Dr. Kenneth W. Chalker
Jim,
Thank you so very much for your comments in response to my 01/10/09 Plain Dealer article.
The Domestic Partner Registry is in no way an effort to “elevate” domestic partner relationships to the same status as a heterosexual marriage commitment. But, even if it was, I would support it.
Why should committed partners not have the ability to visit one another as family in a hospital setting? Why should committed partners not be able to care for adopted children with equal authority? These are only two questions which are so very important to consider.
Marriage as defined as “between one man and one woman” is a definition that is our Western cultural understanding more than it is rooted in some eternal biblical message. Marriage, as was known and practiced across the nearly 4,000 years of ancient history which is the background for the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible and the 27 Books of what Christians call New Testament, was an often complex practice. It included the recognized right for men of nobility to have “harems” and for landowning, adult, male, Jews to have as many wives as they could afford.
Marriage also included varying practices of the Levirate Laws and expectations. There was no one form of marriage as defined as it is in the United States now in the 21st century. Also, our country went to “war” with the Mormon Church in the late 19th Century over this very issue. And, the Mormons used the Bible to justify their position on plural marriage!
What I believe to be “biblical” is committed, loving partnerships that value, respect and affirm the soul and dignity of the partner. How does supporting this in any way threaten the marriage relationship of heterosexual men and women? In this context and understanding a great many heterosexual marriages could stand to be “elevated.”
KWC
