Leonard Pitts’ Jan. 16 column (“Santorum rejects young at own peril”) sees same-sex marriage as a civil right. In fact, marriage is a civil responsibility, responsible for the procreation and education of children, beginning with the good example parents give of unselfish love, forgiveness and hard work.
Everyone benefits when society restricts sexual intercourse to the lifelong, committed relationship of a man and a woman. Children benefit from parents committed to each other “for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health ’til death do us part,” as the traditional marriage vow puts it. Such parents are less likely to divorce, and less likely to abort or abuse their children. Husbands and wives also benefit from a creative and constructive expression of their sexual energy in making a home, nurturing a child and caring for each other.
Our federal government (Roe v. Wade) rejected traditional marriage over 40 years and 40 million abortions ago. And now state government wants to make it official: Marriage is whatever passionate advocates want it to be. Today it’s the turn of our homosexual brothers and sisters. And tomorrow?
Gerry Parmantier
VANCOUVER
