To the editor:

America is facing difficult times. The economy, the wars, the ecology — these are complex problems and will require complex solutions. But there is another issue that distracts America, one that can be easily settled in a simple and fair manner — same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage conferred by the government horrifies religious groups. I wonder why? Religious people are usually not concerned by government regulations. The pope does not comment on zoning laws.

The reason these people are concerned is because to them, marriage is a sacred religious union.

On the other side are same-sex couples. They want the same respect, the same legal rights that the government grants to opposite-sex couples. Who can blame them? They love and respect their partners just as much. They maintain the government has no right to tell them whose marriage is legal, and whose is not.

Both sides are right. Just as the government has no place in our bedrooms, it has no place defining religious unions. Marriage is a religious union, and it's about time our constitutional right to the separation of church and state be respected. The government has no right to marry anyone; it needs to get out of the marriage business entirely.

Marriage should continue as a religious union only. If you want to marry a man, a woman, or two women or three men, who cares? Find a church, mosque, synagogue or coven that will marry you. It's not the government's place to define religion. It is the government's place to define civil unions. Any religious union, of any type, should never achieve a legal status of any sort. Civil unions alone should define any legal rights and responsibilities the members of that union are entitled to. This includes how taxes are paid, inheritances dispersed, what hospital visitation rights are allowed, etc.

Once we agree that civil unions are not religious unions, opposition by religious groups to expanded civil unions should be greatly minimized. The government can define civil unions without offense to anyone's religious sensibilities.

It's the right solution, and the right time.

John Treggiari

Salem