'MARRIAGE' NEWS- May 2006: The REAL Proposal For Marriage magazine

Saving a marriage: Spend, save or give?
Understanding your partner can save you a trip to divorce court MSNBC.com- Forbes.com, By Scott Reeves, May 31, 2006
Money in the bank gives you the warm fuzzies, but money in your spouse's pocket creates an insatiable urge to spend. The marriage needn't tumble off the personal finance precipice if you understand each other's response to money and learn how to accommodate it. "Our attitudes toward money are so deeply embedded that we tend to believe we are right and our partner is wrong," says Diane McCurdy, author of "How Much Is Enough? Balancing Today's Needs With Tomorrow's Retirement Goals." "Typical responses are: 'I'm a responsible adult and you're a spoiled child,' or 'I like to have some fun and you're a miserly killjoy.' If more couples understood how their partner feels about money, fewer would end up in divorce court." McCurdy says there are four basic attitudes toward handling money: saver, spender, builder and giver. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Talk About Money Forbes.com- By Scott Reeves, Apr 10, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Family (Financial) Planning Forbes.com- By Scott Reeves, Apr 15, 2005

RELATED ARTICLE: First Comes Love, Then Financial Planning Forbes.com- By Scott Reeves, Feb 9, 2005

Protect traditional marriage USA Today- By Wayne Allard (Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., is the author of the Marriage Protection Amendment), May 31, 2006
. . . . . Unfortunately, the U.S. Constitution is being amended to reflect a new definition of marriage — not by democratically elected members of Congress, but by unaccountable and unelected judges. As a result, I introduced an amendment to the Constitution that simply defines marriage as the "union of a man and a woman," while leaving to state legislatures the freedom to address the question of civil unions and domestic partnerships. The amendment would not overturn current state and local laws dealing with these arrangements. Democracy and representative government are at the core of this debate. In 2004 and 2005, voters in 14 states overwhelmingly passed constitutional amendments protecting marriage. Today, 19 states have constitutional amendments protecting marriage, and 26 have statutes designed to protect traditional marriage. The will of the people is clear on this issue. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Just say 'I don't' Editorial/Opinion- USA TODAY, May 31, 2006

Education Linked to Better Fathers: Study Food Consumer, IL - HealthDay News- By Steven Reinberg, May 31, 2006
. . . . "The race differences are very striking," Martinez said. "We know that blacks are less likely to marry, so you would expect those births outside of marriage would be greater," she said. "About 50 percent of births to Hispanics were within marriage, 77 percent of births to whites were within marriage, but only 36 percent of births to blacks were within marriage," she said. Other data in the report show that among non-Hispanic black fathers, 25 percent fathered their first child before they were 20 years old; 19 percent of Hispanic fathers also became fathers as teenagers, and 11 percent of non-Hispanic white men became fathers while they were teens. But across all races, a dad's education still made all the difference. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: New study looks at men, fatherhood USA Today - By Sharon Jayson, May 31, 2006

RELATED STUDY: 2006 Media Advisory- Fertility, Contraception, and Fatherhood: Data on Men and Women from the National Survey of Family Growth National Center For Health Statistics, May 31, 2006

Joan Collins: 'A man is not a meal ticket'
Five husbands and four divorces have taught JOAN COLLINS a bitter lesson. . . The Daily Mail- By Joan Collins, May 30, 2006
Having had five husbands and four divorces I am, you might say, a veteran of the matrimonial courts. It was with much interest that I read the results of last week's two rulings which, according to legal experts, have yet again strengthened the hand of divorcing wives. They have certainly strengthened the bank balances of the women concerned. . . . . . . My own rather varied experience of the marital field has left me with firm views about the culture of 'entitlement', which the courts seem to be encouraging, even as the legions of silicone-enhanced gold diggers grow steadily more vast. In my case, the chancers and fortune-hunters have been men, which is perhaps less common. But male or female, my conclusion is the same: the only 'entitlements' we have are to the things we have worked for. Attempting to get rich on the back of a brief partnership is despicable behaviour. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Forget Prince Charming: Women Need to Save, Invest, Buy a Home Bloomberg - By Joan Oleck, Mar 28, 2006

Joan Collins: 'A man is not a meal ticket'

So Many Divorces, So Little Time!
TMZ picks the best of the breakups   TMZcom- By TMZ.COM STAFF, May 30, 2006
-- There were 16 celeb marriage splits in the last six months. Unusual, even for Hollywood. TMZ has done some digging. Here are the most interesting:

Jessica Simpson vs. Nick Lachey: TMZ has learned that the divorce is becoming bitter over money.
THE MARRIAGE: October 26, 2002
THE SPLIT: Jessica filed December 16, 2005
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Sources tell TMZ that lawyers for Nick and Jessica have been trying to hammer out a settlement, but it is falling apart. We're told Jessica has offered significantly less than half of what Nick would be entitled to under California law. . .

Denise Richards vs. Charlie Sheen   Heather Locklear vs. Richie Sambora   Marshall Mathers (Eminem) vs. Kimberley Mathers    Paul McCartney vs. Heather Mills McCartney  Celebrity Divorces from A-pplegate to V-an Halen

Is a Submissive Wife the Key to a Happy Marriage?
Author Laura Doyle thinks so, and apparently a lot of people agree with her because this new bestselling book is flying off the shelves. About.com, May 30, 2006
With divorce rates reported at fifty percent in recent years, could the problem be that women no longer respect the man of the house? Maybe wives can simply learn to behave and all will be well. In her new, surprisingly popular and not surprisingly, controversial book, The Surrendered Wife, Laura Doyle proposes that every woman should stop trying to control her husband, cease all criticism of him, learn not to interrupt and definitely apologize if she becomes "disrespectful.". . . . . If all this sounds positively ludicrous and antiquated, we have to wonder aloud why Doyle's book has already made Amazon's Top 10 list and proven itself a trendy seller in ultra modern cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. The controversy is heated, with no opinions falling to the middle of the road. . . . . Doyle herself was raised in California and cites her parents "equal" relationship full of torment and battles as one component in the revelation her book details. Initially, Doyle--a self-proclaimed feminist and "former shrew"--took after her mother, nearly ruining her marriage with nagging. Turning to friends and self-help books she says she soon realized that happy marriages were those with submissive wives. . . . .

Brangelina baby name translates to 'messiah' or 'peaceful one'

Brangelina baby name translates to 'Messiah'
Shiloh is the Hebrew word for 'Messiah and also means 'peaceful one' MSNBC.com- AP, May 30, 2006
Nothing was normal about the birth of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s child, so naturally, neither was their baby’s name. The child — whose pending arrival created a frenzy of hyperbole making it for some the most awaited baby since Jesus — was named Shiloh, which fittingly means “Messiah” or “Peaceful One.” . . . . In a statement to People magazine, Jolie thanked the staff of Cottage Medi-Clinic Hospital. Jolie’s obstetrician from Los Angeles, Dr. Jason Rothbart, told People that he delivered the child, weighing seven pounds, by Caesarean section “due to breech presentation.” Pitt, he said, “was with Angelina in the operating room the entire time and cut the umbilical cord of his daughter. The surgery and the birth went flawlessly.”. . . .

Gay marriage creates new conflicts for neighbors Town Hall, DC - By Maggie Gallagher, May 30, 2006
The story circulating on the Internet was hard to believe at first: A North Truro, Mass., volunteer fireman lost his position because he signed a petition opposing gay marriage? I was lucky enough to get Leo "Skip" Childs on the phone. Skip is the kind of guy who makes you ashamed of yourself, but very proud to be an American. He volunteers many hours in the tiny town of North Truro, repairing fire trucks, saving lives. . . . After five years, Skip thought his reappointment to the Board of Fire Engineers would be routine. . . . But two ideas are clearly now on a collision course in America: 1) There's something special about unions of husbands and wives, and 2) there's no difference between same-sex and opposite-sex couples, and only hate-filled bigots think otherwise. In Massachusetts, the second idea is now the official view of the law. . . . .
Ga. court to expedite gay marriage appeal Seattle Post Intelligencer - May 30, 2006
ATLANTA -- Georgia's highest court said Tuesday it would expedite its review of a ruling that struck down the state's voter-approved ban on gay marriage. A Superior Court judge earlier this month ruled that the ban violated the Georgia Constitution's single-subject rules for ballot questions because it addressed issues other than gay marriage, including civil unions. . . . . A statement from the Georgia Supreme Court released Tuesday said the court will hear arguments in the case on June 27. Seventy-six percent of voters in 2004 approved the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. . . .
Bible allows gay marriage, bishop claims PinkNews.co.uk, UK - By Marc Shoffman, May 30, 2006
The Bible supports same sex partnerships, a senior Church of England bishop has claimed. Reverend Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, has fuelled the Church’s row over gay marriage and gay clergyman by stating that traditionalists should be “converted” to see gay unions are allowed according to scriptures. . . . . His remarks were quashed by Reform, an evangelical group, Reverend David Banting said: "He thinks that he has the weight of culture and the weight of the majority of the Church in the West behind him, which convinces him that he's right. "Same-sex partnerships are not congruous with the Bible, sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage are not blessed by God. "We need to be pastorally supportive of those who struggle in this area, but we shouldn't be trying to change the teaching of the Church. No amount of calling black white will make black white.'' . . . . . .
Poll: Boomers go easy on marriage USA Today- By Sharon Jayson, May 30, 2006
Baby boomers think more like their kids than their parents on love and marriage, a Gallup Poll reports Tuesday. Thirty-five percent of those ages 40-64 believe marriage is "very important" if a couple have a child together; 58% of adults 65 and older say so. Of those ages 18-39, 30% believe it is "very important." Overall, 37% of respondents believe a child is a "very important" reason to marry. "It's shocking in what it represents: that we're going to have more and more children growing up without the benefits of a two-parent family," says Howard Markman, co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver. . . .

Hilary asks gay activists for marriage amendment help Townhall.com- By Kevin McCullough, May 29, 2006
. . . . . So what is this innocent game of, "we just don't want federal law to over step its limits of power," routine she has been pulling with my listeners and those who call her office in recent weeks? Sad to say it’s nothing new. And important to point out that she is a candidate whose conviction on this matter is truly troubling. In one breath to callers from her state she assures them of her support for the institution of traditional marriage and how the states should have every right to protect it. In the next she is hosting backdoor conferences, making propositions in smoke filled rooms to advance the radical homosexual activist cause - yet she must go to the activists to learn how to make their case. . . .
Bloomberg Wants Same Sex Marriage Licenses 1010 Wins, NY - May 28, 2006
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- -- During his weekly Sunday radio address, Mayor Bloomberg announced that if the Court of Appeals does not rule in favor of the city issuing same sex marriage licenses, he will work with others in the city and state legislatures to establish a new law that establishes ‘marriage equality.’ "I believe all New Yorkers should have the right to marry whom ever they choose regardless of sexual orientation," said Bloomberg. The court of appeals is scheduled to takes up the issue of same sex marriage this week. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: New York court takes up gay marriage CNN.com- From Christopher Browne, May 30, 2006

Hilary asks gay activists for marriage amendment help

Gay agenda means less freedom for all Townhall.com- By Star Parker, May 29, 2006
. . . . Completing the picture of what seems reasonable to call a trend, the area of the population where support for same-sex marriage is strongest and growing is among young people. Time does not seem to favor those who want to preserve tradition. A more qualitative measure of this trend is to just listen to how the debate is cast. A Washington Post editorial opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment accuses Republicans of "picking on gays and lesbians." According to the Post, such an amendment would "discriminate against a class of people." So, along with the trend toward increasing acceptance of the idea of same-sex marriage has been the complete obliteration of the idea that homosexuality is a type of behavior as opposed to a state of being. The discussion has long disappeared that this is about attitudes regarding this behavior and it has become almost exclusively cast as discrimination claims against gays and lesbians . . . .

