Catholics opposed to marriage amendment hold rally Sunday
Photo by Alex Kolyer for MPR
State Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, and other Catholics who oppose the marriage amendment are holding what's being billed as a kickoff for "Catholics Vote No" on Sunday, according to a news release from Minnesotans United for All Families:
Edina, MN - On Sunday, June 10 at 1:30 p.m. at Good Samaritan United Methodist Church, a large group of Catholics will come together to organize to defeat the proposed amendment that would limit the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples in Minnesota. The group, which will include people from parishes all across the state, will speak about how the Catholic tradition calls them to love and respect the dignity of every person and how voting no on the amendment is a matter of conscience.
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The Minnesota Catholic Bishops strongly support the amendment. Jason Adkins of the Minnesota Catholic Conference provided a statement that includes this:
These small groups do not speak for the Church, nor have any right to call their organizations "Catholic." Further, they misrepresent Catholic teaching.
When Catholics hear what the Catholic Church actually says about the purpose of marriage in society, and why it supports the marriage amendment, they recognize that the Catholic position is pro-marriage and not "anti" anyone.
The Catholic Church's support of the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment is rooted in our fundamental responsibility as Catholics to help promote and preserve the common good, particularly ensuring justice for children and preserving the right of every child to live in a society that recognizes the importance of knowing and, to the extent possible, being cared for his or her mother and father.
Earlier this week, NPR broadcast a story I did Prayers Divided over Gay-Marriage Ban about Minnesota Catholics and the marriage amendment.
Catholics make up the single largest religious denomination in the state (1.1 million according to the MN Catholic Conference).
More info:
Minnesota Catholic Conference (supporting amendment)