Editorial

Vote No on Measure 36

Oregon National Guardsmen are dying in a deadly war, the state's economy still sputters, schools are broke and roads and bridges are falling appart.

Yet the right wing managed to make a major electoral issue out of ... gay marriage.

This is a non-issue with a simple solution. Government should get out of the marriage business. Churches should have the right to decide who shall "marry." Government should limit itself to recognizing civil unions between couples that would allow for benefits, rights to visit an ill partner in the hospital, make funeral arrangements, etc.

There are spiritual, legal and moral obligations in the institution of marriage. Let churches address the spiritual; government must manage the legal issues by recognizing voluntary civil unions.

The moral obligations belong to the individuals and couples most affected.