When the story of Gov. David Paterson's directive that state agencies figure out how to recognize out-of-state gay marriages when it comes to the roughly 1,300 benefits and rights married heterosexual couples receive, it didn't take long for the typical talking points to emerge.

New York's Catholic bishops were among the groups essentially calling the measure an assault on the family. “No single politician or court or legislature should attempt to redefine the very building block of our society in a way that alters its entire meaning and purpose,” said New York State Catholic Conference Executive Director Richard E. Barnes.

Whether legalized marriage is a building block of society is a matter of debate, but it's clearly misleading to say Paterson's directive is an attack on hetereosexual marriage. His measure takes nothing away from married heterosexual couples.

All the governor is doing is forcing a legal discussion that needs to take place because, like it or not, legal marriages are taking place outside of New York.

And unless New York and all other states are prepared to say that all people legally married outside their borders will not be recognized, there's a major civil rights problem lurking.

Health and pension benefits, income tax filing status, transferring business licenses, being allowed into a hospital room with a loved one - these are all examples of the benefits and rights at stake.

With Massachusetts, the only U.S. state so far that recognizes same-sex marriages, and Canada, an entire country that makes gay marriage legal, on New York's borders, this is an issue that cannot be ignored.

Paterson, who has already shown in his short stint as governor that he's not afraid to take political risks, is doing everyone a favor by pushing for a resolution.