Is gay marriage actually illegal, or is it just forbidden in the Catholic Church?

I've been told that it is illegal, and I've also been told that it's not illegal, that the few states that have made it ';legal'; are just making the church allow gay couples to be married...





which is true?Is gay marriage actually illegal, or is it just forbidden in the Catholic Church?
It is currently legal in three states, three more have approved it and it will become legal if something major doesn't derail it, and there are a few more states that recognize gay marriages but do not allow them.





Until a few years ago there were some states with vague laws so it wouldn't have been illegal, but pretty much all of those have closed the loopholes in one way or another.





None of the states can make the Catholic Church do anything. The best they might be able to do is cut off a church's participation in government programs for certain purposes, such as when the Catholic Church in California was no longer allowed to place children for adoption because they refused to consider gay parents.





I have not heard of any such action with respect to gay marriage, though.Is gay marriage actually illegal, or is it just forbidden in the Catholic Church?
LEGAL simply means that there is a law in existence permitting something. ILLEGAL means there is a law in existence prohibiting something. Marriage is legal in all states between a man and a woman, meaning the states recognize the marriage of the two. Only FIVE states have made marriage of gays LEGAL by passing a law RECOGNIZING their marriage along with those who are heterosexual and married. No state can, under our laws, force any church to allow gay couples to be married. If gays cannot find a church to get married in, they can get married elsewhere and if they can't find a priest or clergy to perform the ceremony, there is the option of a civil marriage which is also available to heterosexual couples.
There are six states that recognize the legality of gay marriage. They are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Iowa and New Hampshire. As you may know, California recognized gay marriage which prompted conservative Californians backed with money contributed from wealthy Mormons and other religious organizations like Saddleback Church, or whatever it's called, to amend California's constitution to prohibit same sex marriage.





California's Supreme Court affirmed the legality of this amendment to California's state constitution, which prompted two of the nation's preeminent constitutional law practitioners to join forces. They plan to file a test case in a select Federal District Court soon and they will argue that ones right to lawfully wed a member of the same sex is guaranteed by the US Constitution.





The Catholic Church, and many other organized religions, do not perform same sex marriages as a matter of church policy. They perform wedding ceremonies for opposite sex couples who belong to their particular religion only, as is their legal right.





No litigation is contemplated that would interfere with any organized religion's right to choose who can or cannot be married a religious ceremony. In fact, any such law would be unconstitutional on its face.





Same sex marriages are recognized as lawful in six states. Forty-four states have chosen not to recognize same sex marriage as of this date. The Catholic Church does not perform same sex marriage ceremonies, and it cannot be compelled to do so under state and federal law.
The cry to ';legalize' gay marriage is a demand to have it recognized by the government. Not legal and ';illegal'; are very different. If a gay couple were married in Utah, the state would choose not to acknowledge the coupling and they would be seen as two single adults. It would not be a legal contract. They would not be arrested, which is what illegal implies.





The church does not write laws. If they do not wish to preform a service they do not have to. I am not catholic. My wife is. she wanted to marry in the church and they would only do it if I changed faith. I refused and so did they.


That doesn't mean that we are not married. We just weren't married in the church.
America has a separation of church and state. The Catholic Church doesn't dictate law. Gay marriage is recognized in some states, and banned in others according to laws passed by legislature. The church aspect is just a formality. To be married in a state, you only have to go through a formal process through the courts.
No bill that allows gays to marry in any of the 6 states that have approved them, forces churches, in any way, to recognize or perform the marriages.
Everything is forbidden in the catholic church!





Anyway it is legal in some states.
the state can NOT make a church allow gay marriage.


marriage in a CAtholic church is ONLY between a man and woman - as it's a sacrament instituted by Christ.
Its illegal in most states (there may be a couple that it isnt but i'm not sure) Most people dont care about the Catholic church so it wouldnt be such a big deal if it was just a catholic church thing.
It's illegal. They are just trying to loosen marriage laws to make it convenient for Sharia law
It is illegal in most states.
Pretty much all religions consider it wrong. So do 44 states and almost all people.
Why does it need to be illegal if it is forbidden.
illegal in the U.S. except for like 2 states
Ask Dick Cheney.. His daughter is a carpet muncher