Marriage Advocates’ letter to Christian Lawmakers

Dear Jason and Bob,
(Jason Rapert, NACL Founder & President; Bob Ballinger, Director of Law and Policy. National Association of Christian Lawmakers)

I saw your June 7 discussion with a presenter who advocated for equal shared parenting in divorce.  Presently, no-fault divorce turns cases of separation into expensive battles over which parent will be the primary residential parent and which parent is relegated to every other weekend.

Can I introduce your members to another means for strengthening marriage?

When a minister presides at a Christian wedding, state law makes him simultaneously officiate at a state wedding. However, the obligations and rights of state marriage are diametrically opposed to the Christian understanding of marriage.

Those who agree to Christian marriage intend to provide a common marital home for themselves until one of them dies. Adult children and grandchildren are expected to come back to a common marital home. No Christian groom intends to have some other man take up residence with his children (as his wife’s new sex partner) while he has been kicked out of their home by the state courts. No bride wants her husband’s new love-interest to be spending overnights or going on vacation with her children. However, no-fault divorce obliges every new bride and groom to agree to this option if they marry as the state understands marriage.  Equal parenting legislation will not resolve this discrepancy.

I have another proposal: Have bride and groom supplement their biblical marriage promises with a written agreement that reinforces the Christian character of their marriage.  The agreement would remove marital disputes from the civil forum, and return them to the Church, where they belong. We propose this by way of a civil arbitration agreement entered by the spouses. Parties can designate as arbitrators either the Institute for Christian Conciliation, or the Catholic diocesan structure’s Code of Canon Law.

See examples of Solemn Marriage Covenant Set:

• Christian Affiliations
• Catholic

Can you help me introduce this proposal to your members and invite them to share it with their pastors?

Sincerely,

Bai Macfarlane
Mary’s Advocates
2721 Wagar Road, Rocky River OH 44116
501(c)(3) nonprofit
marysadvocates.org
[email protected]
330-690-8942