Who Was Mary Magdalene? Newsweek- By Jonathan Darman, May 29, 2006 Issue
. . . . Indeed, for all its revolutionary claims, "The Da Vinci Code" is remarkably old-fashioned, making Mary important for her body more than her mind. In the movie, we see a stricken, shadowy Magdalene with swollen belly being spirited out of Jerusalem by a crowd of attendant men. But we never hear her voice. "The Da Vinci Code" seems to think that the secret tradition of Mary Magdalene speaks to the carnal. In reality, it tells of something far more subversive: the intellectual equality of the sexes. The current Magdalene cult still focuses on her sexuality even though no early Christian writings speak of her sexuality at all. "Why do we feel the need to resexualize Mary?" wonders Karen King, author of "The Gospel of Mary of Magdala." "We've gotten rid of the myth of the prostitute. Now there's this move to see her as wife and mother. Why isn't it adequate to see her as disciple and perhaps apostle?" "The Da Vinci Code" especially misses the point about Mary when it makes its case that she was the bride of Christ. . . . .

The End of Motherhood?
But somehow the United States better mixes child rearing and the job market than do other advanced societies Newsweek- By Robert J. Samuelson, May 29, 2006 Issue
- Russian president Vladimir Putin has inadvertently spotlighted one of today's momentous mysteries: collapsing birthrates in industrialized countries. Putin proposed that Russia pay women to have children to remedy a "critical" population outlook. Actually, he might have said "desperate." . . . . . Russia's case, though extreme, isn't isolated. There's no more population "explosion." In wealthier countries, motherhood is going out of style and plunging birthrates portend population loss. This is a hugely significant development, even if we don't fully understand the causes—experts didn't predict it—or consequences. One way or another, the side effects will be massive for economics, politics and people's well being. Indeed, they may already have started. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Children for Sale: Would $36,000 convince you to have another kid? Slate.com, By Daniel Gross, May 24, 2006

Marriage merry-go-round New Straits Times- Malaysia News Online- By Kathirasen, May 28, 2006
WE may be moving full circle as far as marriage is concerned. And reel life might just become real life in the not-too-distant future. The signs are there: The changes occurring in gender relationships; the speed at which society, particularly urban society, is evolving; changing societal values and increasing divorce rates. . . . . At one time you were either married or unmarried. Today, you can be married or unmarried, have a live-in lover, be unattached but have partners now and then, or be in "a relationship". . . . . If that is not enough, gays and lesbians have thrown a major spanner into marriage as an institution. Coming out of the closet in droves in the West, they are seeking same- sex marriage and the right to be allowed to "raise" families. Several countries in Europe and some US States now allow this. And what if there are more than two partners in a marriage? Last September, The Netherlands allowed the "civil union" of two women with a man. . . . . . . Celebrities, on and off the movie sets, have children first and then decide to register their union. Or they just live together cooing about how great the other is for a few years before parting with no hard feelings. Juicy stories about celebrities and the erotic excitement sold by some movies and television shows have helped erode attitudes towards marriage. . . . . .We already have what I call "serial marryers", especially among those who practice polygamy. We will soon see more of them. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Forgot wives' names GG2.NET NEWS, May 21, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Here Comes the Brides- Plural marriage is waiting in the wings The Weekly Standard, Dec 26, 2005

RELATED ARTICLE: First trio "Married" in The Netherlands The Brussels Journal Online- By Paul Belien, Sept 26, 2005

All may be fair in love, but not divorce

All may be fair in love but not divorce The Sunday Times- UK- By Minette Marrin, May 28, 2006
. . . . Three sensational divorce rulings were announced last week. Two went in favour of non-earning wives. “Wives Win Out!” “Payday for the wives who stay at home!” “Landmark victory for ex-wives!”, cried the headlines. Melissa Miller and Julia McFarlane, whose faces were splashed all over front pages and television screens, were supported by the law lords in their settlement claims. . . . .“The Men Strike Back!” screamed one headline. “After those landmark divorce payouts for two ex-wives, British Airways pilot wins £3.5m from the lady of the manor”, and she will have to sell her pretty manor to find the money. The law lords’ findings were said to be the most important ruling for more than 20 years on the division of property upon divorce. And they were widely said to establish new principles, in a long overdue reconsideration of these painful matters. But I remain confused and unconvinced, in so far as I understand their rulings. . . . Try as I will, I cannot work out whether this includes assets brought into the marriage. Are they also fruits of the marriage and therefore the spoils of divorce? . . . . . .

How we split: It's not just divorcing couples. Now even unmarried partners are heading for the courts The Independent Online- Legal, UK, By Sophie Goodchild and Martin Hodgson, May 28, 2006
People who live together instead of getting married will get the right to share each other's money and property if they split up, under new proposals to be published this week. Rather than having to walk away with only the CDs they had in the first place, a change in attitudes would allow Britain's 4.4 million opposite-sex cohabitees to stake a claim for possessions acquired together and wealth that has been built up while in a relationship. . . . . "If you recognise the rights of same-sex couples who cohabit, then it cannot be right to discriminate against heterosexual couples in the same situation.". . . . The number of people getting married has fallen, and the number of marriages that fail has risen to one in three. Now 40 per cent of births take place outside marriage, which is four times more than was the case in 1986. The number of cohabiting couples who are living with children has gone up by 50 per cent since 1996, to 2.2 million. . . . . More than two million couples cohabit in England and Wales, though they still have fewer rights than married couples. Most have a mistaken belief in "common-law marriage", though no such thing has existed since 1753. . . .

As they preach on divorce, their readers may be falling off the straight and narrow
Real life gets in the way when newspapers try to hold the line on marriage The Independent, UK- By Peter Cole, Professor of Journalism, University of Sheffield, May 28, 2006
. . . . . Newspapers are seldom reticent about marriage and divorce, both staples of the celebrity coverage that so dominates the pages today. But they are less confident when handling "real" marriage and divorce. . . . . . Even the serious newspapers are less happy with shades of grey than with certainties, and found that taking a position on the Lords ruling was not a matter of voting on party lines. Left of centre: liberal on divorce, compensate the wife. Right of centre: defend marriage, make divorce harder, men have suffered enough. It was harder for the more liberal papers. . . .

Don't despair. Some women pick partners for love not money The Independent, UK- By Robert Booth, May 28, 2006
As many as 10 million British women are ready to take over bread-winning duties from their partners in "a profound shift" in the ground rules for relationships. Research suggests that financial confidence among women has reached such heights that men who use the status of a powerful job and a fat pay packet to attract the opposite sex may be wasting their time. Almost half the women surveyed said they would be happy to be the sole bread-winner in a relationship, and nine out of 10 said they valued love and happiness over money in the dating game and relationships. . . . . . However, the survey also showed that 13 per cent of men felt intimidated, embarrassed or insecure dating someone who earned more than them, compared with 3 per cent of women. "It might sound fantastic to avoid the nine to five and play golf, but for a lot of men they feel they aren't contributing and don't feel 100 per cent male, particularly among friends. That can percolate into the relationship," said Denise Knowles, a Relate marriage guidance counsellor.. . .

Don't despair. Some women pick partners for love not money

CELEBS LAUGH OFF LOVE, MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
SPLIT & MISS People.co.uk- By Rebecca Rampling, May 28, 2006
IT'S been a tough few weeks for Paul McCartney, with ex Heather Mills in line to scoop a staggering £200 million divorce settlement. And with multi-million pound splits in the news this week, it makes you wonder how celebs feel when they fall out of love. But if there's nothing you can do about it, you may as well laugh it off. REBECCA RAMPLING takes a look at some of the stars' thoughts on the great institution of marriage. . .

I SAID to the wife: Guess what I heard in the pub? They reckon the milkman has made love to every woman in our road except one. And she said: I'll bet it's that stuck-up Phyllis at No 23. - Max Kauffmann. . . . .

SEE the problem is that God has given men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time. - Robin Williams
I HAVE never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back. - Zsa Zsa Gabor
WOMEN need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place. - Billy Crystal. . . . .

A Pitt-Jolie Child Is Born E!Online- By Joal Ryan, May 27, 2006
And, lo, she has come to pass, the most celebrated of celebrity babies: Shiloh Nouvel Pitt-Jolie. Angelina Jolie gave birth to Shiloh, a girl, Saturday night in Namibia, a statement from Brad Pitt's publicist said. There were no details on how mother, baby and Pitt were doing. . . Shiloh is a name of Hebrew origin meaning, "His gift," per thinkbabynames.com. It also associated with an 1862 Civil War battle, and a Neil Diamond song about a desperately lonely childhood. (Diamond's imaginary friend, however, spelled his name "Shilo."). . . . .
It's a Baby Girl for Brangelina Washington Post- By Christopher Webwe-AP, May 27, 2006
LOS ANGELES -- The baby has arrived _ and no, they didn't name her Brangelina. Thousands of miles from Hollywood but still within easy reach of celebrity hype, Angelina Jolie gave birth to Brad Pitt's daughter Saturday in Africa, Pitt's publicist announced. "The night of May 27, 2006 in Namibia, Africa, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt welcomed their daughter Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. No further information is being given," publicist Cindy Guagenti said in a statement. No photographs were being released, she added. . . .

Wedding on water Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - May 27, 2006
I didn't plan to get married on a cruise ship. In fact, I didn't plan to get married at all. So why was I standing nervously outside the chapel on Grand Princess, dressed in white, clutching a bouquet and waiting to meet Captain Andy, who was going to marry me to my long-time partner, Mark? The answer is that, having decided to tie the knot, we both liked the idea of doing something different. Caribbean beaches, palm trees and gazebos have been done to death, and saying "I do" while hurtling to the ground on the end of a bungee was really not our style. But being married by the captain at sea sounded all very Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn - remember The African Queen? - and certainly different, especially as Princess Cruises was the only cruise line in the world that could make it happen. . . . .

RELATED LINK: Marriage (Cruise) Lines

Five Fun Wedding Trends for 2006 Devil's Lake Journal, May 26, 2006
Teal bridesmaids' gowns? So last year. Bridal bouquet of red roses? Been there, done that. Platinum wedding bands? A classic choice, but there are trendier options. According to a report published by The Wedding Report, the $58.5 billion wedding market in 2006 is expected to boast 2.2 million weddings (a three-percent increase over last year), at an average cost of $26,400 (a 2.3 percent increase.) With staggering statistics such as these, no wonder that planning a wedding can be difficult - and expensive - work. Many brides- and grooms-to-be already have a firm grasp on their wedding plans and budgets. For those of you just starting to comb through bridal magazines, here are five trends you may want to consider when planning your big day:

* COLORS. While many colors will be popular this year, purple will prevail. TheKnot.com foresees a palette from pale lavender to deep eggplant, used in a variety of patterns on everything from bridesmaids' dresses and invitations to the wedding cake and cocktail napkins. . . . . . .

