#Covenant Marriage

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Anna North at Vox:

Before the 1960s, it was really hard to get divorced in America. Typically, the only way to do it was to convince a judge that your spouse had committed some form of wrongdoing, like adultery, abandonment, or “cruelty” (that is, abuse). This could be difficult: “Even if you could prove you had been hit, that didn’t necessarily mean it rose to the level of cruelty that justified a divorce,” said Marcia Zug, a family law professor at the University of South Carolina.

Then came a revolution: In 1969, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan of California (who was himself divorced) signed the nation’s first no-fault divorce law, allowing people to end their marriages without proving they’d been wronged. The move was a recognition that “people were going to get out of marriages,” Zug said, and gave them a way to do that without resorting to subterfuge. Similar laws soon swept the country, and rates of domestic violence and spousal murder began to drop as people — especially women — gained more freedom to leave dangerous situations.  Today, however, a counter-revolution is brewing: Conservative commentators and lawmakers are calling for an end to no-fault divorce, arguing that it has harmed men and even destroyed the fabric of society. Oklahoma state Sen. Dusty Deevers, for example, introduced a bill in January to ban his state’s version of no-fault divorce. The Texas Republican Party added a call to end the practice to its 2022 platform (the plank is preserved in the 2024 version). Federal lawmakers like Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, have spoken out in favor of tightening divorce laws. 

If this sounds outlandish or like easily dismissed political posturing — surely Republicans don’t want to turn back the clock on marital law more than 50 years — it’s worth looking back at, say, how rhetorical attacks on abortion, birth control, and IVF have become reality. And that will cause huge problems, especially for anyone experiencing abuse. “Any barrier to divorce is a really big challenge for survivors,” said Marium Durrani, vice president of policy at the National Domestic Violence Hotline. “What it really ends up doing is prolonging their forced entanglement with an abusive partner.” [...]

Republicans in multiple states are eyeing divorce restrictions

Pushback against no-fault divorce dates back decades. In the 1990s and early 2000s, three states passed covenant marriage laws, allowing couples to opt into signing a contract allowing divorce only under circumstances like abuse or abandonment. Some backers of the laws intended them to send a larger anti-divorce message, the Maryland Daily Record reported in 2001. Speaker Johnson, then a lawyer in Louisiana, was an early adopter of covenant marriage, entering one with his wife Kelly in 1999. 

More recently, high-profile conservative commentators have taken up the anti-divorce cause. Last year, the popular right-wing podcaster Steven Crowder announced his own unwilling split. “My then-wife decided that she didn’t want to be married anymore,” he complained, “and in the state of Texas, that is completely permitted.”

That could change. As Tessa Stuart noted in Rolling Stone, the Texas Republican party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor’s office, and could likely make its platform — the one calling on the state legislature to “rescind unilateral no-fault divorce laws” — a reality if it chose. The Louisiana and Nebraska Republican parties have also considered or adopted similar language.  

[...]

Ending no-fault divorce would have major consequences

Opponents of no-fault divorce argue that it is hurting families and American culture. Making divorce too easy causes “social upheaval, unfettered dishonesty, lawlessness, violence towards women, war on men, and expendability of children,” Deevers wrote last year in the American Reformer, a Christian publication. “To devalue marriage is to devalue the family is to undermine the foundation of a thriving society.” It’s worth noting that though the no-fault laws initially led to spikes in divorce, rates then began to drop, and reached a 50-year low in 2019, CNN reports. But today, an end to no-fault divorce would cause enormous financial, logistical, and emotional strain for people who are trying to end their marriages, experts say. Proving fault requires a trial, something many divorcing couples today avoid, said Kristen Marinaccio, a New Jersey-based family law attorney. A divorce trial is time-consuming and costly, putting the partner with less money at an immediate disadvantage. It can also be “really, really traumatizing” to have to take the stand against an ex-partner, Marinaccio said. There’s also no guarantee that judges will always decide cases fairly. In the days of fault-based divorce, courts were often unwilling to intervene in marriages even in cases of abuse, Zug said.  No-fault divorce can be easier on children, who don’t have to experience their parents facing each other in a trial, experts say. Research suggests that allowing such divorces increased women’s power in marriages and even reduced women’s suicide rates. A return to the old ways would turn back the clock on this progress, scholars say.

