Civil Marriage, Published 19 July 2004, National Post

re: Get Ottawa out of the marriage business

My only complaint about today's editorial is that I wish it were appearing in tomorrow's paper. A government withdrawal from 'marriage' benefit gays and lesbians and opens the concept of marriage up to a much greater plurality than it currently enjoys.

A respect for both contractual universals and cultural differences is necessary to a vibrant and successful pluralism. Moreover, this openness and flexibility within established traditions will safeguard marriage as an essential Western institution long after the biologization of marriage is in the dustbin of history.

A withdrawal would clearly distinguish the legal/contractual obligations of union from the cultural and spiritual obligations of marriage. At present, the two are conflated. If the government were to trade marriage for union, it would be in a better position to protect cultural difference while promoting a broad social order, and that's good for everyone.