Area pastors support
state measure
defining marriage
By JOHN MANGALONZO,
thehawkeye.com from the Web, January 11, 2008
MOUNT PLEASANT -- In 2003,
five years after the Defense of Marriage Act became state law in Iowa, Kimberly
Jean Brown and Jennifer Sue Perez, a lesbian couple joined in a civil union in
Vermont, were granted a divorce in Woodburry County District Court.
When the ex-couple walked out of the Sioux City courthouse that November day,
the fire in the debate in defining -- or redefining -- marriage was lit.
That flame radiated Thursday as more than 20 pastors from different churches in
Henry County gathered at Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mount Pleasant to
hear how they can rally legislators to pass a constitutional amendment that
would define marriage as only between a man and a woman.
"We, as a people need a voice on this," said Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa
Family Policy Center, a Pleasant Hill-based organization spearheading the
amendment push campaign. "I can't picture marriage being eroded."
Hurley highlighted biblical principles supporting the group's stance, saying
every person was designed by God to have a partner, in the opposite gender.
He added that if the measure were put up for a vote, Iowans would overwhelmingly
side on its traditional definition.
Hurley said Iowans must be careful about supporting civil unions, lest they be
used as a gateway to the legalization of same-sex marriages.
"Most things accomplished in civil unions can be accomplished with wills or
power of attorneys," he said.
"The family is a foundation of society," said Randy Wilson of Washington,
D.C.-based Family Research Council.
"It's time to sound the alarm," he said, adding pastors need to mobilize their
flocks, to pray, preach moral issues and work with other clergy to inform and
encourage people to contact their state representatives.
To amend the state constitution, the measure needs to pass the Iowa Senate and
House by a majority vote, then again in a consecutive general assembly, before
being put before the electorate.
For example, if the Legislature, which convenes next week, passes it this
session, the measure can again be presented to either the 2009 or 2010 general
assembly. If again successful, the proposed amendment could be on the
ballot as early as 2011.
Critics have said the Woodburry County District Court should not have taken the
2003 divorce case in the first place because the supposed marriage is not
recognized in any state.
The judge who granted the divorce, Judge Jeff Neary, amended the decree from a
dissolution of marriage to a termination of civil union.
In 2005, the state Supreme Court upheld Neary's ruling.
A series of events was triggered by the 2003 case that started with a 2005
lawsuit brought about by six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses
in Polk County.
Polk County Judge Robert Hanson weighed in with a decision last year favoring
the couples by ruling the denial of licenses "violates plaintiff's due process
and equal protection rights..." and that "couples, such as plaintiffs, who are
otherwise qualified to marry one another may not be denied licenses to marry or
certificates of marriage or in any other way prevented from entering into a
civil marriage...."
Hanson wrote in his ruling that the law, "constitutes the most intrusive means
by the state to regulate marriage. This statute is an absolute prohibition
on the ability of gay and lesbian individuals to marry a person of their
choosing."
The ruling since has been stayed pending an opinion from the state Supreme
Court.
Matt Reisetter, of Iowa Family Policy Center predicted that if the Supreme Court
upholds Hanson's ruling, same-sex couples from other states will flock to Iowa
to be married and to their home states, then sue those states to recognize the
marriages.
The process is made easier with Iowa's "no residency requirements" when it comes
to issuing marriage licenses.
Reisetter advised the pastors to approach the issue not with condemnation, but
with the motivation of the love of Christ.
"There is nothing new here," said Monte Knudson, pastor of Faith Christian
Outreach Church. "We'd just like our lawmakers to let us have a voice on
this."
The group plans a gathering at the state Capitol in Des Moines at 10 a.m. Jan.
16, so people can meet with legislators and be heard on the issue.
jmangalonzo@thehawkeye.com
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