Catholics strategizing to reverse gay marriage
Roman Catholic leaders in Iowa are urging voters to back a constitutional convention, saying the rare gathering would be the quickest way to overturn the court ruling that legalized gay marriage in the state, the Associated Press reports.
The Iowa Catholic Conference, which represents the state's four Roman Catholic dioceses, issued the statement Monday in favor of a yes vote on a Nov. 2 ballot question that would require a constitutional convention.
Gay marriage has been legal in Iowa since 2009, when the state Supreme Court affirmed a lower court decision that found a same-sex marriage ban approved by lawmakers violated the Iowa Constitution. Since then, about 1,800 same-sex weddings have been held in Iowa, most by couples who live in other states.
Tom Chapman, executive director of the Catholic Conference, said the group was part of a larger effort to encourage Iowa's roughly 500,000 Catholics to vote their conscience on a number of issues.
Voters last called for a constitutional convention in 1920, but it wasn't convened, according to Rich Johnson, the legal director for the Legislative Services Agency. He didn't know why. In such a convention, the Legislature would set a process to select delegates and voters would have to approve any changes delegates propose.
Separately, Minnesota's Catholic bishops are launching a new effort against same-sex marriage, with a DVD being mailed to parishioners. Winona Bishop John Quinn said the DVD explains church teaching on marriage and describes what church leaders consider the potential impact of allowing same-sex marriage in Minnesota.
Comments
Article III of the Iowa Constitution establishes the judicial branch of our state; Article V denotes that the Supreme Court “shall constitute a court for the correction of errors of law.” The Iowa Supreme Court in Varnum V. Brien held that the marriage law erroneously violated Article I of the Iowa Constitution, namely that all people are equal and that the legislature may not create a law that “grants to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms shall not equally belong to all citizens.” This section is analogous to the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. When the Court deemed the law at error and in contradiction to the Constitution, it meant that the legislature must not deny same-sex couples marriage privileges and benefits. Thus, the only alternative was that Iowa must allow to same-sex couples the enjoyment of marriage. The Iowa Supreme Court and the justices serving on it only uncovered an “error at law,” and therefore were only performing the duties they were designated. If anyone chooses not to retain the justices in question this November, it should not be for “not following the Constitution” when they in fact protected it. (ascribed to Nick Harper)
Posted by: Kevin | September 22, 2010 2:34 PM
Just curious ... can the bishops point to a SINGLE deleterious effect that marriage equality has had on the good people of Iowa? Or is this just another instance of unhealthful meddling by not-very-credible "experts" on responsible sexuality and family life?
Posted by: BankStreet | September 28, 2010 9:17 AM
While I share some of their moral views on the subject. I don't believe any church should be attempting to use secular government to force moral beliefs on those who do not subscribe to them. Bankstreet you and I may disagree on the morality, but I completely agree with you that meddling by the Catholic Church in this case is unhealthy.
Posted by: rino | September 28, 2010 11:43 AM
This just in:
The majority of marriages being performed in the District of Columbia are of same-sex couples.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/09/marriage_is_being_saved_by_gay.html
Rather than "destroying marriage," Gay folk seem to be reviving it.
Posted by: BankStreet | October 1, 2010 7:32 PM