Okay, one more time.

[Pacifist Patriot]

Religious institutions have no legal authority to render a couple married in the eyes of the law. None. Nada. Bupkus.

In the United States, marriage has always been a civil contract under state statute, with the exception of that horrific piece of legislation passed by Congress in 1996. But even so, it still is a contract governed solely and exclusively by civil law.

This is one reason why I detest the idea of civil unions for everyone and then letting the religious institutions marry whomever they want.

No way!

Language is important and this distinction grants religious bodies authority over a powerful historical institution they do not currently have.

This is about equal protection under the law. Religious groups having the power to abridge civil rights should be anathema to every single American.

Say it with me again. The power and authority of religious institutions neither grows nor shrinks when marriage equality is granted. Their position in the role of marriage remains utterly unchanged.

Clergy are witnesses, nothing more and nothing less. If they don't want to be a witness to a particular marriage contract they don't have to be.