The Christian Right’s war on no-fault divorce is closely linked to their wars on IVF, abortion, birth control, and LGBTQ+ rights, as seek to roll back the clock to an era when straight white Christian men ruled the roost without pushback.

[awifechasinggod]

Today is my 31st wedding anniversary! I am not permitted to post my spouse’s face on the internet, so I am honoring his wishes and hearted his face to hide it.

Today marks 35 months standing! Many prayers have been answered, but we are not yet restored. I’ll stand forever on the WORD of GOD and the promises GOD gave me!

Praise report: When I got home last night, there was a card and flowers on the table! Tonight, he is taking me to dinner to celebrate and for the first time in almost three years, he said “Happy Anniversary” to me before I left for work! THAT is an answer to prayer!

My heart will always belong to the LORD first and then to him. I love him forever and always! ❤️✝️

[towelfox42]

I think that all of the LGBTQIA2S+ couples in Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana (especially Louisiana) should get covenant marriages. Let’s be show Mike Johnson that ALL marriages in law are just as valid as his.

And really, if needed, just move to one of the other 47 states and get a no fault divorce there. 😉

[thecapitolradar]

Source

Rumor has it that the Harvard Crimson will be deep-sixing a piece from now-Senator Tom Cotton's days as a contributing writer.

The far-Right Arkansas Republican wondered What do women want? <yawn>

The answer? Something called "covenant marriage".

Yikes!

We almost feel sorry for his donors.

[hexx-bunny]

louis de pointe du lac is That Bitch in life and in death, he sat back watching the vampire group chat blow up just to pop in drop his address and say Try Me and he didn't even read the book

his first gay romance has a fucking death count the fuck they gonna do?? his crazy ass saw the great laws and took it as a to do list, he dont know who akasha is he don't CARE, he meowed at a cat as psychological prep to end a whole ass coven his issues have issues

[cialaterrr]

How I imagine Agathario met and thereafter. ;)

Written in Agatha’s POV.

[pushing500]

A raid from Hot Minute's niece and a social fight between Kaz and Wendy occurred at the same time, which was stressful but ultimately solved with Albina's overpowered 'summon pack' psycast. I love that psycast.

Wendy broke Kaz's nose and won the social fight, if you were curious.

Pig, the guy from The Menra Covenant who tried to marry Hazrov a while back, is trying to get with Candlelight now (we said no).

I was amused reading through Zonovo's social interactions and seeing that he's apparently in a gambling mood today. Cards, dice, roulette... He's happy chatting about them all.

Kawoo is the only colonist I've ever seen using the pool I spent so many resources to build, so I wanted to draw her enjoying herself.

I imagine it takes a lot of shaking to get all that fur dry, but she's probably super fuzzy and soft afterwards!

Finally, Hot Minute's nephew and some of his friends crash-landed right into Baz and Zonovo's bedroom, which was very rude of them. They busted down a wall and got ambushed by a turret and two of our nightlings, who distracted them until some of my colonists could run over and take them down.

Then we ripscanned Hot Minute's nephew, haha. Serves him right.

First | Next | Previous

[suppenzeit]

guy who collects public transit schedules and thinks that b- blood is the yummiest. like a normal person.

[magical-mistakes-vm]

15

It is time for the Council of Elders meeting and to decide Jonathan's fate...

Mahala was still asleep when the time for the council meeting arrived.  If it hadn’t been for all three of the warlocks checking on her, and being sure that she was fine and just resting as she healed, Vollrath would have stayed and told the council to fuck off and he’d deal with Jonathan as he saw fit.

Instead, Vollrath replaced his suit jacket, that had been wrapped around Mahala, with a throw blanket and prepared to walk down to the conference room with Baldur.  The lingering scent of her perfume on the collar of his coat made him doubt his decision to head the meeting, and simultaneously evoked an overwhelming sense of protectiveness.   “Anyone comes through that door but Bal or I, kill them, El.  I don’t give a single damn who it is or what the fuck they want.  I will not allow anyone to come for her from the meeting, but that does not mean that someone won’t sneak into the building to try to get some kind of weird revenge or some shit, if it’s gotten out to the Coven at large.”  

