Providence College hosts marriage debate

Providence College hosted a lively debate on marriage for same-sex couples on Tuesday, April 13.

The 90-minute event dubbed "Marriage on trial: Should the law limit marriage to a union between a man and a woman?" featured Gerard V. Bradley from the University of Notre Dame Law School and William N. Eskridge of the Yale School of Law.

The debate played to a packed auditorium of students, faculty members, and marriage opponents. These included Christopher Plante, executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Marriage, which promoted the event on its Web site.

Eskridge has represented a gay couple suing for recognition of their union as a marriage, and he has published several books and dozens of articles on the subject, including some cited by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bradley has published numerous books and dozens of articles on law and religion; and has been cited as a specialist on the question of marriage and same-sex unions.

Eskridge spoke first, using a Power Point presentation to make "The Case for Same-Sex Marriage."

According to the 2000 census, there were 600,000 same-sex co-habitating couples in the country. Eskridge noted this figure would be significantly higher this year as he argued couples are entitled to inheritance preferences, spousal privileges, joint parental rights for children and Social Security benefits..

"Marriage is also about obligations," such as being faithful to your spouse, Eskridge noted.

He further stressed the history of marriage in the United States has been "shameful," noting the ban on interracial marriages until the landmark Loving vs. Virginia decision in 1967.

Allowing same-sex couples to wed "would discourage lesbians and gays from marrying someone of the opposite sex," Eskridge said. He further noted he had witnessed many examples of gays and lesbians whose marriages to someone of the opposite sex ended in divorce growing up.

Eskridge believes nuptials for same-sex couples has "no significant direct effect on the institution of marriage." And he noted no-fault divorce and adultery have damaged marriage.

On the other hand, Bradley believes marriage should remain between a man and a woman.

"Marriage is a procreative relationship," he said.

Children benefit far more from having a mother and father as role models, according to Bradley. And he added allowing marriage for gays and lesbians "would change the legal meaning of marriage for everyone" because it would make the need for children optional.

Eskridge rebutted Bradley by pointing out older married couples are either sterile or do not have sex, and are thus are unable to produce children.

The Diocese of Providence, led by Bishop Thomas Tobin, has been a vocal opponent of marriage for gays and lesbians from becoming a reality in the Ocean State. Roman Catholic officials have testified against a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Rhode Island. And Gov. Don Carcieri and other political leaders have backed them.

"Proponents of gay marriage say that the church won't be forced to witness such marriages: Don't believe it," Tobin said in April 2009.

As EDGE previously reported, the Dioceses of Providence, Phoenix, Youngstown, Ohio, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were among the Roman Catholic bodies that contributed heavily to the successful campaign that overturned Maine's law that had allowed marriage for same-sex couples. And the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to face criticism for its support of California's Proposition 8.