How would the marriage amendment affect church-state relations and the preservation of religious liberty?
The marriage amendment would further entangle religion and government in America. Marriage in the United States already involves significant church-state interaction. Government recognizes marriages conducted in either religious or civil settings, and clergy often act as agents of the state in performing marriages. This interaction, which springs from a long history, has come to be accepted by the general public. But when and if changes are necessary, legislators should not find themselves unable to act due to a hastily adopted constitutional amendment that gives preference to one segment of the American religious community.
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