If he managed to keep his temper till the end of the meeting, it would be some small miracle.  Already he wanted to go down to the holding cell that Jonathan was in and end the man’s life; then spirit Mahala away to his mansion like some prince locking up his princess to keep her safe from dragons.  He’d been worried about witch hunters the night before, yet it had been a member of his own Coven who had almost killed her. 

“Don’t worry, Vol, I’ve got this.  I get it, she’s special to you.  Fuck, she’d damn special period.  We don’t have a witch that powerful in the whole damn Coven.  I’m not sure I’ve ever met one in my whole life.  If you think I’m letting anyone near her, you are insane.” Elmar reassured him.  He kept his voice calm and level.  Of the three of them, he always was the one with the longest fuse, and at the moment that was a good thing.

Vollrath nodded, then went over and placed a soft kiss in the middle of Mahala’s forehead.  His breath stuttered slightly, the expression on his face tight and pained.  “I will make up for this, meine kleine Hexe.  Just don’t hate me when you wake up again.”  His fingers almost trembled as they ghosted over her forehead and down the side of her face, the softest feather light touch.  It was as if he was afraid one false mood could literally cause her to shatter.

Clearing his throat, Vollrath stepped back, straightened his suit, and then he and Baldur left the room.  All the way down to the conference room they discussed in hushed tones their ideas on what punishments to put before the Council.  Banishment from the Coven seemed the least that could be accepted, binding of magic next, and then there was full death for the attack.  Normally Vollrath would make decisions on his own, but everything about the situation demanded the Council of Elders take action.  It had been a long time since the Council had been invoked, and he knew that none of them would take it lightly that it had been now.  

****

The video had been watched repeatedly, slowed down, and even parts enlarged so the Council of Elders members could see more detail.  The Council had been deadlocked for over two hours, at times almost shouting at one another in disagreement of what the appropriate next steps and punishment should be.  If no one changed their vote, another option would have to be devised and voted on.  Vollrath informed the room of this once more, and prepared for debate again, something he was dreading.  He had not anticipated this.  He really had thought that the vote would not be very contentious.  

Then the door to the meeting room opened.  “It’s not a tie, dear brother, there is one vote left that has not been cast.  So, you will not have to come up with another option.  And, looky here, I’m it.”  Every head in the room whipped around to the door of the conference room.  Eyes went wide, a few scooted back from the table, gasps were heard, both Vollrath and Baldur were on their feet, but it was a toss up which of them was more shocked.  “What?  I mean, I do still get a vote, right Vol?  You haven’t taken me off the Coven Council of Elders ranks have you?”  

“No.” Vollrath felt his mouth go dry as he stood staring at his brother Balor.  The last time he’d seen him had been four years before, and it had not ended well.  If it wasn’t for his voice, Vollrath might not have even recognized him.  Balor’s dark blonde hair was darker and longer, pulled back now, his beard longer than it had been before, but his startlingly blue eyes were as piercing as ever.  He cut an imposing picture, his shoulders taking up the breadth of the doorway, arms crossed over his obviously muscled chest, and standing straight to his full six and a half feet height.  

“You still have your seat, Balor.  It was you who walked away from it, if you remember.”  Vollrath fought to control his tone and expression as his brother entered the room with what could best be described as a strut.  It caused Vollrath to straighten, but even then his brother had just over four inches on him.  They had always looked similar, but at the moment, they were opposites.  Where his brother looked like he could be a performer at a metal concert, Vollrath was in his finely tailored suit, perfectly trimmed facial hair, his auburn hair shorter and neater, and his eyes the ever changing hazel that had led his grandmother to bequeath him with the title of the Lion of the Nachtnebel. 

“Good, I didn’t think so.  I do apologize for my tardiness, it seems my invitation got lost in the ethos.  Thankfully, a kind soul did ensure it got delivered in time for me to attend.” Balor smirked as he strode further  into the room, expression smug and stride cocky.  Only his brother and Baldur could match him in abilities and magic in the room, and he knew it.  He did have to wonder where Elmar was, although glancing around, the little witch he’d heard so much about was absent too. “Play the video again, dear brother, I’d like to see for myself what transpired.  I’ve heard the allegations, but I don’t like to vote on rumors and second hand information.”

