John,

>>No I do not. A civil union is not the same thing as a marriage under the federal law nor in most states. There are many rights afforded to marriages that are not afforded to civil unions. It should be up to each church whether or not they will allow a marriage between members of the same sex (just as they decide now between members of the opposite sex - not all churches will marry everyone as it is now and that is religious freedom) but not the government. A legal marriage in the eyes of the federal government and every state government regardless.
>
>Should a man be allowed to marry a child? What about an animal he is particularly fond of? How about an inanimate object - like a life size doll? What would it matter?

These are al anwered in the LAW of the government, not the LAW of god. The only law you'll have to follow in life is the LAW of the government... If you're running up for sherrif, you'd ought to know that. If you want to follow the LAW of god, then that is your personal choice. A personal choice that applies to you and no-one else but you.

Hardcore conservatives and fundamentalists place their law of god above the law. When they violate the law of the government you as upcomming sherrif should jail them regardless of you think he was right or not. History is scatter with horror examples where people place their law of god above the governmental law.

Walter,