Idaho's Marriage Covenant

The Idaho Legislature seems to think that we need a Marriage Covenant. The question begs to be asked just why we need this. I know that 50% of marriages end in divorce but this is hardly the State's fault. Marriage is a civil contract whether the various churches want to believe so or not. And yes, this does have a decidedly religious morals bent to it. Civil contracts are made and entered into all the time. They are modified and changed and yes, even dissolved. The courts are full of litigation having to do with civil contracts. Marriage is just one more of those.
Over the years the state legislature has wasted untold hours and money holding hearings and trying to defend a variety of religious morals legislation. How many hours over the years have been spent on abortion and marriage between same sex couples. They try to make us believe that they are only protecting the unborn, our families and the sanctity of marriage. While they are doing this they have under funded our schools, health care for the mentally challenged and children in need. The family values argument is just a red herring that they use so they don't have to take the time to address the really tough issues. If there is to be consequences for divorce in the society let the churches take care of that and let the legislature take care of matters of state.
That's right, let the churches handle the consequences of divorce. The churches are the ones that preach about the sanctity of marriage. Let the churches be more active in requiring marriage counseling both before marriage and for marriages in trouble. Let the churches be the ones to withhold sacraments and membership or fellowship in their congregation. But don't make the state be the one to require these things. Lets leave to Caesar those things that are Caesar's and to God those things that are God's. Remember marriage is a civil contract. Just try and claim any of the benefits that the state offers to married couples without that certificate of marriage that you can only get from the state.
So lets tell the legislature that we want them to take care of the matters of state and leave the morals to the churches. We don't need a Christian Taliban in our state government.