Letter: US ruling undermines marriage foundations

However, if marriage is to made equally available to all, then those wishing to formalise polygamous and other multiple relationships should not be excluded.

And what of those who wish to be married but without a permanent commitment, or without promising faithfulness to a partner (so called open marriage)? Surely such people would also have a right to marry on their own terms?

What of those who wish to marry but without any sexual element in the relationship, or without any intention to live together? Surely everyone is entitled to the protections and benefits of marriage while they feel like it?

Marriage is a cornerstone of a healthy society and such diluting of the institution until it becomes an amorphous idea that can be tailored to fit anyone's whims undermines the vital importance of permanent, formalised heterosexual relationships to the well-being of society in general and children in particular.

Marriage was ordained by God to regulate sexuality, providing boundaries to protect men, women and children. To stretch marriage to endorse sinful sexual behaviour is a gross distortion of its purpose.

RICHARD LUCAS

Cowan Road

Shandon, Edinburgh

Richard Lucas (Letters, 13 August) wonders if some job applications will ever state "orthodox Christians need not apply".

Such a prohibition already applies effectively against atheists and humanists, against whom there is ample discrimination of this kind in the education system. So-called faith schools, for example, are permitted by law to discriminate in employment in favour of those sharing their faith, but to the exclusion of everyone else. Thus "atheists and humanists need not apply" is the officially sanctioned order of the day in such establishments.

Perhaps Mr Lucas thinks such discrimination is absolutely fine when working in favour of Christians, but a sign of intolerance and prejudice if there is even a hint of it being used against them.

ALISTAIR McBAY

Lawmuirview

Methven, Perth