Parenting Issues: Too much TV for tots Townhall.com- by Brent Bozell III - May 26, 2006
The more Americans live the fast-paced, overworked life, the more their young children are over-entertained. It isn't that parents intend to introduce their children to the world by having them gaping blank-faced into a TV screen. But when there's work to be done or just noise to be muffled, parents can see the benefits of young children glued to the TV, quiet and still. At least that's how I would defend myself, if challenged to explain why my children watch more TV than they should. In the final analysis, however, this exercise in parental laxity is not only indefensible, it's now out of control. The Kaiser Family Foundation has just released a new study showing just how much electronic media has become a central focus in the lives of many of our youngest children. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Study: More parents use TV as an electronic babysitter USA Today- By Janet Kornblum, May 24, 2006

The divorce ruling strikes a blow at marriage The Times, May 26, 2006
Sir, Just what did Messrs Miller and Macfarlane think they were doing when they married their respective wives (report, May 25)? When couples marry they commit all that they have and all that they are to each other until death. This means that every material thing that they bring to the marriage belongs to their new spouse just as much as it belongs to them. The answer, the divorce lawyers tells us, is to sign a prenuptial agreement. This is wrong. Marriage must be entered into on the basis of its being a life-long, exclusive commitment. If there is any thought (much less intention) that this is not the case, then the couple are not ready to make that commitment. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: The rewritten rules of marriage and divorce Times Online- Law, By Frances Gibb, May 25, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Wealthy? Don't get married, lawyers say Times Online- Law, By Alex Spence, May 24, 2006

Can I say something?
Soon-to-be spouse tells his side of the marital story Ledger-Examiner- By Pat Gillespie, May 26, 2006
For the last month, my fiancé, Erin Simpson, has been exposing all of our secrets to pre-marital (and eventually marital) success. She has also been misinforming the readers of the Columbus Ledger- Enquirer. First of all, pedicures are never a necessity, as she stated in her May 5 column. Secondly, poker with friends is worth every penny, especially when I would win every week, which may or may not be the truth. Seriously, though, the advice Erin has given is good for couples who are planning for a long life together. . . . Sometimes you just don't feel like having a long, drawn out discussion about much to spend on flowers and food for the wedding or how much to invest in a 401(k) plan. Who knows? But these are things that need to be done, don't put them off. But don't look just to the wedding, think long-term. Plan on how to get out of your current debt. Put that $20 for a movie into the savings account, take out $5 and rent a movie. Do that consistently and you'll make a difference. And think beyond the first five years. . . . .

Pat Gillespie_ Erin Simpson_Ledger-Examiner.jpg

Joined in Marriage and Finances Washington Post -By Michelle Singletary, May 26, 2006
— In Act II of George Bernard Shaw's "Man and Superman," the character Violet says, "You can be as romantic as you please about love, Hector; but you mustn't be romantic about money.". . . . . . I often find that some couples go to great lengths to complicate their financial lives in the name of romance. For example, here's a question I received from a San Francisco woman during an online chat recently:
"My fiance and I will be getting married this August and we plan to each keep one account separate (depositing 10 percent of our individual earnings each month or bimonthly). I know that you advocate the total combining of incomes in a marriage, but how else can we surprise each other with the occasional gift, birthday present without the other being tipped off by the online statement? We just wanted to know what you thought.". . . .

POLYGAMOUS UNION SPARKS SPLIT
Divided Utah Supreme Court Holds Lawrence Doesn’t Protect Plural Marriages American Bar Assn. JOURNAL eReport -By Stephanie Francis Ward, May 26, 2006
The Utah Supreme Court has upheld the bigamy conviction of a polygamist but split over whether the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas reaches beyond consensual sex between same-sex couples. The court rejected the appellant’s argument that a law prohibiting plural marriages violates his constitutional privacy rights. And though lawyers may take opposite sides on the case, several agree that its arguments may have an effect on the legal battle over same-sex marriage. . . . In his appeal, Holm argued the state bigamy law should be struck down under Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558, the 2003 ruling that found sodomy laws unconstitutional. The majority in Holm’s appeal disagreed, finding that Lawrence only applies to private, consensual sexual acts involving adults of the same sex. The Utah opinion notes that Lawrence specifically exempts minors. . . .

The Dangers of Same-sex "Marriage" BreakPoint.org- By Regis Nicoll, May 26, 2006
. . . Before we examine the societal effects of gay “marriage,” we need to set the record straight about the moral teachings of Jesus. . . . Consider Jesus’s conversation with adulterous woman. Jesus didn’t treat her as a poor creature helplessly controlled by her earthly desires. He treated her as a free moral agent capable of choosing a different way to live. Consequently, He didn’t give her the false compassion of tolerance toward her lifestyle. Out of true compassion, He showed her the way out of her broken condition by challenging her to “go now and leave your life of sin.” This is a helpful pattern for us. . . . Next is the claim that homosexuality is an inherited trait. . . . . Even if we accept that sexual preferences are genetically determined, sexual behaviors are not—unless, that is, we take the low view of man as a genetic robot. . . . .The real question for the Christian is whether a genetic link really matters. . . .

If gays marry, churches could suffer CHICAGO TRIBUNE By Douglas W. Kmiec, Professor of Constitutional Law, Pepperdine University School of Law, May 26, 2006
. . . . . The Feingold-Specter tiff illustrates the intensity of feeling about adding to the text of the Constitution what the founders surely thought was obvious: "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman." The need to reaffirm the self-evident was prompted by Massachusetts' judicial recognition of same-sex marriage, which motivated more than a dozen states to overwhelmingly proclaim otherwise. With the states being so vigilant in defense of traditional marriage, is there really a need for the people to act? Yes. . . . While it may be inconceivable for many to imagine America treating churches that oppose gay marriage the same as racists who opposed interracial marriage in the 1960s, just consider the fate of the Boy Scouts. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Banned in Boston:
The Coming Conflict Between Same Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty Cover Story- The Weekly Standard, By Maggie Gallagher, May 15, 2006 Issue

Zombie killers a.k.a. 'queering the social'

Zombie Killers A.K.A., “Queering the Social” NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE- By Stanley Kurtz, May 25, 2006
. . . . Still confused? Then I’ll make my point succinctly: Gay marriage undermines marriage. You see, it turns out that this decidedly conservative observation is entirely consistent with the views of some of the most influential sociologists in Europe (and their followers here in America). I’ve been quoting and paraphrasing these prominent sociologists to show that I’m far from the only one who connects same- sex marriage with the decline of traditional marriage. Of course, “hip-and-happening” left-leaning sociologists would be loathe to put the matter precisely the way I do. For fear of scaring the public away from still more change, they’d be careful not to offer a detailed causal case showing that gay marriage undermines marriage. Above all, Europe’s sociologists (and their American fellow travelers) actually celebrate and promote the decline of the traditional family that is signaled and advanced by same-sex marriage. But strip away the jargon, drop the element of celebration, and it turns out that conservative opponents of same-sex marriage and some of Europe’s most influential sociologists are saying much the same thing: Same-sex marriage doesn’t reinforce marriage; instead, it upends marriage, and helps build acceptance for a host of other mutually reinforcing changes (like single parenting, parental cohabitation, and multi-partner unions) that only serve to weaken marriage. . .

'Triumph for man' as pilot wins divorce appeal Times Online- Law, UK- By Michael Herman and PA, May 25, 2006
A former British Airways pilot declared a "small triumph for man" today as judges ruled his £900,000 pension should not be treated as an ordinary asset in a divorce settlement. A panel of judges at the Court of Appeal awarded Philip Martin-Dye a further £650,000 on top of the £3 million he has already received in his divorce settlement. Mr Martin-Dye, who rented a room in his wife’s home before marrying her, appealed over whether his pension should be treated as an asset, similar to a property, when dividing the marital wealth. Unlike a property or portfolio of shares, a pension cannot be sold for cash. . . . . In what lawyers are calling the most significant divorce rulings in 20 years the House of Lords yesterday found in favour of two ex-wives of wealthy husbands awarding them substantial financial settlements. . . . .

Interracial partner not welcome at wedding

Interracial partner not welcome at wedding San Bernardino Sun, CA -By Michael Stone, May 25, 2006
DEAR MICHAEL: My name is Lucy, I am black and live in The Netherlands. I have been married once. I have been single since the death of my husband almost 10 years ago. I have no children. After many years of being alone, I met someone. He is 54 years old and not black. He has two children, ages 25 and 21. We met at a sporting event in January 2005. Three months later, we decided to be friends and ever since we have been together. We attend all family events and visit all members of his family including his children. Last Christmas, his son sent him a Christmas card addressed to him alone. He saw that I was not pleased. He confronted his son. The matter ended. This year, his son sent him a wedding invitation with a note requesting that I remain at the background. Could this be racial on the part of his son? . . . .

Marriage should be serious business Telegraph.co.uk- By Rachel Simhon, May 25, 2006
. . . Attitudes have changed to such a degree over the past 40 years that living together is commonplace and easy, and the concept of "living in sin" so laughably quaint as to be greeted with absolute incredulity by anyone under the age of 25. Therefore, the fact that anyone actually bothers to go through with a marriage ceremony these days speaks volumes about how much value people still place on the institution, this very public statement of intent - and consequently, how devastated they are when all that confetti and optimism end in the divorce courts. . . . Married couples are partners in the strictest sense, not the trendy euphemistic sense. And how they contribute to that partnership - whether by earning most of the money or giving up work to bring up the children or making short-term sacrifices to allow the spouse to build a business - is considered to be of equal value. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Landmark victory for ex-wives Telegraph.co.uk- By Catriona Davies and Joshua Rozenberg, May 25, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Balancing fairness and compensation Telegraph.co.uk- By Joshua Rozenberg- Legal Editor, May 25, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Divorce should be the exception not the rule Telegraph.co.uk, May 25, 2006

Landmark victory for ex-wives Telegraph.co.uk- By Catriona Davies and Joshua Rozenberg, May 25, 2006
Wives are entitled to a fair deal on divorce, Britain's highest court ruled yesterday. For the first time, women who sacrifice their careers for the benefit of their families will be able to seek compensation from wealthy husbands - rather than just enough to live on. The same principles will apply to house-husbands who stay at home to bring up children while their wives go out to work. The law lords ruled that two women were entitled to multi-million-pound settlements from their former husbands. The House of Lords also slammed the lid on the growing tendency of judges to investigate who was to blame for the breakdown of a marriage. . . . Family Law in Partnership, which acted for the other successful ex-wife, described it as a "ground-breaking" ruling. "Until today," the lawyers said, "maintenance for a stay-at-home mum was based purely on her living costs. Now judges must consider 'contribution' and 'compensation'." . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Wealthy? Dont get married, lawyers say Times Online, By Alex Spence, May 24, 2006

The Biggest Lies About Marriage ABC News.com, May 24, 2006
— There are a lot of lies out there about marriage that prospective brides and grooms, newlyweds, and long-married couples believe. Psychologist Robin L. Smith debunks many of them in her best-selling book, "Lies at the Altar: The Truth About Great Marriages." Smith's book includes 276 questions for people to ask themselves and their partner if they're thinking about getting married, or have been married for years and are looking for a new road map. Here are four of the biggest lies Smith says people tell themselves — and others — about marriage.

No.1: The past is over.

The truth is that the past is driving you to the chapel or the temple or the synagogue. Until you deal with the past, it will follow you. It's like luggage that you pack and you think you can leave in one city. When you arrive in the next one, your luggage is there too. You can't just get rid of it. . . . .

RELATED: BOOK EXCERPT: 'Lies At The Altar' By Dr. Robin L. Smith

Rush to marriage turns into disaster Biloxi Sun Herald, USA - May 23, 2006
Dear Annie: I am 26 years old. Six months ago, I married a man I've been dating since I began college. This is the only serious relationship I have been in. The problem is, I have always had major doubts about our relationship. I know I "settled" because I wanted the whole marriage-and-children thing. I am hardly attracted to my husband, and worse, embarrassed by him because he is socially awkward. We agree on a lot of things, such as parenting (we do not yet have children), but sometimes I'm afraid I made a terrible mistake by marrying him. To compound the problem, I have cheated on him with three different guys. A divorce would devastate my husband, who not only has baggage from his own parents' divorce, but also is very much in love with me. I also don't want to disappoint my family and his. I'm afraid I will always be looking for affairs. Please help. I have no one to turn to, since all my friends know the co-worker I am having an affair with. Staten Island, N.Y. . . . .

