Religious leaders unite to oppose marriage amendment

[rug]

Rabbi Melissa Simon of Shir Tikvah synagogue in Minneapolis stands with a large gathering of other Minnesota faith leaders to denounce the marriage amendment ballot question that will go before voters in November. (MPR)

6:59 AM, Jun 8, 2012
By Sasha Aslanian, Minnesota Public Radio News, listen to MPR on 91.1 FM

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- About 120 religious leaders of different faiths Thursday announced the formation of Clergy United for All Families, which will work to defeat the marriage amendment on the November ballot.

The proposed amendment would write Minnesota's current law defining marriage as one man and one woman into the state constitution.

The leaders from a range of Christian and Jewish faiths gathered at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. They said the amendment goes against their belief that marriage is about love and commitment, not gender, and that the amendment would discriminate against same-sex couples.

But Jeff Evans, who does church outreach for Minnesota for Marriage, a group supporting the amendment, says that view is in the minority.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/978719/391/Religious-leaders-unite-to-oppose-marriage-amendment?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge



Grant Stevensen, a Lutheran pastor and faith director of Minnesotans United for All Families at a news conference at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church announcing the formation of Clergy United for All Families. (MPR)

[jpbollma]

1. Good for them.

I wish all religious leaders on both sides would stay out of it though. This is an issue for the state, this does not affect their religions.

[trotsky]

2. You are correct, it is a legal and civil rights issue.

By legitimizing faith as a justification for marriage equality, we legitimize faith as a reason for opposing it as well. Stalemate.

I welcome their support, we're going to need it to turn back the bigotry and hate. But it doesn't address the roots of that bigotry and hate and in fact perpetuates them.

[cbayer]

4. Disagree. Churches in some areas have been at the forefront of GLBT civil rights.

Many have performed marriage ceremonies before the laws have even been changed.

There are many GLBT people of faith for whom their congregations and ministers have provided support when they couldn't get it elsewhere.

Good for these churches and their leaders.

[rrneck]

3. If they could inspire people to treat each other right

from the pulpit they wouldn't have to compel them to do so through the legislature.

You can't force people to feel a certain way.