A proposal was to be introduced in the Minnesota Senate April 26 that, if passed by both state houses, would place a constitutional amendment regarding marriage on the ballot in November 2012.
If approved by voters, the Minnesota Constitution would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
A file number for the bill was not available when this edition of The Catholic Spirit went to press.
Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the church in Minnesota, said the purpose of marriage is to ensure the well-being of children and, as a result, properly nurture the next generation of society.
“Reason, science and experience all show that children need a mother and a father,” he said in a statement. “Same-sex marriage always denies a child either a mother or a father.”
Adkins said that over the last few years, bills have been introduced in the Legislature aimed at changing the definition of marriage in Minnesota.
“The people of Minnesota should have the opportunity to preserve an institution that pre-dates government and has been a bedrock of society for thousands of years.”
To view the MCC’s “Marriage Amendment Resource Page,” visit http://mncc.org/issues/marriage.
For updates on the legislative proposal, visit mncc.org and TheCatholicSpirit.com.