A martyr for state-free marriage

John Coleman of Reason writes:

Around 270 A.D. - according to one tradition, at least - St. Valentine, a Roman cleric, was imprisoned for his opposition to Emperor Claudius’ decree that young men (his potential crop of soldiers) could no longer marry. Valentine performed their ceremonies anyway and was thrown in jail for his obstinacy. His belief was that marriage is too sacred a rite to relegate to the incompetence of state bureaucracy. And, on February 14, he was executed for that belief.

One thousand, eight hundred years later, the government is still confounding itself with marriage. In November, eleven states “defended” the institution by further defining it in law. Judges in Massachusetts took the reverse route, forcing gay marriage on Senator Ted Kennedy’s constituency, and it was exactly one year ago that San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom performed his unsanctioned ceremonies in the Golden State. In a twelve-month span, Congress proposed a constitutional amendment to prevent homosexual matrimony, both presidential candidates backed themselves into corners debating the issue, and enough political friction was generated to make Claudius seethe with jealousy.

But at a time when churches themselves are split on these controversial issues, shouldn’t we ask ourselves one very simple question: Where would Valentine stand today?

[Continue reading My Privatized Valentine]