Many contend religion and politics shouldn't mix. The fact is they do mix and always have. Nothing could more clearly illustrate such a "mix" than marriage customs, especially in eras and cultures where property is the primary "stake" in both marriage and governing systems.

Then, too, the value of justice is integral to both religious and political traditions.

For Utah, the separation of church and state is something of a facade. Even so, it is helpful to acknowledge these do represent different perspectives - and yes, power bases - between both such institutions, whether or not they "mix."

Some people believe that homosexuality is a moral issue, not a given orientation.

This implies that these citizens are, in some situations, "undeserving" of certain political recognition and protection. To others such a view smacks of ignorance or intolerance, sustaining the idea that "these people would be better if they were more like me [us]."

Similarly, some married heterosexuals believe they and their families would be threatened by legal partnerships for same-sex couples and their families. Why? How? Is there any factual basis to support such fear?

Morality doesn't "belong" to any group on the basis of their sex, their religion or political alliances. Infidelity, exploitation, abuse, oppression and harm - or their opposites - can be found among people of either sexual orientation. Morality consists principally of values, which may be shared, upheld and lived by a broad range of people and institutions. The civic ordering of a democratic society should seek support for such common values as widely as possible.

The way we view marriage and family itself has evolved over centuries. Propagation of the species was, of course, its biological foundation, but culturally it was property arrangements among tribes or clans that followed, and persist in many cultures to this day.

In the West, the Renaissance gave rise to romantic, courtly love and some sense of romance still abides. Yet arranged marriages persisted through the 18th and 19th centuries with extended family groups then becoming the norm. Our present notion of "the nuclear family" is a very new (post-World War II) development, as the metaphor "nuclear" itself suggests.

Now, excessive individualism and the equality of women have radically reshaped our contemporary understandings of marriage and family, which are of course more independent of each other than ever before.

From a biblical perspective there is very little to support our current views of marriage and family. Many Christians speak of marriage as a 6,000-year-old tradition. But historical and cultural evolution challenges that view, and the LDS tradition is a prime example of that. The "sacramentality" that religious faiths now claim for marriage has also evolved. It is doubtful that Jesus would even recognize our institution of marriage as it is.

Further, one must look elsewhere than the Bible to support the vague category called "family values." I know of no consistently good "family values" stories in the Hebrew or Christian Scriptures.

Instead, such narratives tell of disobedience, jealousy and murder; rape, incest and infidelity. Nor was Jesus promoting "family values" in such a statement as, "Whoever loves father or mother . . . son or daughter . . . more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37).

What Jesus did do was redefine the nature of "family" - beyond blood or tribal loyalties. He said, rather, "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:50). What a radical shift from his religious culture!

Thus, from a practical perspective, I have to wonder if this whole debate isn't mere election strategy playing on fear and prejudice. Do we think that a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is really going to defeat love? Home? Family? A desire to share life together?

Election politics - perhaps - or, more seriously, a giant distraction, so that we won't get down to dealing with the real issues and genuine needs of our society. They are many.
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The Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah.