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by Java Mann...
Many waters cannot quench
love, neither can the floods drown it…(Song
of Songs 8:7)
And now we reach that point
in our program where I make fun of the religious right. I know it’s old
hat, and frankly I’ve grown tired of it myself. So today, in an effort
to augment my repertoire I will instead praise religious leaders. Please
be advised I don’t do this often (indeed this is a first) so if I’m not
up to my normal standards, please feel free to complain to my editor.
Recently, the Vermont legislature
passed the bill that extends the rights of marriage to same-sex couples.
This should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the news reports
surrounding this issue. What did surprise me is that several religious
leaders actively worked to support the initiative. Truly, this surprised
me more so than when Sen. Jesse Helms disproved one of my long-held beliefs
by having open-heart surgery, but I digress…
An interfaith group of 17
religious leaders signed an eloquently phrase statement, which was read
at a statehouse open hearing. It included:
"As religious leaders
from a wide range of faith traditions, we believe that marriage can only
be strengthened by extending our understanding of marriage to include faithful
committed relationships of same gender couples.
We agree that when two
women or two men make a loving commitment to one another and wish to assume
the responsibilities of marriage, they exemplify a moral good which cannot
be represented by so-called registered partnership".
The interfaith group included
members of the Methodist, Episcopalian, Universal Unitarians and Hebrew
faiths. Their efforts are truly commendable.
I am troubled, however, that
this effort is the exception rather than the rule. As a child I was taught
that we are all God’s children. Apparently, some religious leaders see
some of us as redheaded stepchildren.
As I said, the senate passed
the bill and sent it Governor Dean. With his signature, civil unions will
be recognized as of July 1, 2000. The civil union will extend some 400
state controlled rights normally associated with marriage to same-sex couples.
Unfortunately, the 1000+ rights that are controlled by the Federal government
will remain unavailable.
Living in New Hampshire,
I have frequently dismissed Vermont as just the state next door; home to
farmers, muddy roads and roadside farm stands schilling maple syrup and
apples to the flock of leaf peepers who arrive every autumn. Today I see
it as an oasis of equality in a desert of disparity. God bless Vermont.
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