Governor Gives Push to Covenant Marriage (Harder to Divorce)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Gov. Mike Huckabee and his wife plan to convert their nuptial vows into a covenant marriage during a mass ceremony on Valentine's Day, giving a public push to the movement that seeks to strengthen marital ties and make it harder to get divorced.

The governor, a former Baptist minister, said Monday he hopes more than 1,000 other couples will join him for the conversion ceremony at a North Little Rock arena. Arkansas has one of the highest divorce rates in the country.

Covenant marriages, which also are an option in Louisiana and Arizona, usually require pre-wedding counseling and allow divorce only in cases of adultery, imprisonment, abandonment, abuse and after a substantial waiting period.

Huckabee did not disclose the total cost for the Valentine's Day event, but said most of the cost would be covered by contributions from participating churches. He defended using some taxpayer money to promote the ceremony and cover some its costs.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-covenant-marriage,0,2189700.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

..coming to a ballot near you next election.

<shudder>

He is welcome to do what he wants with it.

He is not welcome to spend his time meddling with the lives of others.

Whatever happened to the libertarian urges that were so strong on the right?

Funny thing, though. Can't see how this morality push will help the economy any -- in fact, it will probably hurt it.

Which city do you think has a more robust economy? Paris or Tehran? Berlin or Kabul?

Wonder if anyone's told all them rich folks the (consumer spending) party will be over soon? Bet not.

Conservatives can hardly be considered libertarian if they support corporate welfare, blue laws or the drug war. That being said, I don't see anything being "imposed" on anyone- as long as this form of marriage is optional for the parties involved I have no problem with it.

You know, all those WHOLESOME types????

Marriage is a antiquated institution. I am free of it.

Far from strengthening the institution of marriage, I think this will weaken it. Most people will not want to get married in the first place because of this.

show people what they are all about.

adultery, abandonment, cruelty,or a legal separation of one year if I recall correctly

couples could divorce. It was standard practice to stage a motel raid where one party would be "caught in the act," pictures would be taken by the hired photographer, and the divorce would be granted.

Another option back then was to go to Nevada where a divorce could be obtained by establishing a 6-week residency. There were ranches full of wives waiting for their divorces to come through.

removing peoples freedom as citizens? Oh yeah, that's a good idea. But letting committed adults of the same sex marry? Why, God would roll over in His grave!

the more archaic the roles people are expected to play, the higher the divorce rate...tax money used to shore up their archaic marriages? what a crock. a lot of women wont stay married to men who demand they adhere to archaic stereotypes of women, its as simple as that/ many republican men use their interpretation of the bible as a BULLY tactic...Its good to see a lot of women wont buy into that crapola.
http://www.baptiststandard.com/2000/1_12/pages/divorce.html

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in the low rate (along with other factors I am sure).

don't most people get divorced becuase of adultery, imprisonment, abandonment or abuse?

... exist even in states in which 'fault' divorce is prevalent.

This 'covenant marriage,' in effect, eliminates 'no-fault' divorce for those who opt for it, as long as the 'covenant' is recognized within the jurisdiction in which the divorce is litigated. (There's always Reno or Mexico.)

The primary effect is on child custody, child support, alimony awards, and property division. Remember, "marriage" is all about property and entitlements.

The crimes within the family are worse than those outside.

white for the wedding, then a lovely shade of Taliban blue for the rest of the sentence..er..marriage.

My Wife and I promised each other to treat each other as though we were really happy to be married to each other, which, of course we are. It's worked very well for ten years now. We do not need promises-plus, our word is our bond.......

I swear, if people spent half the time considering marriage and what it means that we or many other couples do, there would be no need for super-plus-ultra marriage. This is a particular plus for same sex couples, the several we know took years to get to the point of that sort of commitment, not to mention how difficult it is for same sex couples to even celebrate this sort of commitment.

You wanna reduce the divorce rate by legislative fiat - then raise the minimum marriage age to 26. I married at 35, my Mom would ask whether I was Gay, to which I responded, "I'm skipping the first marriage, that's all"

too bad we're not all just like them, then there would be no dissent and all the world's ills would be cured. Also, there would be no drinking, dancing, or homos.

I am so GOD DAMNED sick of having those people doing their best to influence my daily life with their beliefs and I really don't care if that makes come across as a bigot in this case.

are better than others? It will be interesting when this ends up being litigated cause someone want out and doesn't have the grounds

Tomorrow the big-titted hottie. At least that's how it usually goes.

In Wisconsin, we have no-fault divorce. That's all we have. You pay the fee, you file the papers, you wait for your court date, you take a co-parenting class if you have kids, you get divorced.

This means the state treats divorcing couples as adults. It's not their place to make them think it over, or to make them prove they really, really need a divorce. There's a 120-day waiting period, but aside from settlement and paperwork issues, there isn't anything you have to do during this period. If you want to speak to each other through lawyers and that's it, fine. If you want to have sex with each other or with other people or both at the same time, that's fine, too. The state doesn't care and doesn't want to know. If you decide to reconcile, you file for dismissal. If you don't, you go to court and get divorced.

