Signs o f the times

...But I am irked by the douBut as I pulled up to my mother's the reasoning behind the bishops' ac- ble standard in civil life...

...The threat is so I wonder...

...Or would month by a margin of 61 to 39 percent...

...Yes on 22" lawn sign...

...I also note that many civil mar- tery, and marriage for inappropriate reaon her lawn, was a sign proclaiming riages between straight people are not sons are all permitted in a pluralistic so"Yes on 22...

...On the way back to Los Ange- amend, through popular initiative, the can permit same-sex marriages, should les, my mind and heart raced...

...But if theologically, can be contracted only be- straight people enjoy that right, why tween a man and a woman...

...I understand some of ment...

...For you see, it is not that unwelcome...

...The week before ety...

...As a Catholic, I the community as a whole, should deknow that the sacrament of matrimony, fine what marriage means...

...Commonweal 3 1 April 7, 2000...

...Fifty women can vie on national a sensitive issue at the ballot box...

...fully recognized by the law and soci- churches beg off the idea of settling such I was not surprised...

...Any commodated on this question...

...permitted in straight people's ideas of "Mom, is this sign on your lawn by mis- A thought crossed my mind...

...Most Americans, I citizen on the issue of civil rights for les- of lawn signs in Duarte proclaiming suspect, believe that individuals, not bians and gay men...

...people of the same sex was already ille- adding just six words: "Only marriage In civil law the idea of marriage has gal in California and how, as far as I was between a man and a woman is valid changed radically from the days when concerned, Proposition 22 had been de- or recognized, and every valid marriage divorce was the exception and interraveloped as a catalyst to pit citizen against is indissoluble...

...I could then propose to of Judaism and in the Episcopal church sponded...

...For me, a gay structure of Western civilization will "That wouldn't bother me at all...

...enclave of Duarte, I was confronted man can marry a woman for her looks After I got home and returned the inwith a sea of lawn signs reading: "Pro- in a cynical but legally sanctioned form evitable message from my mother (yes, tect Marriage: Yes on 22...

...Could I exnia state initiative banning tonight, wed a prostitute in a drunken pect my bishop to support the civil codP recognition of same-sex stupor, and return to Los Angeles to- ification of the church's understanding marriage, passed last morrow morning to have my marriage of marriage in this instance...

...I felt humiliated and be- recognized by the church, yet I do not ciety...

...Would I encounter a sea cial unions illegal...

...If some in the Reform movement "Well then, I'm going home," I re- of marriage...

...man, the air in Duarte was thick with come crashing down...

...Proposition 22...

...and Web development in Los Angeles...

...of concubinage, and that union would I should have sat down and talked with Despite the fact that there was a pres- enjoy all the rights and privileges of her about it, but I am not perfect), I proidential primary at stake and numerous marriage...

...THE LAST WORD SIGNS OF THE TIMES Eric Stoltz roposition 22, the Califor- I could, for example, fly to Las Vegas marriage's indissolubility...

...No," she said...

...But civil commonweal magazine.org can't gay people...

...I thought divorce-rather than gays and seen as an issue of free exercise of reli"No mistake," she replied...

...This can even be take...

...I don't...

...El marriage, I would argue, is different, more a question of individual rights than Eric Stoltz is a consultant in public relations majority rule...

...lesbians-was the real threat to the idea gion...

...But if two people of the same posed my scenario to her: "Would you other important ballot initiatives, only sex want to establish rights of inheri- not be offended if you came to my Proposition 22 seemed to have prompt- tance or become legally empowered to home and saw a banner hanging from ed bold declarations on lawn after lawn...

...I sped through the streets dire that California's Catholic bishops everyone in the gay community believes anxious to get to where I was going and spent nearly $300,000 in support of we can contract matrimony as a sacraleave as quickly as possible...

...I parked in the driveway, pulled see bishops proposing initiatives that ing, when immense leeway is routinely up the sign, walked in, and asked, would ban such unions...

...Why are gay unions so threatentrayed...

...I thought same sentence inserted into the Cali- the California electorate have the right to of the fact that marriage between two fornia Family Code by Proposition 22, deny civil recognition to such unions...

...She is divorced...

...As I met for his money, and that union the majority would somehow be acdrove through the small, middle-class would be recognized by the state...

...Why the vote, I had driven to my mother's television to marry a man they've never do I suspect that the real-life needs of house to help her pack for a move...

...Divorce, adulhouse, my heart began pumping...

...make health-care decisions for one an- my balcony urging the abolition of diLiving in the city, I had never seen a other, we are now told that the entire vorce...

...There, tions...

...Let's say what marriage entails...