Twenty Years Later: It turns out that getting married after age 40 wasn't quite as difficult as we once believed Newsweek Society - By Daniel McGinn, May 23, 2006
- Christine Stroebel-Scimeca was recently digging through old boxes in her basement, preparing to move to a new house. In one box, the 50-year-old Wisconsin financial planner came across the June 2, 1986, issue of NEWSWEEK. “The Marriage Crunch,” read the cover headline. Below it was a line graph sloping steeply downward, above an ominous subhead: “If You’re a Single Woman, Here Are Your Chances of Getting Married." There’s a reason Stroebel-Scimeca had saved the magazine for 20 years. In its pages, she was one of more than a dozen women featured discussing the “cruel reality” of her apparently poor marriage prospects. . . . . But a funny thing happened on the way toward spinsterhood—and not just for Stroebel-Scimeca. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Too Late For Prince Charming? Newsweek, June 2, 1986

RELATED QUIZ: Marriage Over 40

Love and Marriage: Former first couple on the couch and the font page

Love And Marriage -- Former First Couple On The Couch And The Front Page CBS News - May 23, 2006
There it sits, the first story to catch your eye on the front-page of The New York Times: “For Clintons, Delicate Dance Of Married and Public Lives.” The story, based on “interviews with some 50 people” and a “review” of the Clintons “respective activities” since they left the White House in 2000, paints an interesting, but not surprising, picture of the former first couple’s current relationship. Already, however, the blogosphere sees ulterior motives at work in the stor... You can bet the ranch the Clintons themselves understand that their marriage will be dissected many more times should she run in 2008. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: The Shadow of a Marriage Washington Post- By David Broder, May 25, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Clintons Balance Married and Public Lives, New York Times (Free Subscription)-US, By Patrick Healy, May 23, 2006

Senators take Position in advance of marriage amendment vote Townhall.com- By Maggie Gallagher, May 23, 2006
The week of June 5, the Senate will vote on a constitutional amendment on marriage. The text reads: "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman." On Fox News Sunday, Sen. John McCain announced: "I will vote against it because I believe very strongly, first of all, in the sanctity of union between man and woman, but I also believe that the states should make these decisions." Leave marriage to the people in the states? We'd love to, senator, but at this point the judges won't let us. . . .
Americans Still Oppose Gay Marriage
But only half favor a constitutional amendment to bar it GALLUP NEWS SERVICE (Subscription)- By Lydia Saad, May 22, 2006
PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans are closely divided in their reactions to the sort of constitutional amendment banning gay marriage that produced considerable fireworks in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Asked whether the Constitution should be amended to define marriage as only between a man and woman -- a move that would preclude states from sanctioning same-sex marriages -- 50% of Americans say they would favor such an amendment, while 47% are opposed. Sens. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Arlen Specter (R- Pa.) had a heated exchange about a similarly worded amendment before it passed on a 10-8 party-line vote -- although it is expected to fall well short of the two-thirds support needed in the full Senate in order to take the next step toward becoming an amendment. While out of character for the Senate, the indecorous incident perhaps reflects the gulf in attitudes between Republicans and Democrats on gay marriage. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Senate panel OKs gay-marriage ban The Washington Post- By Andy Sullivan, May 18, 2006

The 'Las Vegas of gay marriage' sounds like money Boston Herald- By Brett Arends, May 22, 2006
Would it really be so bad if Massachusetts became the “Las Vegas of gay marriage”? Mitt Romney used the phrase disparagingly a few weeks ago, as if no one would want such a role. He was speaking as the state Supreme Judicial Court upheld his use of a 1913 segregation law to stop gays from coming here from other states to get married. But you know what? Throwing out that law would be great for Boston and for Massachusetts. I appreciate lots of people are opposed to gay marriage. But this law makes no sense. If we are going to have gay marriage, let’s make a profit from it. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Banned in Boston:
The Coming Conflict Between Same Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty Cover Story- The Weekly Standard, By Maggie Gallagher, May 15, 2006 Issue

The 'Las Vegas of gay marriage' sounds like money

Do's and Don't's of Online Wedding Planning
Average US. Wedding Costs between $20,000 and $25,000   ABC News.com, May 22, 2006
. . . . The average American wedding takes more than seven months to plan and costs between $20,000 and $25,000, prompting many couples to look on the Internet for ways to save time and money. Bride's Editor in Chief Millie Martini Bratten said Gomez's predicament illustrated when you should not rely on online shopping. "We live in a very technology-driven society, but there are times when you have to step away from the keyboard and do things face-to-face," . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Five Fun Wedding Trends for 2006   Devil's Lake Journal, May 26, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Latest Wedding Gown Looks ABC News.com, April 8, 2006

PHOTOS: Hot Wedding Fashions

PHOTOS:    Preston Bailey Floral Designs

Do's and Don't's of Online Wedding Planning

Stella McCartney should make Sir Paul make his own mistakes in love

Stella should let Sir Paul make his own mistakes in love Scotsman- UK- By Dani Garavelli, May 21, 2006
THEY think they know what's good for them, but of course they're wrong. Possessed of a new-found independence, they take rash decisions, and all you can do is sit back and wait for the inevitable fall-out. But that's parents for you. For years they give you not a jot of trouble, then, wham, they turn into wilful risk-takers who fall in love with little regard for the consequences. You see, Stella McCartney is not so unusual (unless you count the fact her father is an ex-Beatle with a £800m fortune). Ever since society stopped expecting those approaching 60 to put on bedsocks, a new generation of thirtysomethings have had to come to terms with fretting over their parents' irresponsible behaviour. . . .To a certain extent, then, I understand why Stella might feel vindicated by the news that Sir Paul and Heather Mills-McCartney have decided to split after four years of marriage. . . .
And, baby, I love you The Observer, UK - By Barbara Ellen, May 21, 2006
Macca and Heather are just fine. Time to split, then. . . . As if to help us make sense of it all, the couple released the now obligatory 'meaningfully-meaningless' post-split statement. 'It is with sadness that we have decided to go our separate ways', it reads, going on to claim that 'both of us still care about each other very much'. If true, it makes you wonder why they are bothering to split at all. . . .

Love marriage case: Police told to produce couple in court on 23rd Daily Times, Pakistan- By Maqbool Ahmed, May 20, 2006
PAKISTAN: The Supreme Court sent on Friday Neelam Ladhani, who recently converted from Hinduism to Islam and married Amjad Shehzad of her free will, to Islamabad directing police to lodge the couple at National Police Academy and produce them before court in Islamabad on May 23. . . . Neelam, who was a student of B.Com Part-I at Government Commerce College Karachi and originally hailed from Umerkot fell in love with Amjad Shezad of Daherki. The boy would travel to Karachi every week to meet the girl who later embraced Islam and they married on April 13 this year once they obtained a certificate of free will form Family Court, Malir. After the marriage, the couple fled to Punjab. . . .
Woman says 'no' to marriage, ends life News Today, India - May 20, 2006
INDIA: A young woman who shunned marriage committed suicide by setting herself fire. . . . Ambattur police have registered a case and are investigating. They said she was forced into marriage and so took the extreme step. . .
Marriage Is Still Causing Discrimination To Women Los Angeles Chronicle, USA -May 19, 2006
. . . . . Statistics show that 18 percent of the girls in Asia, 16 percent in Africa and 8 percent in Latin America married by the age of 14. According to the progress of Nation reports " In 6 of the 21 sub-Saharan African countries surveyed, the average age of marriage was less than 18. In Bangladesh, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Yeman more than half of the young women interviewed were married by the time they were 16 years old. The highly gender discrimination Hindu marriage law permitted the marriage of a very young girls and a very old man. . . . Statistics show that in Bangladesh 4 percent of girls are married before the age of 14. . . . .

Arab News: What about 'Normal' Marriages? Arab News Online-Arabnews.com- By Lubna Hussain, May 19, 2006
SAUDI ARABIA: Over the past few weeks I have read with wide-eyed amazement the heated discourse in the local press dedicated to the concept of marriages of convenience. There has been great uproar in society against the recent legalization of these contracts. So what’s all the fuss about, you may ask. Supposedly, these new fangled forms of wedlock deny Saudi women the basic rights afforded to them through the umbrella of regular matrimony. They allow men to marry without taking any form of responsibility for their wives and also make it very easy for them to divorce without suffering the usual consequences. After all, boys will be boys. But what stunned me the most was not the fact that the laws of God continue to be violated by men to suit their own lascivious ends but rather the borderline delusion that preponderates when idealizing the current laws that pertain to “normal” marriages. . . . .

What about 'normal' marriages in Saudi Arabia?

Couples too pooped for whoopee on wedding night

Wedding-night consummation losing allure? Fewer couples feel the need to do the deed right away The San Diego Union Tribune- COX News Service, By Helena Oliviero, May 2006
No canoodling on the wedding night? About one in three brides-to-be expect to hop in the sack and snooze after the wedding reception. One in 10 say they anticipate staying up late swapping stories from the big day. That leaves just over half of brides consummating their vows, according to a recent Brides.com survey of 1,057 women. The take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward sex marks a dramatic shift from previous generations, when virgin couples got married early — sometimes years earlier — just to have sex. . . . "For the man who was a virgin, they would be thinking about sex as the main goal of the wedding night, and no amount of exhaustion could interfere with that agenda," said Dr. Scott Haltzman, an assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University. . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Beware of marriage killers Northwest Herald.com- By Dr. James Dobson, May 16, 2006

Is love enough for marriage? Vanguard- Viewpoint, Nigeria- By Chioma Anyagafu, May 20, 2006
. . . . . Let us not deceive ourselves thinking that love is blind. For me, love sees quite clearly. I am not the type that enters into any relationship blindly or foolishly. Even when in love, I have my two eyes widely opened. In all honesty, in matters of marriage which is a long lasting relationship love is very very important, but I am of the candid opinion that it is not all there is to make marriage happen. In other words, love is not enough for such a permanent relationship as marriage to take place. There are other considerations. . . . Look around and you see cases of broken marriages which were planted by love and watered by money. The moment that water ceases to flow the love shrinks and dies off. That tells you that right from the onset, the foundation of that relationship was not only weak but also faulty. . . .

Marriage Really Isn't About The Wedding Hartford Courant- Courant.com- By Michelle Gardella, May 19, 2006
Is it really that time of year again? Every day I check my mail and it's not bills I am afraid to see; it's the invitations. 'Tis the season for getting married, and I, for one, am not too excited. At first it's fun when your friends start getting married. You're asked to be a bridesmaid, you feel honored and you help pick out the cake and the flowers and the perfect pair of pantyhose. Seriously. It's all about the details . . . So I wonder, as this crash dieting season draws closer, when did weddings become so insane? When did people forget what weddings are all about and dive headfirst into blatant materialism without shame or apology? . . .
Wedding jitters: They're normal ... and not just for men South Florida Sun Sentinel- By Jessica Berthold, May 19, 2006
Any woman who flips through the pages of a bridal magazine knows instantly how she's meant to feel about her wedding day: Like a princess running through a field of daisies on a sunlit morning, with layers of white silk streaming behind. Elated, free, proud and grateful. Complete … at last. Talk to the betrothed on the message board of Web site Indiebride.com, however, and a different picture emerges. . . .