In practical terms -- this means that my soon-to-be-former husband and I don't have to be adversaries in this process. We don't have to get up in front of a courtroom full of people and laundry list everything the other has ever done wrong. We don't need to avoid members of the opposite sex until our divorce is final, lest we be seen with someone else and charged with adultery. (I know of someone in another state who moved in with a roommate of the opposite sex, and got charged with adultery. This allowed the waiting period to be waived, and spousal support to be cancelled.) We don't need to wage petty battles over who gets how much -- because it's 50/50 here, end of story.

I like this way better. Sure, it's easy to get divorced. But it's also easier on the parties involved. It's hard to be friends afterward if you have to testify against each other. We genuinely like each other, and this way won't make us hate each other.

Make a survey of the couples who will take part in this super-duper marriage ceremony?

What are their backgrounds? All still in their first marriage, or are they "trying" again?

And--10 years from now--how many will still be married?

can say to his wife "I divorce thee" three times and all is okay.

from prison.:eyes: Huckabee is a nutcase.

men and women were men's.

And my non fucking Birthday too and I don't wish to share the day with the NuckleHeadedbees and their Jesus Married Us ceremony. :silly:

I love the Religious Reich...uh, Right I mean...

... when marriage was an "easy entry - difficult exit" relationship. When people (especially women) were trapped both legally and economically in a miserable marriage had few options and resorted to extreme behavior. "Pursuit of happiness" isn't just about buying Game-Boys.

If each person loves the other and trusts the other and their committment, then being asked to have a "stronger lock" on the relationship is an insult. It's like saying "I want to make sure you don't leave me." How desperate that sounds! I doubt I will ever marry again, unless I decide I'd still like to have children. But otherwise, I probably won't get married, but that doesn't rule out a lifetime relationship. But if i DO have a lifetime relationship, it will be because we both WANT it to last, not because we are forced to. How insane does someone have to be to think that forcing a couple to stay together is a rational answer to divorce? Good grief!

So, the states mentioned have repealed their divorce laws and made them stricter?

Shit like THIS is what happens when you elect a preacher to the Governorship. Any questions?

:freak:
dbt
Friendship Arkansas

I always voted for his opponent!

And you thought Frank White was bad!

and want to divorce so one can marry a deputy campaign manager or something.

At least this initiative has a relationship to strengthening marriage. Certainly more than legislating to prevent gays from marrying. Great contrast.

in the future with those who follow through with a covenant marriage.

I wonder too, how easy or difficult it will be to prove doemestic abuse in this state.

wife-beaters rejoice!

But why are tax dollars being used for a RELIGIOUS ceremony!!!

Wal-Mart can sell burkas and "throwin' stones" for their X-tian patrons, who can get special discounts on those items by showing their "covenant marriage ID."

People should divorce when they want to, not when the government wants them to.

And what the hell is up with that pre-wedding counseling shit?????

Critters like Gingrich, Giuliani, limpballs, etc. out of your state…..at least the Clintons are still married…

I'd LOVE to hear those guys denounce divorce! Talk about political suicide!

Do you have any idea how many Pugs are divorced????

I've thought of this all along. When Shrub says he wants to strengthen Marriage and keep the sanctity of marriage, the response should be do you think the US should stop recognizing divorce???

I think it would work like a charm!!!!!!!!

divorce laws in all states so that it's harder to get married and harder to get a divorce

there's been lots of talk against 'no fault' divorce

also some preachers and some judges who do marriages require pre-marital counseling before they will marry a couple

I've heard there are a few places where everyone legally qualified to perform marriage ceremonies have all agreed they will not marry a couple unless the couple has participated in a reconized pre-marital counseling program..........all with the desire to do something about the very high divorce rate and the problems children may have in divorce

Yeah right, they're going to sign up. Maybe after trophy wife #4.

What's love got to do with it?

I can't speak for Arkansaw, but I lived in Louisiana when this trend originated.

They didn't eliminate the old type of marrige, but you now have option of choosing whether to have a traditional marrige -- with no fault divorce still an option, or a covenant marrige with stricter divorce options. If you choose the covenant marrige, you must recieve pre-marrige counseling -- either by a licensed marrige counselor or by a person licensed to santify marriges (aka clergy).

So at least in Lousiana, its pretty much an option. However, one concerning issue is that many clergy will not sanctify a traditional marrige -- so I could see a young lady easily getting pressured into a covenant marrige so she could have a church wedding.

Push 'em to the right. All the way to the logical but untenable endpoints of their positions. Encourage them to overreach on moral values where the country cannot and will not go at this point in time (although it may be willing to go there after drifting slowly further right in 25 years or so). Make our own wedge issues. Find nondivorced (possible? LOL) wingnut senators and Congress Critters and encourage them to introduce the most hardline, over the top legislation.

And people wonder why I refuse to marry again. No thank you. I like life just that way it is.

Highest divorce rate of all.