Baldur slid his phone into his inner suit coat pocket with the mic facing up.  Elmar was now on speakerphone so he could hear who just arrived, and not be surprised if anything went down.  There was no doubt that Balor would press things, he always did, so better to be prepared.  The fights between Vollrath and his brother had been legendary since they were children, and had not lessened as they got older.  Since Mahala was affected by unshielded magic, it might be best for Elmar to be ready should the Nachtnebel boys go head to head once more.

“Of course.”  Vollrath didn’t sit, but hit the button to play the video again.  No one other than Balor was watching it as it once more ran though, projected on the screen. The rest of the occupants of the room were watching him, uneasy at his sudden appearance.  How had he learned of this meeting?  While he technically had a seat on the Council, most in the Coven feared him if not outright disliking him as well.

“I see.  Interesting.” Balor commented once it had finished.  One hand stroked his beard as his head tilted to the side, a silence stretched for a few minutes as he considered things.  “And half of you are ready to allow Jonathan to escape with just banishment for his attack on the witch?”  Balor’s gaze swept the room, landing on every one who had voted for just the banishment.  “You really think that should be the only punishment for that attack?”  His eyes narrowed, and Vollrath could swear his brother’s eyes seemed colder than he’d seen them before.

No one said anything.  No one even moved.  The room was so silent that even the smallest brush of fabric or deep breath sounded loud.  Balor regarded them all with a bit of condescending amusement.  This is why he kept to himself and his small group; hypocrites, the whole lot of them.  Was his brother proud of this Council?  Of these Elders who were afraid to voice condemnation for the violence they all saw?

“I want to see her.” He spoke to his brother, but noticed Baldur tense next to him.  That was interesting.  Vollrath, he expected to react, but that Baldur did and Elmar was missing meant this woman was important.  He wanted to know how important, and to whom exactly.   It seemed there was much more going on than he had been informed of, than maybe anyone had.

“Why do you want to further traumatize her, Balor?” Vollrath’s voice was eerily calm.  Even Baldur was concerned how calm he sounded.  With all that had gone on during the day, he’d expected more of a reaction.  Balor was the last one that Vollrath had expected to see show up.  He rarely cared about general Coven business and now something regarding Mahala hung in the balance. The universe had to be hating him for some reason. How had he been notified of this meeting?

“I don’t and I won’t.  I was called to be here, I want to meet the one who has someone around you VERY concerned.  Then I will vote.” Balor’s smile took on a sarcastic edge as he dared his brother to deny him.  If he’d been paying attention, Vollrath already knew what he was going to say, there was no reason to keep him from meeting the woman.  Or was there?  Was there more than the video showed?  

“Baldur, please escort Balor to my office.” Vollrath was once more almost too calm.  He knew that Balor was looking for a reason to strike out, to make a scene before all of the Elders.  At least that was how it felt to Vollrath, who had more than once faced his brother’s anger for being passed over for Master Warlock.  If this was a test, he did not intend to fail, and he knew that Mahala would not.

Baldur nodded and led Balor from the room.  “You will not upset her, you will not intimidate her, and you will not hurt her in any way.  Elmar is with her, and if you do anything…”

“Save it, Baldur.  I’m not going to.  Something is up with my brother and I want to know what.  You don’t think I can read him?” Balor interrupted him, and made it clear what his intentions were as they walked down the ball.  “I am not going to challenge him in that room, but this I can do.  That you and Elmar are standing by him means he has not lost the faith of the general Coven, and that he's on the right side of this….whatever the fuck it is.”  His brows rose as he tipped his head and looked over to Baldur.

“Your brother hasn’t even slipped a bit, Balor.  I’m not sure why you would think he had.” Baldur’s brows drew together.  How had Balor known about the meeting?  The vote? And Mahala?  Someone in the Coven was talking out of turn.  That it was to Balor was not that big of a concern, but if they talked farther it could be.  Maybe it had been a bad idea to leave Balor out of the Council of Elders' call, but that still meant someone else had decided to involve him.  Who else had someone decided to involve?