Sperm Donor Seen as Source of Disease in 5 Children New York Times Online (Free Subscription)- By Denise Grady, May 19, 2006
A sperm donor in Michigan passed a rare and serious genetic disease to five children born to four couples, doctors are reporting today. The doctor who discovered the cases said that all four couples were clients of the same sperm bank. That bank, the doctor added, assured him that it had discarded its remaining samples from the man and had told him he could no longer be a donor. . . . Genetic testing showed that all the affected children had the exact same version of the defective gene — and that none of their mothers did. The donor was the only explanation. Dr. Boxer called the sperm bank and requested one of the donor's samples for testing but, he said, the sperm bank refused, saying the donor had given permission for the sperm to be used only for conception, not genetic testing. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Who's your daddy? And does it really matter in the end? SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE- By Mark Morford, April 12, 2006

Sperm donor seen as source of disease in 5 children

The Big Question: Has divorce become too expensive for the rich? The Independent Online- Legal- UK- By Maxine Frith, May 19, 2006
How much does Heather Mills McCartney stand to win in a divorce settlement? Anything from £30m to £200m. In America, Australia and many European countries, only the assets amassed by the couple during the marriage are considered in financial settlements - a policy known as "marital acquest". But British case law is based on the idea that all the wealth brought to the marriage by both parties is potentially up for grabs. . . . Should Sir Paul have signed a pre-nup? Yes. While pre-nuptial agreements are not technically valid under British law, the courts do taken them into account when deciding on a financial settlement. If a pre-nup had been signed, with proper negotiation and legal representation of both husband and wife, and is considered to be generally fair, it will have a major bearing on the ruling. . . . . How are the super-rich cases decided? . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Wealthy turn to the pre-nup to cap multi-million pound divorces Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom -By Andrew Alderson, May 21, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Papers Shed Light on Billionaire's Divorce Forbes Magazine, By Jeremiah Marquez, May 19, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: With this contract, I thee wed Seattle Times, US- By Eileen Ambrose, Mar 26, 2006

I fell out of love, Sir Paul tells The Daily Telegraph, May 19, 2006
LONDON: The war of words between the battling McCartneys has already started, just hours after they admitted their marriage is over. Friends of former Beatle Sir Paul said yesterday he fell out of love with charity campaigner Heather after seeing her "for what she really is". Sources close to his wife fired back, saying she realised how "selfish" he was when he proved unsupportive after a recent operation on her amputated leg. The couple's relationship, which has always been fiery, has deteriorated amid a string of rows over past weeks. . . . Sir Paul, 63, issued a statement yesterday insisting there was "not an ounce of truth" in suggestions she married him "for the money". He apparently refused his wife's offer of a prenuptial agreement, saying it was "too unromantic". . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: The real reason Macca snapped The Daily Mail- UK, By Alison Boshoff, May 20, 2006

The myth of monogamy: Why gay marriage won't work

The Myth of Monogamy: Why Gay marriage Won't Work Political Gateway- By Bud Beck, May 19, 2006
. . . I certainly understand the social and the economic implications of marriage. There is the community property thing, benefits for “spouses” and to some extent, the Social Security thing too; but we all expect that system to fail so maybe it isn’t that much of a factor. I’ve also heard a whole lot about decision-making and not being acknowledged when there is an illness or a death. I’m not so sure that holds water any more because there are things like Power of Attorney, living wills and joint right of survivorship. Most of the gripes I’ve heard expressed in favor of gay marriage could be cured by a visit to a financial planner and a lawyer. . . . Marriage and monogamy is as long standing as is adultery and infidelity. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and someone new is always more exciting, at least at the beginning. The concept of a man and woman being faithful to one another is one thing, but the concept of two men being monogamous and faithful seems to be another. The children are the common link in a marriage between a man and a woman. What is the link in a same sex marriage, and even if there are children, in a divorce, who do they belong to?. . . .

Senate panel OKs gay-marriage ban The Washington Post- By Andy Sullivan, May 18, 2006
- A U.S. Senate panel advanced a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on Thursday as the committee chairman shouted "good riddance" to a Democrat who walked out of the tense session. "If you want to leave, good riddance," The Senate Judiciary Chairman, Republican Arlen Specter, told Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Russell Feingold, who refused to participate because, he said, the meeting was not sufficiently open to the public. . . . The testy exchange highlighted tensions over the proposal, which seeks to amend the U.S. Constitution to prevent states from recognizing same-sex marriages. . . . Because the measure seeks to change the Constitution, it must pass both houses of Congress by a two-thirds majority and then be approved by at least 38 states . . .
A Gut feeling on Va.'s Gay Marriage Vote The Washington Post- US, By Marc Fisher, May 18, 2006
Nineteen times in 19 states, voters have been asked if they want a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Nineteen times, those amendments have won. And still, opponents of such amendments keep avoiding the core of the issue. . . Despite 19 straight wins across the nation, the pro-amendment side worries about "a middle group of people who have always known where they stood on marriage, but now their beliefs are being challenged," says Dean Welty, a retired Foreign Service officer who started the Valley Family Forum in Harrisonburg."I come from a biblical background," Welty says, "where we can say, 'the Bible says,' and that's enough. But now we have to make our argument on more secular grounds.". .

RELATED ARTICLE: Legislative Update: Marriage protection proposal comes on the heels of budget Catholic Explorer, IL- US, May 18, 2006
Protecting marriage is the right thing to do TownHall.com- By Kevin McCullough - May 18, 2006
With one stroke of the pen, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance C. Russell defied the will of the overwhelming majority of people in his state, and concluded that their collective voice should not be recognized in the matter of marriage in the state of Georgia. He did so even though seventy-six percent of the voters in that state had spoken in one of the largest turnouts in state history. . . . So what options are left? The Marriage Protection Amendment. It’s coming up for a vote on June 5th. Right now we are close to 54 Senators in favor but we need 60. . . All of them can be reached at 202.224.3121. On Thursday listeners to my show lit the switchboard up and nearly caused it to break down. We will do so again everyday between now and June 5th. I invite you to join us as "we the people", who already, overwhelmingly find solidarity on this matter - stand up, and make our voice heard - for the well being of our children, family, and society. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Judge: Georgia Gay Marriage Ban Violates State Constitution FOX News - May 16, 2006

Casualties In The Culture Wars: Gay 'Marriage' and Children BreakPoint.org- By Mark Earley, May 18, 2006
I have a quick test for you. Don’t worry, it’s a multiple-choice test and won’t take long. Ready? Here’s the question. Which of these things doesn’t belong: A) children, B) Easter egg hunts, or C) political activists? Unfortunately, the homosexual activists of the Family Pride Coalition did not pass this test on Easter, when a nearly 130-year-old tradition of hunting for eggs on the White House lawn suddenly became the bull’s eye of controversy. .
Sorry Mrs. Bush-- Protecting Marriage Is a Campaign Issue Agape Press- By Allie Martin and Jenni Parker, May 17, 2006
The president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of Pennsylvania) says federal and state amendments protecting traditional marriage should be a campaign issue, regardless of what First Lady Laura Bush says. . . . . Gramley feels it is tragic that Mrs. Bush does not see the importance of making the marriage amendment a campaign issue. Marriage is of essential significance to America's citizens, the Pennsylvania pro-family leader says, "because it is the foundation of the nation and of any society. . . .

Sorry Mrs. Bush-- Protecting marriage is a campaign issue

Wedding Planning- Part II: How to keep fire alive in marriage KHQA-7.com, May 18, 2006
It is easy to get all caught up in the idea of getting married. You want the best flowers, the perfect dress and the best honeymoon. But when you enter into the unity of marriage, it is for life. You see it in the movies: boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl get married and they live happily ever after. While marriage has been portrayed as a fairy tale, it often takes hard work and even hard times. . . .
Wedding Planning- Part 1: Advice for handling in-laws and forming strong family unit KHQA-7.com- By Tegan Orpet May 17, 2006
The summer wedding season is just about underway. Anyone who has planned a wedding before knows that getting ready to tie the knot can tie you up in knots with everyone else contributing ideas for your big day. Psychologists say it is important to understand that you can not please everyone when it comes to planning a wedding. But you can set ground rules for a stable future. The decision to marry not only merges two lives, it also merges two families. Everyone wants a perfect wedding, and making everyone happy might sound like an added bonus to some. But, psychologists say that is not realistic. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Keep a healthy distance from families in a marriage ABS CBN News, Philippines -By Bob Garon, May 13, 2006

Should singles bring dates to the wedding? Charlotte Observer, NC -By Amy Dickinson, May 17, 2006
Dear Amy: You answered a letter recently concerning a 15-year-old who wanted to bring his date to a family wedding. I think it is very inconsiderate to issue a wedding invitation to a single person that does not say "and guest."I am at an age when a lot of my friends are having weddings for their children, and I have been invited only to come as a single! These weddings usually include dinner and dancing, so my single friends and I end up seated together and looking at each other all night while our married friends are dancing the night away. . . .
Planning pre-wedding parties NorthJersey.com- By Gretchen McKay Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 17, 2006
. . . One of the most popular ways to celebrate upcoming nuptials is with a bridal shower; it's also one of the most time-honored. Legend holds that the tradition originated in Holland in the 18th century, when a young girl fell in love with a poor milliner and -- denied the customary dowry by her angry father -- was "showered" by the townspeople with gifts. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: It's wedding season; how choose a shower theme Scripps Howard News Service, DC - Apr 25, 2006

RELATED WEB SITE: www.consciousweddings.com

Fresh Idea: Wedding Insurance KUTV, UT -May 17, 2006
You insure your home and your car, but what about the most important day of your life? In this Fresh Idea Michelle King shows us whether you should say "I do" to wedding insurance. When you consider the total cost of a wedding, adding wedding insurance may be the sigh of relief you're looking for. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Ka-Ching! Wedding price tag nears $30K CNNMoney.com, By Grace Wong, CNN Money Staff Writer, May 20, 2005
Danger Can Lurk Beneath Limo's Glamour ABC News -May 18, 2006
Prom season — and wedding season — is here, which means lots of limousines will be rented. Limos are glamorous, but if the company you choose isn't properly registered or insured and the driver isn't properly licensed, your trip could be dangerous instead. . .

RELATED SITE (WEDDING PLANNING): The New York Observer Bridal Blog

Lance's ex stirs debate Philadelphia Daily News-Philly.com- By Jenice Armstrong, May 17, 2006
EVERY SO often,Oprah Winfrey airs a show that keeps people buzzing days later. One of her most recent to have struck such a nerve aired last week and featured the ex-wife of cyclist Lance Armstrong. Kristin Armstrong got it started with her assertion that marriage is a "conspiracy" against women. That conspiracy, she contends, is protected by a wall of silence perpetuated by married women who don't 'fess up about the realities of the institution. "Women don't talk about that and I don't know why. I just don't," Kristin told Winfrey. But what seemed to irk viewers most was when Winfrey chimed in with her own comments on the subject, at one point saying, "And to be honest... this is why I never got married, because I just wanted to be myself.". . . . Libraries and bookstores are filled with magazines and books advising spouses on the importance of maintaining their own identities after marriage. It's hardly a unique concept. Many of the problems surrounding marriage are of people's own making. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Lance's Ex Felt Smothered by Marriage People Magazine - By Stephen M. Silverman, May 9, 2006

Are God's People Sexual Beings?
The Black Church and Sexuality AOL BLack Voices- By Angela Bronner, May 17, 2006
Sex and sexuality permeate the fabric of our modern world -- not only is it constant rotation on MTV and BET, but we talk about it everywhere -- chat rooms, lunchrooms, boardrooms, in cozy corners with our girlfriends, even barbershop chairs with our boys. Come Sunday morning, though, there is a deafening silence around sex, for a few hours at least. Whether deemed inappropriate or simply not relevant, the question must be asked, if Jesus the Christ, the most significant figure in Christianity, was conceived through an immaculate conception, then how and where does sex fit into church? Asking may be blasphemous to some, but to others, long overdue, especially given how sex affects us. . . . . In recent years many high profile people in the black community have denounced homosexuality and feel that church is the place to castigate its scourge, not discuss it as a legitimate "lifestyle." Grammy-winning Gospel vocalist Donnie McClurkin, who has written about his struggle with gay relationships in his book 'Eternal Victor, Eternal Victim,' and whose 2004 documentary, 'From Darkness To Light' also explores the subject, and says that he vows to battle "the curse of homosexuality.". . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: 'From Darkness to Light: The Donnie McClurkin Story AOL Black Voices- By Celia C. Peters

