Steve Chapman’s Aug. 30 column, “Our unwarranted ban on polygamy,” correctly links polygamy and gay “marriage” as springing from the same principle. If we change marriage to include same-sex couples, what’s to stop us from redefining marriage to be any number of people or from removing incest and child rape prohibitions?
Whether a state enforces its law against irresponsible sexual behavior is one thing, but the types of relationships government encourages for society is another. Utah is free to enforce its ban on polygamy or not to, just as Illinois prosecutors decide whether to enforce laws prohibiting adultery and fornication. This, however, is a completely different question than whether the state will endorse and encourage adultery, fornication, polygamy or gay “marriage” as lifestyles that are beneficial for society.
Tom Green is just one example of the harm polygamy causes, not to mention the fact that most men, like Green, aren’t wealthy enough to support nor have the time to invest in the lives of 30 children. In addition, there is no society in which polygamy has been practiced that women are treated equally and hold positions of influence.
I’m dismayed that a member of your editorial board would advocate a position that results in such detrimental possibilities for women and children.
