I don't much care for same-sex cohabitation, inter or rather inner-personal relationships, civil unions, cross dressing, what ever other adult, deviant activities in which one chooses to engage.
However I find it a bit alarming that the advocates of such, while embracing the ideas of individual liberties, would endeavor to re-define a religious rite for the church. Which is of course where the concept of marriage originated.
It seems, from what I've read, that this whole push is not about equality or fair treatment under the law, which has been readily available in many jurisdictions for many years, it's rather about using government to literally force people and organizations to violate their teachings and beliefs.
Not to mention, if it is a freedom issue, when do we talk about freedom of religion? These types of issues, I believe, are really wedges in the culture wars designed to fracture long standing institutions and families. So, can a gay couple now force a religious institution to perform a same sex marriage? Should they be able to? Do they become a protected minority, based on sexual preferences?
We've seen in Colorado, a baker, some one who does specialized service work for individuals, not a mass marketeer, being told he had to bake a cake for a gay couple, which happened to go strongly against his religious beliefs, he was ordered to conform by the court. He closed his business. Who won? Is it important?
The same thing has been done to photographers, haven't heard of any florists, go figure? I guess if the point is equal protection that's a different issue, in my mind, than re-definition. In practical reality, I think it's dictating to, or really forcing government into the realm of the religious. Can this be the right thing to do?
First off, you're confusing "matrimony", your Church's recognition of two individuals joining as one, with "marriage", the Government's recognition of two individuals joining as one. This ruling doesn't force all churches to offer same-sex ceremonies, it simply states that we cannot deny those who want to perform or pursue such ceremonies.
Second, marriage has been recorded as far back as 2350 BC, which is long before your church ever existed. Back then, marriage was to guarantee to a man that his wife's children were biologically his. It wasn't until the rise of the Roman Empire that religion had part in marriage. So, if anything, the Catholic Church has redefined marriage.
How is this forcing you to violate your beliefs? We often shout, "If you don't like guns, don't buy one!" Well, if you don't like marrying dudes, don't marry one! This ruling in no way shape or form suppresses your religious freedoms. It does, however, suppress your intolerance justified through religion. Christians, even if the majority, do not deserve special rights in the US. You are not entitled to forcing everyone to follow your church's teachings. How you aren't aware of the irony smacking into the wall behind you after flying over your head is beyond me. Denying equal rights to individuals in the name of your church is disgusting, and this religious ignorance is what's destroying the world.