Some Random Guy
Striker
Came across this this morning:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5255707/Bigamist-spotted-Ant-Decs-TV-jailed.html
A fella has been sent to prison for committing bigamy after his first wife spotted him on Saturday Night Takeaway.
It got me thinking though, today alternative relationships such as polyamorous seem to be more socially acceptable. Should bigamy still be a criminal offence?
I understand in this case he's done it secretly while separated from his first wife. To me that seems more a case for a divorce with him as the guilty party than something he should do time for.
I also understand there could be issues with abusing the system, people marrying multiple partners for citizenship purposes for example. That feels like it's already an issue with monogamous marriage though.
I feel that the majority of people in this country aren't marrying for religious reasons. It's primarily because you love your partner and want to spend your life with them, there are also legal reasons to do it such as inheritance laws. With that in mind the old christian "marriage is between one man and one woman" adage doesn't really seem like a good enough reason not to allow bigamy.
I guess there's an argument it could do more harm than good, I don't think that necessarily enough to justify it being a criminal offence today.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5255707/Bigamist-spotted-Ant-Decs-TV-jailed.html
A fella has been sent to prison for committing bigamy after his first wife spotted him on Saturday Night Takeaway.
It got me thinking though, today alternative relationships such as polyamorous seem to be more socially acceptable. Should bigamy still be a criminal offence?
I understand in this case he's done it secretly while separated from his first wife. To me that seems more a case for a divorce with him as the guilty party than something he should do time for.
I also understand there could be issues with abusing the system, people marrying multiple partners for citizenship purposes for example. That feels like it's already an issue with monogamous marriage though.
I feel that the majority of people in this country aren't marrying for religious reasons. It's primarily because you love your partner and want to spend your life with them, there are also legal reasons to do it such as inheritance laws. With that in mind the old christian "marriage is between one man and one woman" adage doesn't really seem like a good enough reason not to allow bigamy.
I guess there's an argument it could do more harm than good, I don't think that necessarily enough to justify it being a criminal offence today.