Marriage covenant set in stone

To the editor:
    The letter in May 2nd’s paper gave me reason to ponder. I agree with a portion of what the writer states, “Whether marriage is between a man and a woman or two men or two women, it is the institution itself which is important.” It is the latter portion of the statement I agree with — ”it is the institution itself which is important. “
    But, what is a marriage? The author goes on to state that marriage is, “between two people to be faithful, loving, and supportive.” Once again, we are in complete agreement; however, doesn’t marriage contain something in addition to that? To answer that question, let’s look back at the world from the beginning.
    Historical documentation shows us that both heterosexual and homosexual relationships go back millenniums – neither type of relationship is new. In particular, when I think of ancient Greece and Rome, I think of the prevalence of homosexual relationships. When I think of the ancient world, I also think of marriage. Marriage was always there and it was always recognized. Homosexual unions were present, in some cultures totally embraced, but not recognized as legal marriages. Why not? This has been true in all cultures – ones of faith, pagan and atheist alike.
    Marital laws have always involved a particular and unique relationship between a man and a woman. Never in the history of the world has it involved a relationship between two men or two women. The reason for that is the nature of marriage itself. The uniqueness of the marital relationship involves the physical union between the spouses that has the potential to bring a child into the world.
    The sexual difference in the two types of relationship is irreducible. The complimentary physical attributes of a man and a woman is what makes this possible. Throughout all of history this fact has never been ignored and we cannot be ignored now. If we ignore it now, we do an injustice to the institution of marriage and to the future generations of children. No matter how loving and enduring a homosexual relationship is, it simply cannot lend itself to this type of relationship.
    By defining marriage as such, we are neither discriminating nor being unequal. Homosexual couples are free to live together in a lifelong relationship. We are merely recognizing what has been recognized forever in the martial covenant. Homosexual couples already have the same equal rights as heterosexual couples — to live as they choose. However, no one has the right to redefine marriage — either for us today – or for our children tomorrow.
Theresa Griffin
Hodgdon