I'm sick and tired of the jabberwocky that comes from the debate about gay marriage. One side says that God intended for a marriage to be between one man and one woman. The other side says that they have equal rights and should have the right to be married.

They are both wrong.

The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” If a law passes permitting gay marriage, it will be in conflict with those people whose religion prohibits gay marriage. If a law isn't passed empowering gay marriage, then gays will claim their rights are being violated.

Let’s get to the point. Marriage is a sacrament of the churches in their communities.

All laws governing marriage should be thrown out. Let the churches marry whom they please and the state should have nothing to say about it.

The state should be responsible for the product of the marriages — the children. Seeing to the welfare of the children is the state’s responsibility.

The state should ensure that the children are secured in loving and caring homes. Laws concerning these children should be kept and the state should ensure that lasting partnerships exist that keep these children safe.

The state should pass laws governing the partnership of the parents, but should not be concerned with the sex of the partners. These partnerships are what should be legally recognized and the state should nurture these partnerships.

Daniel C. Relph, Lewiston