“I did not even flex my magic in the slightest, I pulled it back to be honest.  She is very weak physically and drained, I felt the pull on my power, and wasn’t sure it was safe to let her feed off a strong tap not knowing her abilities.  I can heal her if one of you two is not going to, however.  I can feel residuals of Vollrath’s magic on her, so I know he tried and she is quite powerful in her own right when not drained, but she could use some help, Baldur.  I did no harm.  Ask Elmar if you doubt me.”  Balor was now extremely concerned.  He also understood why his brother seemed off.  This witch needed protection, and instead had been attacked, in Vollrath’s own office no less.  He was quite sure that at one point, she had been on the brink of death, even with her supernatural powers.  This was what was causing her delay in healing, Jonathan had caused that extreme of damage.  He pulled his powers back even further as he read the situation unfolding around him, and guarded his thoughts and emotions.  There would be a time for expressing them later.

When they reached the door to the office, Baldur knocked, then entered first.  “Mahala, this is Balor, Vollrath’s older brother.  He wanted to come meet you before the final vote is cast in the meeting of the Coven Council of Elders.” His eyes then met Elmar, who looked none too happy about the other warlock being there as he helped Mahala to her feet. Baldur watched her with concern, she still looked unsteady.  Regret over the antics from the morning weighed heavy on him after all that had happened afterwards.

Mahala stood, still looking shaken and drawn hours after the incident had happened. Shaking Balor’s hand, “it’s a pleasure, Balor? I’m sorry, my head is still…”  She raised her hand to her temple then reached over to grab Elmar’s arm for balance quickly.  Her breathing deepened, and Elmar took her hand off of his arm so that he could wrap it around her back, and get her back to the couch to sit down.  She was getting pale and clammy. “Sorry...Sorry…” Her voice was slightly slurred.

“What did you do?” Baldur leaned forward and all but growled in Balor’s ear.  Magic crackled in the air from both Baldur and Elmar. “If you hurt her…”

Elmar got Mahala some water, and ran his fingers gently over her forehead as she relaxed back over on the couch.  He remembered that not only had she been choked, but slammed into the wall a couple of times by Jonathan.  Maybe she had been more injured than they had originally thought. He’d just been relieving her headaches and nausea, but it seemed that more than symptom relief might be needed for the future.

“I now cast my vote for death.  Immediate would be most prudent.” Balor watched Vollrath’s surprise.  “It has been hours since the attack, I can feel the residual magic of not only the Master Warlock of this Coven, but also of his two Seconds upon her still, and she is not fully healed.  When she rose to greet me, she could not stand more than maybe ten seconds without getting dizzy and almost passing out. Jonathan did not merely physically attack her.  If she had been a normal human she would be dead; if she were not such a strong witch, I also believe she would be dead, so the punishment should fit.”  He saw the glances around the room.  He was quite sure they expected him to diverge from Vollrath’s desire, but he could find no argument to do that.  That didn’t mean he was without more questions about Mahala, however. 

“El, is what Balor says true?  Do you need help, or have you got this?”  Baldur asked when he saw the concern that was etched on Elmar’s face.  If anything happened to her, Balor would learn even more how much Mahala meant to his brother. Vollrath might be the one to carry out a death sentence personally and instantly, something that hadn’t been done since his father had been Master Warlock.

“I’ve got it, I think.  He’s right about it, she’s still got a lot of healing to do.  Oh, and he also didn’t do anything, he wasn’t lying.” Elmar looked back and nodded.  As much as he didn’t like Balor, he wouldn’t lie about that.  “I’m wondering if she has a more serious concussion than we thought.  Jonathan slammed her up against the wall more than once, the walls in this place are concrete block, it could have done some damage.  When the meeting’s over, talk to Vol.  Probably don’t want to let her sleep tonight or be alone.”  Elmar wasn’t looking at them, he was focusing on the healing he was doing, and helping Mahala relax.  If he had looked, he would have seen neither man was happy with what he’d just said.  

“I’m ready to vote, let’s go back.”  Balor didn’t even wait for Baldur before heading to the door, his voice was clipped and short.  He had been able to read all he needed to know.  His brother’s residual magic, Baldur’s residual magic, Elmar’s magic, and the strength of her own, coupled with the fact that she was still healing meant Jonathan tried to kill her and almost succeeded.  There was nothing else he needed to know.  He hadn’t expected that. He’d seen the tape, he only had wanted to meet the woman, and he knew that Vollrath would not deny him.  Instead, he’d gotten a lot more insight into things than he’d counted on.

