First, its 1000. It was not a big thing before that, as demonstrated by the Rite of Bacchus and Sergio. Gay unions were blessed. Secondly, modern gay marriage and the reactions to it are a recent phenomenon and Merlino is indulging in sour grapes. He invested a lot in fighting gay marriage in the public square and gave us his best natural law reasoning and was rebuked by the courts at every turn. His directive is not aimed at the sexuality of the deceased but at the legal recognition now afforded to his or her relationship. Truly childish of him.