"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
k.net...

"Gary L. Drescher" wrote in message
news:A0K0b.208559$uu5.36901@sccrnsc04...

When the Canadian government lawfully issues what it calls a "marriage
license", you don't think that constitutes a marriage? Why not?


The Canadian government can call a desk an elephant if it chooses to do
so,
but that doesn't make it so

If the meaning of the word "marriage" is not set by statute and by various
people's actual uses of the term, then what *does* determine the meaning of
the word? Dictionaries? Surely you understand that a dictionary merely
codifies actual usage, and as a growing number of jurisdictions issue
marriage licenses without regard to gender, dictionaries will soon amend
their definitions accordingly. The meanings of words constantly evolve; if
not, the English language wouldn't even exist.

In some times and places, the word "marriage" referred only to unions
sanctioned by the Catholic Church. The meaning of the word has changed, and
is changing again.