Bigoted Christians

The US Senate has recently taken up (again!) the proposed “Defense of Marriage Amendment.” It reads, “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.” It is unlikely to pass the Senate with the necessary two-thirds majority in order to pass the amendment on to the states for ratification, however. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) is on record saying that “A vote for this amendment is a vote for bigotry, plain and simple.” He also says that it is being pushed by President Bush in order to get his “extreme base” to vote. One wonders how, in Teddy’s worldview, those who believe in the traditional, biblical view of marriage are somehow “extreme.”

I might also suggest that, if the esteemed senators wish to allow states to determine their own laws regarding marriage and family, then they ought to be consistent and allow those states to determine their own laws regarding the restriction of abortion, something states have not been allowed to do under the Roe v. Wade decision. It also would be appropriate to actually pass the amendment and see if it is ratified by ¾ of the states. I won’t hold my breath. Perhaps the never-used amendment option ought to be pursued. If 2/3 of the state legislatures approve, a constitutional convention may be called. This provision was included in the constitution in order to circumvent an obstructionist Congress and allow the states to assert their “check and balance” on the central government.

In reading chapter 1 of How Should We Then Live?, you have discovered Dr. Schaeffer’s insight into the reason for the Roman persecution of Christians. In the comment section, state your brief analysis, and consider whether the views of Sen. Kennedy are useful in drawing a comparison to today’s circumstances. Would Teddy make a good Roman?