Parenting Issues: Are Stepparents Real Parents?
A Supreme Court decision involving lesbian parents could affect millions more America families Time magazine- By Po Bronson, May 17, 2006
This week the Supreme Court let stand a ruling that ultimately could affect as many as one-third of all Americans — anyone in a stepfamily. But you'll probably never realize it from any news reports on the ruling. The case comes out of Washington State. Sue Carvin and Page Britain were lesbians living together since 1989. Their baby, L., was born in 1995, using an at-home artificial insemination kit and some sperm donated from their gay friend. . . . . The U.S. Supreme Court has never been pressed to rule whether a stepparent is a real parent, and if so, under what conditions. But when it declined to review Britain v. Carvin, Washington State's test for "de facto" parents instantly became a model for other states to replicate. Through a case everyone thought was about gay rights, stepfamilies just opened the door to the recognition they truly deserve. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: De Facto Parenthood The Weekly Standard - Vol 011, Issue 24, By Sara Butler Nardo, Mar 6, 2006 Edition

Parenting Issues: Is Teen Sex Bad?
Americans and Western Europeans Don't Agree on What's Normal and Acceptable. But Many Health Experts Do By Elizabeth Agnvall, WASHINGTON POST, May 16, 2006
In our bicultural household -- I am American, my husband is Swedish -- we are trying to raise our children with the language, cultures and values of both countries. In most cases this isn't difficult. In one area, however, our values differ widely: My husband, reflecting the predominant view in Sweden and much of Western Europe, thinks sex is a normal part of adolescent development. Like many in this country, I disagree, believing it's better for teens to wait -- if not until marriage, at least until they are in an adult, loving relationship. As a health journalist, I wondered if one way of thinking is demonstrably healthier, physically and psychologically. I resolved to find out. . . .
Viginity Pledges Can't Be Taken on Faith Washington Post- US, By Sandra G. Boodman, May 16, 2006
Many abstinence programs have embraced the concept of virginity pledges, encouraging children as young as 9 to promise to wait until marriage to have sex. So how reliable are reports of sexual activity by teenagers who took such a pledge? Not very, according to a study by Harvard doctoral candidate Janet Rosenbaum published in the June issue of the American Journal of Public Health. . . . . Leslee Uhruh, president of the nonprofit National Abstinence Clearinghouse in Sioux Falls, S.D., called Rosenbaum's study "junk science." "These programs work," said Unruh, calling the study a "politically motivated attack" on pledge programs. . . .

Kidman Uses the F-Word   E! Online - By Josh Grossberg, May 16, 2006
Nicole Kidman may still have feelings for ex Tom Cruise, but that doesn't mean she's not ready for another go-round at the altar. In New York Saturday to host the 30th anniversary gala for UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Kidman confirmed what's been the subject of tabloid speculation for months—-she and her country star beau Keith Urban aren't just dating, they're officially engaged. "He's actually my fiance," the 38-year-old Oscar winner told People magazine. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Nic picks her wedding gown   The Daily Telegraph, Australia - May 19, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Nicole Kidman: Keith Urban Is My Fiancé   People Magazine- PeopleNews, May 16, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Nicole Kidman Says She Still Loves Cruise ABC News - AP- May 8, 2006

Judge: Georgia Gay Marriage Ban Violates State Constitution FOX News - May 16, 2006
ATLANTA — A Superior Court judge has struck down Georgia's constitutional ban on same-sex marriages, saying the measure that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004 violated the state constitution's single-subject rule for ballot questions. . . .Governor Sonny Perdue said he was disappointed by the decision, which he said ran contrary to the voice of Georgia voters in defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The people of Georgia knew exactly what they were doing when an overwhelming 76 percent voted in support of this constitutional amendment," he said. "It is sad that a single judge has chosen to reverse this decision." Perdue said the state is considering appealing the decision to the Georgia Supreme Court. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: ADF: Marriage will ultimately be defended in Georgia just as it was in Louisiana Alliance Defense Fund Media Relations, May 17, 2006
Transsexual loses right to be father Gay.com UK & Ireland, UK -By Stewart Who, May 16, 2006
A transsexual is not legally the 'parent' of his daughter because he was still a woman when the child was conceived, the Court of Appeal ruled today. The 17-year marriage between a wealthy heiress and a transsexual was nullified when the woman discovered that she had, in fact, married a transsexual. At the time of their marriage, Mrs C belived she'd married a biological male. . . . Lord Justice Ward described the marriage as a "travesty" and said: "Many, and I am one of them, will find it quite astonishing that there was no single occasion in 17 years of life together when her eyes did not see, or her hands or her body feel, or her senses tell her that she was living with a man who had the genital formation of a woman. . .

Banned in Boston: The coming conflict between same-sex marriage and religious liberty

Banned in Boston:
The Coming Conflict Between Same Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty Cover Story- The Weekly Standard, By Maggie Gallagher, May 15, 2006 Issue
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BOSTON made the announcement on March 10: It was getting out of the adoption business. "We have encountered a dilemma we cannot resolve. . . . The issue is adoption to same-sex couples." It was shocking news. Catholic Charities of Boston, one of the nation's oldest adoption agencies, had long specialized in finding good homes for hard to place kids. . . . . ."Just how serious are the coming conflicts over religious liberty stemming from gay marriage?

"The impact will be severe and pervasive," Picarello says flatly. "This is going to affect every aspect of church-state relations." Recent years, he predicts, will be looked back on as a time of relative peace between church and state, one where people had the luxury of litigating cases about things like the Ten Commandments in courthouses. In times of relative peace, says Picarello, people don't even notice that "the church is surrounded on all sides by the state; that church and state butt up against each other. The boundaries are usually peaceful, so it's easy sometimes to forget they are there. But because marriage affects just about every area of the law, gay marriage is going to create a point of conflict at every point around the perimeter." . . .

On Mother's Day, The Mother of all action figures Lincoln Journal Star, NE - May 14, 2006
They manage kids by night and meet deadlines by day, juggling children and careers in pursuit of work-life balance. Now, hard-working moms have their own toy heroine — the SuperMom Action Figure. SuperMom is the newest arrival in a line of ’everyday superhero’ action figures, created by the independent toy inventors at Happy Worker. . .
A Mother's Day Wish Washington Post- By Amy Joyce, May 14, 2006
It being Mother's Day and all, I figured it was time for a wish list. The Working Mom's Wish List. Oh, sure, I know all you moms are sitting there right now, looking at that carefully crafted Popsicle-stick card your little ones made you. But if those little ones had all the power in the world, I can guess what you, dear working mom, would ask that they give you. In short: flexibility. . . .

On Mother's Day, the mother of all action figures

Mother's Don't Go on Strike
Some jobs defy quantification Independent Women's Forum- By Carrie L. Lukas, May 12, 2006
Women deserve a raise. According to salary.com, a full-time stay-at-home mom would earn $134,121 if only she were paid for her work. These experts in compensation surveyed 400 mothers and found that the stay-at-home mom is part daycare worker, housekeeper, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive and psychologist. In the spirit of Mother’s Day, it’s appropriate to contemplate the undervalued contribution of stay-at-home moms. Even salary.com’s list of job responsibilities overlooks several roles they assume . . . .
The Worldwide Assault on Motherhood United Families International- By Sharon Slater-President, May 12, 2006
If you want to cause a commotion at the United Nations, all you have to do is to wear one of our red “Motherhood” badges. That will definitely bring on the hostile stares. I know because I have tried it. Despite the fact that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the founding documents of the UN states, “Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance,” motherhood is an extremely controversial subject at the UN. . . You see, motherhood, according to the feminists that use the UN as their stomping grounds, is the antitheses of empowerment. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Happy Mother's Pay? Critiquing Holland's Parental Punishment BreakPoint.org - By Anne Morse, May 12, 2006

Keep a healthy distance from families in a marriage ABS CBN News, Philippines -By Bob Garon, May 13, 2006
We joke an awful lot about in-laws. Perhaps it is because in-laws can create so much friction in a relationship, in a marriage. Over the years, I have seen many marriages devastated by arguments over in-laws. For this reason, it is of vital importance that lovers get to the bottom of the in-law issues before they tie the knot. Much of whether or not they will be happy in the future could well depend on it. . .
Parental alienation gets a day Townhall.com- By Kathleen Parker, May 12, 2006
Proclamations generally have the same riveting power as supermarket ribbon-cuttings, but a recent one in Maine is being celebrated as a small victory for children and noncustodial parents wounded by divorce. The proclamation, signed by Gov. John E. Baldacci, recognized April 25 as "Parental Alienation Awareness Day." If you don't know what "parental alienation" is, you probably haven't had the pleasure of a divorce with children. Veterans of those wars know without a governor's seal exactly what it means - agony for a noncustodial parent and emotional problems for children alienated from one parent. . .

Nancy's Notes: The Real Nick Lachey AccessHollywood.com, May 12, 2006
. . . However, in the course of the interview, I came to know more about Nick and developed a sincere appreciation and profound respect for a man who, from my perspective, is a rarity these days. See, I have always been of the opinion that the measure of a man is not in the quantity of his conquests, but the quality of his emotions. Nick goes against what most people would say is 'manly'. He demonstrates his belief that 'manly' isn’t defined by putting on a tough exterior, but more importantly by the ability to be sensitive and express emotions. To do this in such a public forum, with the knowledge that naysayers and critics would be there to pick on him or put him down, and to still be strong (yes, the TRUE strength), is admirable and made me appreciate him as a person and an artist even more. . . We ask and ask for celebrities to be revealing, so here it is! . . .

The Polyamory Interviews: Tess and Otis By Mistress Matisse THE STRANGER, Seattle, WA
Otis is 35, an artist and designer. Tess is 30, an urban professional. They've been together for seven years. How did you decide that polyamory was something you wanted to incorporate into your life together? TESS: Long before I'd ever heard of polyamory, I was having "open relationships." With Otis, I agreed to keep our marriage monogamous. However, monogamy felt foreign to me—the only way I knew how to be faithful was to switch my sexuality off almost completely. When we entered the BDSM scene, and saw people around us having loving, committed polyamorous relationships, it became clear that poly was my sexual orientation. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Polyamory: A Twist On Polygamy KUTV.com- Salt Lake City, Mark Koelbelreporting, April 30, 2006
Invest in your marriage, not divorce lawyers Western Catholic Reporter, Canada -By Ramon Gonzalez, May 11, 2006
Once upon a time, it was more than just a romantic sentiment uttered at the altar when couples tied the knot. It was for real. Marriage was forever. These days, it may seem that if you make it past your fifth wedding anniversary you deserve to be congratulated. Modern marriage is tough going - and many people decide it's not worth the hassle. . . . Too many married people act like singles, MacDonald said, thinking only about what they want and need instead of being considerate of their partners. That's in part because young couples enter marriage with a set of relationship skills that are dictated by society. "Society, from the time they are young children, places them in competitive situations," he noted. "Marriage on the other hand takes them to a place where the rules of the game are supposed to change. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Dating should continue after wedding bells Western Catholic Reporter, Canada -By Lisa Petsche, May 11, 2006

Put God in center of your marriage Seattle Post Intelligencer -By Dr. Billy Graham, May 11, 2006
DEAR DR. GRAHAM: My fiance and I are getting married next month, and I wonder if you have any advice to give us. We've gotten lots of advice from people, but I'm not sure how much of it is right, and we'd like to hear what you have to say. By the way, how long have you been married? -- N.G.
DEAR N.G. . . . There is much I could say -- but the most important advice I could ever give you is to make Christ the center and the foundation of your life together. Ruth has often said that a good marriage actually takes three people: the husband, the wife -- and God. Make sure of your commitment to Christ, and make His love the heartbeat of your marriage. What difference can Christ make in your marriage?. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Marriage II: Fundamental precepts AntiguaSun, Antigua and Barbuda - May 20, 2006

CANADIAN COMMERICAL PROMOTES GAY MARRIAGE TO AMERICANS Out In Montreal - May 11, 2006
MONTREAL – A Canadian GLBT tour operator has launched a TV commercial promoting gay and lesbian marriage in Canada for Americans. The 42-second commercial presents what initially appear to be two straight couples on the point of marrying in a chapel, only to discover at the time of the traditional kiss that each couple is in fact made up of two men and two women. The video is being broadcast over the Internet thanks to viral marketing efforts as well as through video directories on the Net. Outbyview.com is also currently negotiating the purchase of spots on American TV channels devoted to the gay and lesbian community in the United States, such as here!, Logo and OutzoneTV (part of the Bravo network). . .

