The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

October 11, 2012

Your View: Bible ill-equipped to settle amendment

By Jon Stephenson, St. Peter

— I believe the Minnesota State Legislature missed something when drafting language for the proposed amendment to Article 13 of the Minnesota Constitution, to wit: "Section 13. Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota." I hope the Legislature meant to specify "...at a time..."

Certainly, we have a tradition in this state of allowing people to marry again following the death of or divorce from a spouse and would not exclude successive unions. We are, after all, a state and a nation that appears to thrive on sequential monogamy.

With regards to arguments about the proposed amendment, let us lay aside any reference to Biblical examples of family values unless we are willing to consider the example of King David with his wives and concubines. (2 Samuel 5:13); or King Solomon, whose wives included 700 princesses and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Unless I am missing something, the only injunction about the number of persons in a union is advice that a bishop must be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2) ... so much for assumed celibacy in the clergy.

Finally, whether a specific and preclusive amendment is appropriate to the Minnesota State Constitution or any other constitution is a matter of debate (constitutional scholars may weigh in here), but since someone decided that Section 12 of the same Article 13, a section concerning hunting and fishing rights, was appropriate, I suppose considering an amendment offering to exclude certain rights for certain persons is also appropriate -- just depends on who wields the amendment pen and who they judge should be excluded (and whether the electorate agrees).

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Your View
  • mfp dekruifmug DFL budget leaves out reform The 2013 Minnesota Legislature started facing a projected budget shortfall of $635 million and by state mandate must balance the budget. The new DFL controlled government has a "fix" for this shortfall; raising taxes and fees for all Minnesotans by a

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Bell of Honor sign of respect for heroes Recently, I had the opportunity to go to the North Mankato Funeral Home for David Sandmeyer's military visitation. It was a very moving experience. Sandmeyer was the young man who was a 21-year-old Marine from Mankato. He was stationed in North Carol

    May 18, 2013

  • MSU falls while coach Hoffner will win again Attention MSU Alumni You and I have just learned of the decision that the Minnesota State University leadership, i.e. Dr. Davenport, Mr. Kevin Buisman (and probably others) have made concerning Todd Hoffner, the former MSU Football Coach. This firing

    May 17, 2013

  • Minnesota deserves lawmakers with a clue Our senators, Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken were part of a group to vote for and pass Obamacare. You know the overwhelming law that the Democratic leadership (Reid and Pelosi) said you'll have to pass it to find out what's in it. Exactly what they did

    May 17, 2013

  • Laws of life essays were inspiring essays inspired What a pleasure it was to read the Laws of Life essays in the May 5 edition. It is this kind of reporting that makes The Free Press our hometown newspaper. And congratulations to Shane Price and Fahad Qureshi. Your writings were a good read. Bruce Bi

    May 16, 2013

  • mfp dekruifmug DFL budget leaves out reform The 2013 Minnesota Legislature started facing a projected budget shortfall of $635 million and by state mandate must balance the budget. The new DFL controlled government has a “fix” for this shortfall; raising taxes and fees for all Minnesotans by a

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Remodeled building serves St. John's well Last weekend my wife and I were in the Mankato area for an extended family event. While in Mankato we participated in a Eucharist celebration at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Last Sunday happened to be the one-year anniversary of the remodeli

    May 15, 2013

  • Marketplace Fairness Act not about fairness The Marketplace Fairness Act is not about fairness. It is about revenue and regulatory capture by Internet giants. It is said that Internet retailers have an advantage in that they don't have to collect sales tax. That may be an advantage, but it do

    May 14, 2013

  • Sand project may taint Coughlan standing In an earlier state Senate committee hearing, one of the of Jordan Sands party waved his arms and proudly proclaimed that Bob Coughlan's family had installed the limestone that prominently adorns the room. The Coughlan Cos. and Kasota Stone have a lo

    May 13, 2013

  • Let's talk about mental illness We talk about our blood pressure, thyroids, hip replacements, etc. We talk about the doctors who treat us. We give advice to friends and family as to the quality of care or lack thereof from our attending physicians. So why then are mental health iss

    May 12, 2013