If Marriage is about Pro-Creation then why are old folks allowed to marry?

[LynneSin]

I'm watching old episodes of Bill Maher's Real Time on HBO On-Demand and this is the episode where they have some leader of the Catholic Online Group (Ray Flynn I think is his name) sitting right next to Barney Frank (Rep from Boston and acknowledged Gay Man). I don't know HOW Bill Maher got these 2 to sit side by side in a room (they were of the TV screen, not a panalist) but that Catholic Guy looked like he was on the worlds worst blind date.

So the whole argument by the Catholic Priest who's against gay & lesbian marriages was the whole "Pro-Creation" theory. That because Gay & Lesbian couples are not capable of pro-creation then therefore they cannot be married.

Then something dawned on me. My mother remarried about 10 years ago. She was pre-menopausal AND she was also schedule to get a Hysterectomy. Therefore it would be impossible for my mother and her future new husband to pro-create. Under this catholic priest ideology they shouldn't be allowed simply because of their inability to pro-create.

:shrug:

Seriously, that's what it sounded like he was discribing!

[roughsatori]

1. Your question is like a zen koan the way it breaks through the idiocy

Thanks I will use that in the future.

[soothsayer]

2. I think the bible covers this

Sometimes God gave chillun to the barren and/or old. In fact, mebbe Mary's parents (don't forget, the immaculate conception refers to HER, not to Jesus) were old.

Anyway, by my way of thinking, I think that God could give children to me and my same sex partner just the same, so why can't we get married? Godnoze we try try try to conceive (together)...!

[SharonAnn]

12. Well, actually, "Immaculate Conception" refers to Mary being

born without Original Sin. That is, if I remember my Baltimore Catechism right.

The "Virgin Birth" refers to Mary conceiving and delivering a baby while still being a virgin.

I haven't check up on the details of this stuff for years.

[LynneSin]

18. That was Sarah who was old and Barren

But she was like hundreds of years old or some really obtuse age.

[whirlygigspin]

3. have your gramps

spayed or neutered?

relax, it's just a veiled way to validate hate.

[Sephirstein]

4. A long time ago somebody submitted an article to DU...

It walked about the "Just because" theory that Evangelical fascists want to teach in America's science classes.

We exist "just because" God created us.

God created us "just because" the Bible says he did.

God wrote/inspired the Bible "just because" we say he did.

The Bible is God's Truth "just because" it says it is.


*shudders*

I think this is the same song and dance.

[tkmorris]

11. I always loved

the "kissing Hanks ass" analogy to religious belief. If ya haven't read it before it's hilarious. http://jhuger.com/kisshank.mv .

I hope no one finds that too offensive, spirituality doesn't bother me, it's the (lack of) logic some of those charlatans use that bothers me.

[soleft]

5. But there's always the chance they'll get the cover of Weekly World News

Guiness Book of World Records, etc.

[LynneSin]

9. If she does you better damn well repent

She has no uterus to speak of. If she's pregnant than we know it's the second coming on it's way.

:crazy:

I hope to see you at RBNYC's party!!!!!

[quaker bill]

6. It is probably ok to marry

But they probably shouldn't have sex.

Sex is only moral for the purpose of procreation within a marriage..... If you buy any of that stuff.

[kodi]

7. because hope springs eternal, even if the male member doesn't?

??

[Mikimouse]

8. Hannity was blowing this line of garbage recently

What a pile of horsefeathers! My wife and I have been married for three years and we were both middle aged (47) when we got married. Our kids thought it was a great thing and we both found the person wanted and needed the most in each other. No way would we even consider having other children, even if we could; we already have 4 between us, with two grandchildren (and another on the way). Sure, priorities change over time, but marriage in middle age is no less fulfilling than a good marriage at a younger age (for different reasons, though). Wehad both experienced terrible marriages when we were younger, and had been divorced, me for 10 years, and she for almost 11 years. Nuts to this whole 'marriage is simply for procreation garbage'. It may have held some water in the past, but consider this: marriage as an institution did not emerge until questions about illegitimate childrens' inheritance became an issue. Marriage legitimized children and gave them the right of inheritance (at least, in most cultures). Sounds like kind of a repuke thing, eh?
(screw around all you want, but remember that you owe nothing to the kids you have out of wedlock-only those blessed by the bourgeoisie). OK, I am done ranting now-thanks for the opprtunity!

[Gman]

10. This is an excellent point

that I'm putting in my hip pocket for future use.

[dofus]

13. The same reasoning would apply

to younger couples who don't intend to have children, or if one partner is unable to have any.

That kind of reasoning (marriage is only for procreation) has always struck me as utterly ludicrous.

[Paschall]

14. That's the argument that I think is the killer

All couples should--according to this logic--be required to pass fertility tests before being allowed to marry.

[Book Lover]

15. Well, any fertile male could marry any fertile female, but...

every one of us females will become infertile after menopause. The end result is that women would be forbidden to wed after menopause, whereas men could marry until death. There also should be a provisio that any marriage that does not produce children by, oh, let's say, three years, is automatically annuled.

My copy of the catechism is in storage, so I'm just guessing here, but I suspect there is a "lesser evil" provisio that allows men and women of an advanced age to marry in order to allow sexual release within the confines of holy matrimony.

Reductio ad absurdum indeed...

[sushi]

16. It's terrible but

when I hear or read the word "priest" I think of paedophiles(sp?). People should do what makes them happy, as long as they don't hurt others.
I also think a man should marry a woman, but if a man wants to marry another man or a woman wants to marry another woman why don't we all wish them well. Besides, they can adopt. It's already happening.

[Sephirstein]

19. I don't...

While I have little love for the church nowadays, every Catholic priest I've met -- except for one -- has brought something positive to my life. :)

[Shanty Oilish]

17. So they'll be respectable when the grown kids move back in. nt

:)

[RandomUser]

20. Marriage serves other purposes

Marriage serves to create social ties and bonds between human beings, and it satisfies emotional and psychological needs. It's a lot more than just procreation. Procreation may be the prime purpose of marriage, and I doubt anyone would dispute, but it's not the only purpose.

[Hogarth]

21. I'll never again procreate ...

... and I hope this notion survives into my next life. This life is now covered. A medical gorilla yanked and stabbed and cut me until it was time for his staff to bill me for a vasectomy some years back. I love the kids, but they're an experience I've already had.

Give me an autumn marriage with my honey ... no kid-crap, and no expectations from church or state. Parenthood has its rewards, but why propogate the madness?

[WoodrowFan]

22. 2 words

"Grandfather clause"