RELATED SITE: Watch the commercial

Pope Sparks New 'Gay marriage' Row ANSA.it, May 11, 2006
ANSA) - Rome, May 11 - Pope Benedict XVI provoked a political row in Italy on Thursday by reaffirming the Catholic Church's firm opposition to any form of 'gay marriage' . Speaking to participants at an international congress in the Vatican on the family, the pope said marriage between men and women had a deep significance connected to procreation and the continuation of society . "It is especially urgent today to avoid confusing it with other types of union based on a weaker love," he said . . . . Campaigners for these rights in the centre left accused the pontiff of interfering in national politics and objected strongly to his reference to "weaker love". "There is no hierarchy of feelings. Gay unions are not based on weak love," said Vladimir Luxuria, a former drag queen who has been elected as a Communist MP . . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: MARRIAGE DIGEST: Dean comments about platform upset homosexuals ... BP News, TN -May 12, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Strategy key in marriage court fights, advocates say Bay Area Reporter- By Lisa Keen, May 11, 2006

Marriage is a gamble for life Mountain Mail Newspaper, CO-By Sean Carter, May 11, 2006
Last week, the State of Kansas took a big step toward joining the rest of us in the 21st century by setting a minimum marrying age. That’s right. Very soon, you will need to reach the ripe old age of 15 before getting married in the Sunflower State. . . Am I the only person who thinks this makes about as much sense as U.S. energy policy? Why would we allow any minor to get married under any circumstances? Think about it. We don’t allow them to vote, even if their parents give their consent. Nor do we allow them to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or gamble; once again, even if their parents let them. Yet, we will allow them to make a life-altering decision just because they happen to have parents stupid enough to let them. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Kansas House: No one under 15 can marry CNN International - May 5, 2006

Inexperience a virtue London Free Press, Canada - By Christine West, May 10, 2006
Dear Christine: I was raised in a strict religious environment and was taught sex is wickedness to be avoided until marriage. And then, it is only allowed for the purpose of reproduction. Well, I've since parted ways with the religious beliefs of my youth. Now here I am, a virgin in my late 20s, feeling like a child in a man's body. I'm even a virgin when it comes to things as basic as kissing. Even if I do OK socially in the dating scene, there will be the fumbling of the first kiss, where a woman will know there's something about me. Please help. -- CHOIR BOY

Dear CHOIR BOY: As a virgin, you are naturally self-conscious about your wooing abilities. Well, join the club. Everyone is self-conscious about that. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Is it Comedy to Suggest That Men Can Be Virtuous? If So, I Don’t Get It BlackAmericaWeb.com- By Joseph C. Phillips, May 12, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Don't Say This on a First Date Courtesy of Match.com's Happen magazine-By Lisa Lombardi, May 11, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: The First Dating Simulation Game for the PSP ByteSector.com- By Asim, May 11, 2006

Sex in America Townhall.com- By Burt Prelutsky, May 9, 2006
Back when Bill Clinton was leaving his mark on history by leaving his mark on Monica Lewinsky’s dress, one of the most aggravating aspects of the entire shabby episode was having our nation patronized by the European media. As usual, the snidest commentary came to us courtesy of the French. They were like 80 million cats lapping up cream. Our alleged lack of sophistication is like food and drink to them. They couldn’t stop snickering over our bourgeois value system. After all, their premier had a mistress. What real man didn’t?. . . .While I regarded Clinton as a national albatross for a variety of reasons, quite aside from his having sex with a young intern, I happen to think that where sex is concerned, Americans are, by and large, childish and embarrassing. . . .

Old dating rules broken in the wake of Internet Gainsvilletimes.com- By Susan Reinhardt, May 9, 2006
A whole new ballgame is on the field as far as the dating world goes. You can't imagine the phone calls and e-mails I get, people wanting to tell their stories about how they met online or on the Internet and are in love or getting married. I tell them, "Sure, I understand it can work. Why, my very own sister Sandy from Rich City, Ga., met her second husband off a Christian singles Web site, married him within six weeks and they've been together six happy years." We hardly knew she was dating him before she announced her marriage. It wasn't until Granny's funeral the family met the new chap as we were marveling over how well the mortician had fixed Granny's makeup. . . . Today, it's all about the Internet and matchmaking sites on the Web. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: New Christian Dating Site Based on Discipleship, Obedience to God's Word Religion News Service, May 10, 2006 BEGIN_TEXT

We don't need something new to fight about

We don't need something new to fight about Townhall.com- By Maggie Gallagher, May 9, 2006
Just in time for Mother's Day, The New York Times devoted the cover of last Sunday's Times Magazine to a frightening-sounding new expose: "The War on Contraception." . . . . On close inspection, "The War on Contraception" dissolves into an acute case of projection of aggressive impulses. The bulk of the article describes a renewed effort not by religious people to stop contraceptives, but by social liberals to shut down abstinence education programs, or to force Catholic hospitals and pharmacists to prescribe emergency contraception (which may sometimes function as an abortifacient). Yes, a tiny minority of Americans do have moral objections to contraception. And yes, a few are pharmacists, who want to keep their jobs and refer contraceptive-seeking clients to others. . . . So why this new declaration of a nonexistent war? The author thoughtfully supplies the real motive here. . .

Parenting Issues: The right way to write about right Townhall.com- By Rebecca Hagelin, May 9, 2006
. . . . It may seem like the height of sophistication to think that we can (or should) load our children with facts and figures and then leave it up to them to decide what’s right and wrong. In fact, it’s a moral abdication of our duties as parents. No, we can’t make our children see the truth. But we do them a grave disservice if we fail to show them, in word and deed, right from wrong on the most critical issues. Even the best parent, of course, can use a little help -- and that’s where Anderson’s marvelous book comes in handy. But “Christian Ethics in Plain Language” isn’t just for parents; it’s for anyone looking for concise, well-documented answers to the pressing ethical questions of our day. Want to know what the Bible says about cohabitation? What the social effects of pornography are? How to respond to questions about capital punishment, artificial reproduction and genetic engineering? It’s all there. . . .

Sleeping in the basement Townhall.com- By Jennifer Roback Morse, May 9, 2006
When you have a reputation as a defender of marriage, you’ve got to deal with the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. This week, I got an e-mail that was definitely, well, Not Good.
"Dear Dr. J,
I'm part of a group of 5 men. We all work together; we are all married, with children. Our ages range from 35 to 45. All but one of us sleeps in the basement because our wives don't really want us very badly. The youngest of our group does not yet sleep in the basement but he reports the same frustration that moves all of us there. Sharing a bed with a woman who does not want you is painful. Oh, she wants you to pay the bills and be a father to your children, but she doesn't want you. It’s difficult to just leave when you know you've created responsibilities, but it is pretty clear she'd rather you just left. . . .

Mary Jo Eustace: I was jilted for Tori Spelling

I was jilted for Tori Spelling Globe and Mail, Canada - By Gayle MacDonald, May 9, 2006
Toronto TV personality Mary Jo Eustace feels a great deal of empathy these days for Jennifer Aniston. Like the jilted actress, left by Brad Pitt for his pillow-lipped co-star Angelina Jolie, Eustace's husband of 12 years, Dean McDermott, dumped her for his bleached-blond co-star Tori Spelling. On Sunday, Spelling, 32, and McDermott, 39, tied the knot on a beach in Fiji. McDermott, a North Toronto native who has flaunted his romantic entanglement since the couple's engagement over the Christmas holidays, was quoted on the weekend as saying: "I've never had as much of a desire to get married and make a woman my wife as I've had with her. The feeling is overwhelming. We're soulmates." Yesterday, Eustace, 44, summed that comment up as "the final nail. What is that? Let's completely negate 13 years," said the now single mom, who has a 7½-year-old son and 10-month-old adopted daughter (the little girl arrived three weeks before McDermott met Spelling on the Ottawa set for the TV movie Mind Over Murder.). . . .

Panel Rules Against Same-Sex Marriage Ad Washinton Post.com- AP- By Pete Yost, May 9, 2006
-- A three-judge panel Tuesday ruled unanimously against a conservative group that wants to air an advertisement about same-sex marriage as Maine's primary election approaches on June 13. The Christian Civic League of Maine had sought a preliminary injunction against "electioneering communication" provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. The law bars using corporate or union money to pay for broadcast ads referring to a clearly identified federal candidate within 30 days of a primary election, or 60 days of a general election. . . .
Federal Court of Appeals Tosses Same-Sex Marriage Case LifesiteNews.com, NY -May 8, 2006
- On Friday in Smelt v. Orange County, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a challenge brought by same-sex marriage advocates. Liberty Counsel defended the case on behalf of Campaign for California Families, which was granted defendant-intervenor status. The case began when Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer filed a federal lawsuit against the Orange County Clerk seeking a same-sex marriage license and claiming that the California Marriage Laws and Federal Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") violate their rights of Equal Protection, Due Process, Privacy and Freedom of Speech provisions under the United States Constitution. . . .

Panel rules against same-sex marriage ad

Paul and Heather Kiss and Mac Up Mirror.co.uk- By Fiona Cummins, May 8, 2006
SIR Paul McCartney and Heather Mills have vowed to beat their "marriage problems" after claims the relationship is in crisis. Although the couple spent five days apart last week, allegedly after a furious bust-up, sources insist there is no suggestion that they have permanently split. Heather, 38, rubbished claims that the four-year marriage was rocky. She said: "It's hilarious. We're still very much together." . . . .
Nicole Kidman Says She Still Loves Cruise ABC News - AP- May 8, 2006
Nicole Kidman says her divorce from Tom Cruise was a "major shock" and, she still loves him. "That was a major shock," the 38-year-old actress says in an interview in the June issue of Ladies' Home Journal, on newsstands Tuesday. "He was huge; still is. To me, he was just Tom, but to everybody else, he is huge. But he was lovely to me. And I loved him. I still love him," she tells the magazine. . . .

Marriage matters: Marriage is like a marathon Sturgis Journal, MI- By James and Audora Burg -May 6, 2006
The book that prompted last week’s column — urging people to prepare for divorce while happily married — still has our ire raised. We find it incomprehensible that anyone really thinks that way. . . . What if instead of prophylactically preparing for divorce while married, the focus shifted to fully preparing for marriage before getting married? We’re not talking wedding planning here. We mean marriage planning. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Marriage matters: Tying a slip-knot Sturgisjournal.com- By James and Audora Burg, Apr 29, 2006
Love, marriage - financial planning:
Money can't buy love, but it can spoil it if couples don't plan their financial future
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - By Rob Stock, May 6, 2006
The couple that plans together, stays together. It's a bold assertion, but Susanna Stuart and Deborah Carlyon, partners in the Stuart + Carlyon financial planning firm in Auckland, say it's not far off the mark. Financial planner Lisa Dudson shares their view. She says the four most stressful things in the world for the average person are a death, a divorce, public speaking and money - and getting the last one wrong is a sure step along the way to the second. . . . Only a third of people have written financial goals, and a recent online poll by Superbank found 42% of women and 35% of men lie to their partners about their finances. . .

