the geriatric set, many of them would probably be confused about it. Hey just a gol durn minute there, youngster!
But seriously ....... Speaking for my own 74-year-old self, and for many of my friends of the same age, and a few even older, we understand quite well the concept of any type of consential union between two people - whether the same or opposite sex. And the way you kids are talking you'd think it was something new! In my youth the term for two women living together was a "Boston Marriage." Dunno' where the phrase came from but it was well known. Homosexual men were "confirmed bachelors." I can't help but think those are two euphemisms we are well off without. I favor a litle light and fresh air, thank you very much.
Civil marriage is nothing new in USA - ask any Justice of the Peace! (I are one!)
The legal protection thatwould be offered by a consential union is only fair for two people who have pledged themselves to each other.
I have seen (and heard of) some distressing situations that have happened because of the lack of legal protection.
I had two friends, lovely, kind, decent, honorable men, who had been exclusively together for 23 years when one died of a myocardial infaction.
The survivor was treated very badly by police who were called to the "unexplained death." He was held in a separate room until the coroner confirmed the death by heart attack and was not allowed to leave the room until after the body was removed.
Then the family swooped in - although they had refused to speak to the deceased for over 25 years because of their "lifestyle." (Arrrggghh)
The body was taken a great distance out of state for burial in the "family plot" and his life companion cannot even visit the grave as they refused to tell him anything about the funeral or the location of the cemetery.
All his partner's effects were taken away, and the bank accounts which were in the deceased's name (containing money contributed by the survivor) were awarded to the closest next of kin - a surviving brother. It was a nightmare!
Now consider what it would be like to have someone you loved for 23 years torn from you with such ruthlessness.
I am strongly in favor of a consential union that would give same-sex partners the same legal rights that enjoyed in a male-female unions.
I cannot imagine what I would have done if someone had treated me that way when my beloved John died.
As for the Pope's ruling, it's a regulation not an article of faith and so I am at liberty to excercise my free will and ignore it if my conscience so dictates. And it does.
Homosexuality has ever been with us. God made us all and I cannot believe He would withhold Her love from any creature.
So there. Harumph!
