Point taken there Issy, it would be a rare occasion that one would need to refer to their marriage certificate. Some American states did require blood tests before issuing a marriage licence. I think you need your marriage certificate when you are getting devoiced.

There is no reason to get married now that the institution has been degraded by the Turnbull administration's same sex 'marriage' farce. Defacto relationships have the same level of protection for partners and children. Anything goes.

<<There is no hair-splitting at all, a licence is permission to do something a marriage certificate is proof that something was done.

Poles apart.>>

Well I'm now thinking, not really. A marriage license, marriage certificate or whatever one chooses to call it, requires permission to be obtained from someone else, or you cannot have one.

So I could say it's not just about proof. One does need to go through some processes, but the question is then, why should they?

Dear Nathan,

A licence is permission to do something - but marriage requires no permission.
A marriage certificate is proof that something was done - indeed, but that "something" has nothing to do with your marriage, just with the filling of certain forms and payment of certain fees.

Not requiring anybody's permission and anyway not being able to prove that you are married, why bother about any of that?

You want to marry? then go ahead and get married!
You need not seek anybody's approval, not even to tell anyone about your marriage, certainly if they are not your friends!

If everyone didn't get married then millions of people would be living in sin, the Holy Father don't want that.

Had an old Aunty, Aunty Ivy lived for about 40 years with her "boarder" Sid, he had his own room in the house, but Aunty had a double bed. Mum claimed Sid was more than a "boarder", scandal in the family. I also recall a cousin who came from a small country town to live with us in Sydney for about 9 months, all of a sudden she lost her big tummy.

Love the movie "Priest" staring Robert Carlyle.

The early scene when the young priest (Carlyle), just arrived at the rectory where he is to live with the old Parish Priest. Time for bed and the PP says goodnight, the black housekeeper is in the room, PP retires up stairs with the housekeep following, the YP is shocked.

Dear Paul,

My father used to say: "God may forgive our sins, but for the sin which we haven't sinned, even God cannot forgive us".