Politics - Reuters
By Carey Gillam
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Reuters) - Marriage is the big topic in Kansas this weekend. Yard signs are up, radio ads are running and a "Mayday for Marriage" rally planned.
Reuters Photo
Following the lead of more than a dozen other states, Kansas scheduled a vote Tuesday on whether to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex couples from marrying. One of the toughest in the nation, Kansas' proposed ban also would prevent gays from receiving any of the "rights and incidents" of marriage.
A coalition of Christian clergy from across the state are backing the ban, with help from out-of-state supporters. They have raised more than $125,000 and are blanketing communities with symbols of a veiled bride and tuxedo-wearing groom and repeating whenever they can the mantra "Protect Marriage."
A rally Sunday was expected to draw people from around the state to Kansas City.
"We don't want same-sex unions to be considered equal to marriage," said Mike Farmer, Kansas Catholic Conference executive director. "Where does it end? Any two people, any three people, any four people? People who believe in traditional marriage want to do everything they can to protect it."
Opponents say the measure does not do anything to protect marriage and is purely discriminatory.
"We don't see anything about prohibiting adultery. This message about protecting marriage just rings hollow," said Bruce Ney, chairman of Kansans for Fairness, a coalition opposing the amendment. "This message is about hate."
The opposition is holding its own rally on Sunday and has lined up nearly 100 clergy who say the measure violates Christian teachings. Yet they've raised only about $35,000, and they're prepared for a loss.
"We'll lose. But it's not right," said the Rev. Robert Meneilly, a retired Presbyterian minister who opposes the amendment. "If we believe that we are made in God's likeness, we all need to be respected and treated the same."
PUBLIC POLICY, BIBLICAL BELIEFS
Kansas would become the 18th state to ban gay marriage through state constitutional amendment. Thirteen states passed similar amendments last year, and conservative Christians have cited the efforts as key in shaping public policy.
Indeed, conservatives have criticized President Bush for not pushing hard enough to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. His quest for the amendment failed last year in Congress.
It is not just Kansans active in the Kansas vote. The Knights of Columbus of New Haven, Connecticut, donated $100,000. The Washington-based group Concerned Women for America, which aims to push biblical teachings in public policy, as well as the Coalition of African-American Pastors from Tennessee, are helping lead Sunday's rally.
Movement leaders say they have to pursue constitutional amendments to prevent a liberal judiciary from legalizing homosexual unions.
"If a culture cannot define and protect basic relationships such as marriage then that culture will, I believe, find itself drifting further into chaos and confusion," said Pastor J.K. Warrick of the College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas.
As the vote nears, the debate is intensifying as once-private sentiments surface between neighbors, church members, doctors and patients, and parents on playgrounds.
"God loves all of us and we are all sinners. We have no right to say this particular sin has to be targeted," said 54-year-old Linda Stoker, a married mother from Johnson County who plans to vote against the amendment.
Not so, said Yvonne DiFalco, another Johnson County married mother who planted a pro-amendment sign in her yard.
"As a decent society, we want people to know they are loved," said DiFalco. "But we will not waltz them into a life of hell."
By Carey Gillam
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Reuters) - Marriage is the big topic in Kansas this weekend. Yard signs are up, radio ads are running and a "Mayday for Marriage" rally planned.
Reuters Photo
Following the lead of more than a dozen other states, Kansas scheduled a vote Tuesday on whether to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex couples from marrying. One of the toughest in the nation, Kansas' proposed ban also would prevent gays from receiving any of the "rights and incidents" of marriage.
A coalition of Christian clergy from across the state are backing the ban, with help from out-of-state supporters. They have raised more than $125,000 and are blanketing communities with symbols of a veiled bride and tuxedo-wearing groom and repeating whenever they can the mantra "Protect Marriage."
A rally Sunday was expected to draw people from around the state to Kansas City.
"We don't want same-sex unions to be considered equal to marriage," said Mike Farmer, Kansas Catholic Conference executive director. "Where does it end? Any two people, any three people, any four people? People who believe in traditional marriage want to do everything they can to protect it."
Opponents say the measure does not do anything to protect marriage and is purely discriminatory.
"We don't see anything about prohibiting adultery. This message about protecting marriage just rings hollow," said Bruce Ney, chairman of Kansans for Fairness, a coalition opposing the amendment. "This message is about hate."
The opposition is holding its own rally on Sunday and has lined up nearly 100 clergy who say the measure violates Christian teachings. Yet they've raised only about $35,000, and they're prepared for a loss.
"We'll lose. But it's not right," said the Rev. Robert Meneilly, a retired Presbyterian minister who opposes the amendment. "If we believe that we are made in God's likeness, we all need to be respected and treated the same."
PUBLIC POLICY, BIBLICAL BELIEFS
Kansas would become the 18th state to ban gay marriage through state constitutional amendment. Thirteen states passed similar amendments last year, and conservative Christians have cited the efforts as key in shaping public policy.
Indeed, conservatives have criticized President Bush for not pushing hard enough to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. His quest for the amendment failed last year in Congress.
It is not just Kansans active in the Kansas vote. The Knights of Columbus of New Haven, Connecticut, donated $100,000. The Washington-based group Concerned Women for America, which aims to push biblical teachings in public policy, as well as the Coalition of African-American Pastors from Tennessee, are helping lead Sunday's rally.
Movement leaders say they have to pursue constitutional amendments to prevent a liberal judiciary from legalizing homosexual unions.
"If a culture cannot define and protect basic relationships such as marriage then that culture will, I believe, find itself drifting further into chaos and confusion," said Pastor J.K. Warrick of the College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas.
As the vote nears, the debate is intensifying as once-private sentiments surface between neighbors, church members, doctors and patients, and parents on playgrounds.
"God loves all of us and we are all sinners. We have no right to say this particular sin has to be targeted," said 54-year-old Linda Stoker, a married mother from Johnson County who plans to vote against the amendment.
Not so, said Yvonne DiFalco, another Johnson County married mother who planted a pro-amendment sign in her yard.
"As a decent society, we want people to know they are loved," said DiFalco. "But we will not waltz them into a life of hell."