Baldur had barely caught up with him when Balor entered the boardroom once more.  He looked around at all assembled with condescension before meeting his brother’s inquisitive gaze once more.  “Interesting witch you have in your office, Vol.   Also, still seriously injured.”  Balor didn’t even try to hide his irritation as he looked around at the faces of the others again, noting their confusion and shock at this.  “Elmar is taking good care of her, at least there is a strong warlock to do the healing. I give you credit for that, Vol.” He inclined his head to his brother, who seemed to be confused where he was going with everything.

[pandoratheprocrasticreator]

au where the day of unity isn't until decades later and luz never comes to the boiling isles. willow somehow still gets transferred to the plant track and gets really good at her craft. amity never learns that bullying is bad, actually and they never reconciled in school.

and years later, blight industries is the most affluent company on the isles. odalia continues to be allergic to letting amity, who is her only child at this point to not run away from home the moment they turned 18 and cut all contact, associate with witches of "lower social standing."

so eventually when odalia tells amity that she's going to find her a nice respectable spouse amity just rolls her eyes and goes with it. maybe its some other heir to a big company. maybe it's a captain from the emperor's coven. maybe it's even the golden guard, if hunter managed to survive that long.

and then eventually she finds out that her mother has been trying to get her a date with PLANT COVEN HEAD WILLOW PARK

you've seen the countless amity x hunter miserable arranged marriage aus get ready for the amillow friends to enemies to arranged marriage to friends again to lovers 50k slowburn

[renardebleue]

My first ever #Dramione fic! A 19th century AU with a marriage of convenience between an aristocratic Draco and a healer Hermione. You can expect a slow-burn romance with politics, wholesome female friendships, and an adorable Scorpius Malfoy.

You can find it at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/60210037/chapters/153643336

[awifechasinggod]

“The Vow of Pursuit is about knowing where your treasure is and never giving up your search for it.”

I pursue my husband. I actively look for ways to serve him even when I don’t feel like it. Standing is not easy and sometimes, I still fail, BUT GOD has used this situation to speak life into my marriage and to others! 35 months ago, I heard “I feel nothing for you!”. For a whole year, he didn’t speak to me, help me, support me, like me, hug me or tell me he loved me. He acted like we were strangers living in the same house. He lived his life and I lived mine doing everything in the house. I worked full time in the office and at home. I was exhausted. Fast forward 35 months, and many tears, GOD is doing something! I’m clinging to JESUS with every ounce of my being and I won’t give in or give up. It’s HARD to see the devotion he has to her BUT GOD promised that not only would we be restored, but that it would be better than before. I’m trying to be patient but each day still has its challenges. My self esteem has suffered. My resolve is there but I always wonder why he felt I wasn’t worth fighting for!!!! The thing is Satan hates marriage. He just does. He skillfully crafts his plan and at just the right time, he dangles the “right fruit” in front of those who allow compromise or anger to take root and in he walks…..bringing deception with him. I believe my spouse knows what he’s doing is wrong but he is blinded by the truth! That said, my hope is in JESUS! I’m standing on HIS WORD and HIS promises! I shall not be moved!

[theexodvs]

The intimacy "touch-starved" men desire can be found within the covenant of marriage.

[moonmoonthecrabking]

do you think charles wants bill carnally?

[unfriendlyamazon]

more tales from twitter... one of the few things i miss was the relationship memes going around anyway here’s one for my fav toxic ship

[shinobicyrus]

Last year, the Republican Party of Texas added language to its platform calling for an end to no-fault divorce: “We urge the Legislature to rescind unilateral no-fault divorce laws, to support covenant marriage, and to pass legislation extending the period of time in which a divorce may occur to six months after the date of filing for divorce.”

It’s not just Texas: A similar proposal is presently being workshopped by the Republican Party of Louisiana. The Nebraska GOP has affirmed its belief that no-fault divorce should only be accessible to couples without children. At the Republican National Convention in 2016 — the last time the party platform was overhauled — delegates considered adding language declaring, “Children are made to be loved by both natural parents united in marriage. Legal structures such as No Fault Divorce, which divides families and empowers the state, should be replaced by a Fault-based Divorce.” (It’s unclear whether the party’s twice-divorced nominee for president weighed in on the debate at that time.)