MARRIAGE & MONEY: Yours, mine and ours: Part 1 of 4
Merging finances a task soon-to-be-newlyweds shouldn't neglect Ledger-Examiner.com- By Erin Simpson, May 5, 2006
My fiance and I are like a lot of people about to be married. We've both finished college, started our careers, have been living on our own and paying our own way for quite some time. But that's going to change on May 27. I will be marrying Pat Gillespie (a former reporter here at the Ledger-Enquirer). And like other engaged and newly married couples, we're finding out something. Marriage is certainly a financial detour. From now on, there'll be another person questioning that new pair of white sandals or another PlayStation 2 game. Once you get engaged, even though the wedding is looming (and that's certainly another financial discussion) and the excitement is building, you've got to have some serious talks about the future. Since almost half of all American marriages end in divorce, and financial concerns are considered one of the biggest struggles in a marriage, it would do you some good to get everything out in the open before the wedding. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: MARRIAGE & MONEY: Part 2 of 4- Budget can sort needs vs. wants Ledger-Examiner.com- By Erin Simpson, May 12, 2006

Marriage and Money: Yours, mine, and ours

Going to the chapel Sydney Morning Herald- Radar blog- By Samantha Selinger-Morris, May 3, 2006
Celebrity marriages are so dissected that even those of us who shun gossip mags are armed with embarrassingly intimate titbits. How long was Eminem remarried to wife Kim before filing for divorce a second time? (83 days.) What is blamed for Madonna and Guy's recent rocky patch? (Not enough time with the kids.) But when it comes to the state of our own marriages, the picture isn't quite so clear. We know about the divorce rate of nearly 50 per cent and that the number of twentysomethings tying the knot has declined dramatically. Only 4.2 per cent of Australian women aged 20 to 24 were newlyweds in 2001, compared with 18.7 per cent in 1976. For Australian men in the same age bracket, it was 2 per cent in 2001, compared with 12 per cent in 1976. Yet on any given day, the line-up of hopeful young things beaming out from bridal veils and top hats at the Opera House and Art Gallery of NSW is so long as to resemble a Krispy Kreme store at lunch hour. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: MANGALORE: Mass Marriage Ceremony at Dharmasthala- 125 Couples Enter into Wedlock DAIJIWORLD, May 4, 2006

Tabloid Tuesday: Denise Richards versus Heather Locklear National Ledger.com- By The Staff, May 2, 2006
Three of the four tabs think the BIG story this week is Denise Richards with Heather Locklear’s husband Richie Sambora. Depending on which tab you read, she either ‘stole Heather’s husband,’ or ‘is dating Richie’ or ‘runs off with Richie.’ Just remember – this is the world of tabloids so you “pays your money and you takes your chance.”. . . . See, this is what happens when the editors think everyone who reads their publications will believe anything they say. To Tabloid Tuesday, when someone ‘runs off’ with someone’s husband, that suggests an illicit affair, marriage broken up, sleazy motel rooms, squeaking headboards… ok, maybe not squeaky headboards…. But when you look at the story, what you discover is that two unattached people decided to date or whatever it is they do in Hollywood. The operative word being UNATTACHED! In other words, there was no story – just a lot of creative and somewhat misleading headlines to cover the fact that it’s just another dating story. Give us a break!!!. . . .

Tabloid Tuesday: Denise Richards vs. Heather Locklear

Wedding season is time to ponder marriage advice

Wedding season is time to ponder marriage advice Mcall.com- By Kevin Devlin, May 3, 2006
Kevin Kervick's lifework centers on bolstering marriages. He is a counselor and runs Responsive Community Resources Inc., a nonprofit in Souderton that provides literature, workshops, counseling and other services designed to strengthen marriages. . . . One recurring theme on his organization's Web site and on his blog is how other, less important things — too much work, a quest for material goods, umpteen children's activities — intrude on marriage and family life. It seems to me that a lot of the activity leading up to weddings — picking the ring, the dress, the hall, the menu, the band or disc jockey, the invitations, the seating list — has nothing to do with the concept of how these two people will get along the rest of their lives. . . He divided his advice for marrying couples into five main themes. . . . .

Mich. woman, 46, to face felony polygamy charges USA Today, May 3, 2006

ROSEVILLE, Mich. — A suburban Detroit woman who police say made a habit of marrying men and draining their finances was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on polygamy charges. Kyle McConnell married about 15 men, St. Clair County sheriff's Detective Tim Donnellon told The Detroit News. She is charged with wedding one man when she was already married to at least one. A felony polygamy charge carries a maximum of four years in prison. Authorities are confounded. "In polygamy cases, usually it's a man who is married to more than one woman. . . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Dark side of polygamy revealed The Delaware County Times, PA -By Neal Zoren, May 2, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Polyamory: A Twist On Polygamy KUTV.com- Salt Lake City, Mark Koelbelreporting, April 30, 2006

Kyle McConnell, 46, to face felony polygamy charges

Mexico first lady wins damages for divorce story Scotsman-UK-Reuters, May 3, 2006
MEXICO CITY (Reuters)- Mexican first lady Marta Sahagun won $178,000 (96,600 pounds) in damages against an Argentine author and a Mexican magazine on Tuesday for invasion of privacy in an article about the breakup of a previous marriage. A Mexican court ruled that Proceso weekly news magazine and writer Olga Wornat damaged Sahagun's reputation by publishing part of a petition she wrote to the Catholic Church in the 1990s asking for the annulment of her marriage to a Mexican businessman. . . . .
Couple, 33 and 104, reportedly marry Thanhnien News.com, May 3, 2006
MAYASIA- It was Muhamad Noor Che Musa's first marriage and his wife's 21st, according to The Star newspaper which cited a report in the Malay-language Harian Metro tabloid. Muhamad, an ex-army serviceman said he found peace and a sense of belonging after meeting Wook Kundor, whom he said he initially sympathized with because she was childless, old and alone, the report said. "I am not after her money, as she is poor," Muhamad reportedly said. .
Girl, 14, left for dead after dad rejects suitor
Brutal attack puts spotlight on 'honor killings' Houston Chronicle-US- By Zarar Khan (AP), May 3, 2006
KARACHI, PAKISTAN - Suffering from five bullet wounds, Noor Jehan calls out in pain for her mother. The 14-year old Pakistani girl is recuperating slowly in a hospital from an attack allegedly carried out by two male cousins to avenge a rebuffed marriage proposal. . . . Honor killings claim hundreds of lives each year in this Muslim nation. The targets include wives accused of having affairs, young women who refuse a marriage partner, and brides and grooms marrying without family consent. The crimes are usually committed by male relatives and most go unpunished. . . .
Husband: Marriage Counselor had affair with wife Chicago Sun-Times-US, By Dan Rozek, May 3, 2006
A McHenry County man is suing his marriage counselor, contending the therapist he hired to help improve his marriage instead began an affair with his wife. That relationship eventually prompted the couple to divorce, according to the breach-of-contract suit filed by 35-year-old Scott Buetow of Lake in the Hills. . .

Hatcher has eye on love USA Today -By William Keck, May 2, 2006
... In her book, she says, "I still feel I'm never going to find someone to love who loves me back in spite of and because of all my dark, complicated, insecure places." Hatcher revealed the root of that darkness in the April issue of Vanity Fair, in which she opened up for the first time about an uncle who began sexually molesting her at age 5. The childhood abuse had lasting effects and played a role in the dissolution of her 1994-2003 marriage to actor Jon Tenney. Hatcher pauses to search for words when asked how her life remains affected by the abuse. "I guess the area of love and trust. When it's a family member who supposedly loves you and violates you this way, what you thought was love and some sort of physical intimacy was really violation. That intimacy can be something pleasurable as opposed to something that's going to cause you harm, is something I've had to deal with.". . . . . The book reveals she and her ex-husband had very little sex in their marriage. She did not have sex on her honeymoon and knows the exact date her daughter, Emerson, 8, was conceived. . . . .

Britons 'put fun before babies' BBC News.com, May 2, 2006
Britain's falling birth rate is being fuelled by a generation who would rather have fun and live comfortably than have children, a survey suggests. The poll of 1,006 adults for the Guardian also suggested potential parents were forced to delay family life by career pressures. Half of the adults quizzed said they found it increasingly difficult to find someone to have a family with. It comes as French research suggests men's fertility fades after 40. . . . Fertility experts have repeatedly warned women not to wait until their fertility declines to have children. But over the last 20 years pregnancies in women over 35 have risen markedly and the average age of mothers is continuing to rise. Some experts claim infertility will double across Europe within the next decade. . . . .

'TomKat' thumbs nose at marriage and reality

'TomKat' thumbs nose at marriage and reality IndyStar.com- Knight-Ridder Newspapers, By Lori Borgman, May 2, 2006
The To Do List of Tom Cruise:

1. Celebrate arrival of baby with Katie Holmes
2. Promote new movie
3. Get married
Being such a religious man, you might think marriage would be higher on his list. But it's not like Tom is a trendsetter, delaying marriage until after the baby. Today, firstborns conceived out-of-wedlock are now more frequent than those conceived in wedlock. . . Whether they intend to or not, they encourage others to follow suit. The problem is, there's a huge difference between mega-stars having babies outside of marriage and regular people having babies outside of marriage. Every year about one million more children are born into fatherless families. The number of those children and their mothers who will live in poverty is staggering. . .

Homosexual Advocacy Group Launches Campaign Against Marriage Amendment CNSNews.com- By Melanie Hunter, May 1, 2006
- A homosexual advocacy group has launched a postcard campaign urging senators to vote no on the Federal Marriage Amendment, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Beginning Monday and ending on June 5, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is urging homosexual activists to join their month-long "Dear Senator" campaign by sending senators postcards, with the theme: "Dear Senator: All I want for Mother's Day is for you to vote NO on the Federal Marriage Amendment ..."

RELATED ARTICLE: Conservatives Look to June Vote on Marriage Amendment CNSNews.com- By Monisha Bansal, Apr 26, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Homosexuals in no hurry to 'marry,' new study says BP News, TN - Apr 28, 2006

RELATED ARTICLE: Attacks Continue on NY's Marriage Laws- Liberty Council Files briefs in Defense of Traditional Marriage AgapePress.org- By Allie Martin, May 2, 2006

Homosexual advocacy group launches campaign against marriage amendment

Congress gives couples new incentive for marriage

Congress gives couples new incentive for marriage Theithacajournal.com- By Sharon Jayson, May 1, 2006
Winston Graham and Saundra Corley finally tied the knot after almost 20 years and four children together. Now they're planning to make their new marriage reap some additional benefits. Thy've signed up for a new pilot program for low-income couples in the District of Columbia that could get them as much as $9,000 in federal funds and other cash just because they make their relationship legal. . . . “You don't see a lot of families in our community who are married,” says Corley-Graham, 37, who on Nov. 26 added “Graham” to her name. When they set the wedding date, the couple hadn't heard about the idea pushed by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and approved by Congress to give couples earning under $50,000 a year a “marriage bonus” to buy a home, pay for job training or education for themselves or their children, or to start or expand a business. If couples save $3,000 in three years, they will receive a 3-to-1 match of up to $9,000. . . . The idea goes beyond just dollars; it offers a broad-based approach to helping couples. . . .

More "Marriage News" April 2006

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