerks and secretaries. Actually, anyone else can also perform a marriage if he or she gets a bill passed under the heading “solemnization of marriage.” When I was in the RI House, we passed hundreds of such bills, authorizing a specific individual to join specific persons in marriage on a specific day. I didn’t know the people being “ordained” – or even whether they were adults or U.S. citizens. 

In the first three months of 2013, more than 60 such bills have been introduced in the General Assembly. Why are there no objections from those concerned about the “sanctity” of marriage?

It is also emphasized that marriage is all about procreation.  Hence only a man and a woman may marry – because other couples can’t procreate. Well, my wife and I are 80 and our children are in their 50s. So we’re unlikely to be doing any more procreating. 

Should our marriage now be nullified?

Rod Driver

Richmond, RI