The Catholic Church didn't get involved in marriage till the early Middle Ages. Before then, it was more a contract between families, and you could have the local priest bless you on the porch of the church if you wanted. On the porch, not inside. Cause marriages were for kids/heirs, and that meant sex, and churches didn't do sex.

Obama on DOMA (and tangentially on DADT) in 2004 when he was running for the Senate:

For the record, I opposed DOMA [ the Defense of Marriage Act ] in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying. This is an effort to demonize people for political advantage, and should be resisted ... .

When Members of Congress passed DOMA, they were not interested in strengthening family values or protecting civil liberties. They were only interested in perpetuating division and affirming a wedge issue. ...

Despite my own feelings about an abhorrent law, the realities of modern politics persist. While the repeal of DOMA is essential, the unfortunate truth is that it is unlikely with Mr. Bush in the White House and Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress. ...

We must be careful to keep our eyes on the prize—equal rights for every American. We must continue to fight for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. We must vigorously expand hate-crime legislation and be vigilant about how these laws are enforced. We must continue to expand adoption rights to make them consistent and seamless throughout all 50 states, and we must repeal the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” military policy.

I know how important the issue of equal rights is to the LGBT community. I share your sense of urgency. If I am elected U.S. Senator, you can be confident that my colleagues in the Senate and the President will know my position.

[link]

On another note entirely, NYCistas can get free Oren's coffee tomorrow between 10:44 am and 12:44 pm:

I think Krispy Kreme is giving away a free donut to everyone tomorrow.

churches didn't do sex.

Speaking of the Weavers, Lee Hays was talking at their Carnegie Hall reunion concert from Christmas 1980, and mentioned how he really liked St. Paul, even though "when Paul and Silas would come to town, they'd set sex back 200 years!"

I think Krispy Kreme is giving away a free donut to everyone tomorrow.

Yeah. And some pro-life group has criticized them for that.

No, really. Because customers have a "choice" of donuts.

Because customers have a "choice" of donuts.

What if they consult their pastor first?

Whoops! Thanks.

I think Krispy Kreme is giving away a free donut to everyone tomorrow.

Oh! Have you been reading about the American Life League's reaction to this?? It's too bizarre to even be offensive:

[link]

“Just an unfortunate choice of words? For the sake of our Wednesday morning doughnut runs, we hope so. The unfortunate reality of a post Roe v. Wade America is that ‘choice’ is synonymous with abortion access, and celebration of ‘freedom of choice’ is a tacit endorsement of abortion rights on demand.

“Celebrating his inauguration with ‘Freedom of Choice’ doughnuts - only two days before the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to decriminalize abortion - is not only extremely tacky, it’s disrespectful and insensitive and makes a mockery of a national tragedy.

"A misconstrued concept of ‘choice’ has killed over 50 million preborn children since Jan. 22, 1973. Does Krispy Kreme really want their free doughnuts to celebrate this ‘freedom.’

I mean, SERIOUSLY???

Does Krispy Kreme really want their free doughnuts to celebrate this ‘freedom.’

It's almost Mardi Gras time; maybe a King Cake would be better?

Cause marriages were for kids/heirs, and that meant sex, and churches didn't do sex.

Yeah, marriage is the second-best option, for those as can't swing celibacy. Gosh, if Paul had his way... there'd be nobody at all!