I’d like to think that my procrastination on
writing my last paper for the semester is due to the distraction of the vote on
marriage today. If I hadn't turned on
MPR at lunch and gotten sucked into the senators all stating their positions, I
may have gotten more done. But, listening
to a pivotal moment in Minnesota history was actually fodder for my American
Religious Histories paper. How can I
deny the impact the First Amendment had on these proceedings?
Amendment I
Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (http://archive.adl.org/issue_religious_freedom/separation_cs_primer.asp): “Free from
government control -- and without government assistance -- religious values,
literature, traditions and holidays permeate the lives of our citizens and, in
their diverse ways, form an integral part of our national culture. By
maintaining the wall separating church and state, we can guarantee the
continued vitality of religion in American life.”
Though we are the most religious country in the world, we
sometimes forget that the religious freedoms we are given are given to and for
everyone. For those of us who consider
ourselves Christians, we often forget that, Biblically speaking, marriage is
not defined. We want to remember that
Jesus healed and ate with those whom others thought were “unclean,” but His
unconditional love is now fraught with conditions. How do we let go of these conditions?
Dear Creator of All, Lover of All, Healer of All, thank you
for helping the state of Minnesota move forward on equality. We have more to do for more marginalized
folks who must be recognized because of their unique situations. Help those whom we have elected lead us into
the future with hope for those who have lost hope. Amen.